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What Are Implantation Cramps? Symptoms and More

If you have cramps, it’s easy to assume your period is to blame. But experiencing cramping before your period is due can actually be a sign you’re pregnant! They’re called implantation cramps, and despite the fact that most women don’t know they exist, they’re actually pretty common. So what is implantation cramping, how soon do you feel it after conception and where exactly is the pain located? Read on to learn everything you need to know.

In this article:
What is implantation cramping?
What do implantation cramps feel like?
How to ease implantation cramps
What are other signs of implantation?
When to take a pregnancy test

What Is Implantation Cramping?

When an egg is fertilized, it happens in your fallopian tubes, explains G. Thomas Ruiz, MD, lead ob-gyn at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. The fertilized egg then travels to your uterus, where it will burrow into the lining. “This could cause you to experience minor cramping or twinges in the very low, mid-abdomen,” says Julie Lamppa, APRN, a certified nurse midwife at Mayo Clinic. This mild discomfort is also known as implantation cramping.

How soon can you feel implantation cramps?

If you’re wondering how soon you can feel implantation cramps after conception, we’re sorry to say there’s no definitive answer. Every woman is different, but implantation cramping generally occurs between day 20 and 22 from the first day of your last period if you have a 28-day cycle, Ruiz says. “You might think that your period is a little bit early,” he says. “There’s a sensation that your period is coming.”

So how long do implantation cramps last? Again, it varies, but usually you can expect that the cramping will last one to two days before wrapping up, Ruiz says.

What Do Implantation Cramps Feel Like?

Now that you know what they are and when to expect them, you may still be asking yourself: What do implantation cramps feel like? Implantation cramps are similar to period cramps, says Sherry Ross, MD, an ob-gyn and women’s health expert at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. You may experience some discomfort that comes and goes.

Where do implantation cramps hurt?

If you can’t decide whether you’re experiencing tummy troubles, period pain or implantation cramps, you may be wondering where implantation cramps hurt. You’ll likely feel the cramps throughout your pelvis or more in the middle of your pelvis, Ruiz says, but they shouldn’t be overly intense. You may have some pain in your lower back and abdomen too. You generally won’t feel implantation cramps on one side only. “If you feel moderate to severe cramping or pain, especially if it’s located off to the side versus midline, you need to contact your provider,” Lamppa says. It could be nothing, but it could also be a sign of an early pregnancy loss or an ectopic pregnancy, which is a pregnancy that’s located outside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube, she says

Implantation cramps vs. period cramps

So how do you know if you’re experiencing implantation cramps vs. period cramps? It can be hard to distinguish between the two. The difference between implantation and PMS cramping is a positive pregnancy test, Ross says. However, “in comparison to menstrual cramps, implantation cramps should be shorter in duration and not as intense,” Lamppa says. “You may not experience cramping at all—or so minimal it’s barely noticeable. This is perfectly fine. It has no bearing on the success of your pregnancy.”

How to Ease Implantation Cramps

In general, “implantation cramps are usually mild and likely won’t need intervention,” Lamppa says. But if you’re uncomfortable, there are a few things you can do to get relief:

• Take a warm bath or shower. The heat can help relax your uterine muscles and ease implantation cramps a bit, Ruiz says.

• Use a heating pad. Any kind of warm compress on your pelvis can be helpful, Lamppa says. Yes, using a heating pad during pregnancy is safe, since it won’t cause your core temperature to spike. But to be safe, make sure the heating pad is below 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and use it on localized areas for short periods of time, say 10 to 15 minutes.

• Take an OTC pain reliever. “If you need medication, acetaminophen is likely your safest option, Lamppa says. “It’s recommended to avoid medications such as Ibuprofen or Motrin early in pregnancy.”

Implantation cramping symptoms can also include some bleeding or spotting, which is normal, Ruiz says—but if your cramps are severe or you have really heavy bleeding, call your doctor. They may want to run some tests to see what’s going on.

What Are Other Signs of Implantation?

In addition to implantation cramps, there are some other subtle early signs of implantation to look for. Some women will experience light bleeding, frequent urination, breast soreness, fatigue, nausea, headaches and mood swings, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Of course, decoding these early signs of pregnancy can be tricky since many of them are similar to symptoms you may experience right before your period.

Still, if you’re generally in tune with your body, you may pick up on a few signs of implantation. Keep in mind though that there’s also a good chance you won’t feel anything at all during implantation.

When to Take a Pregnancy Test

Rather than question every tummy twinge and passing pelvic pain, it’s best to get confirmation with a pregnancy test. Unfortunately, this also means you may have to wait it out a wee bit longer to find out if you’re expecting.

You may be super-eager to pee on that stick (and ASAP), but you’ll want to time that fateful bathroom break just right. So how soon after implantation can you test? According to the American Pregnancy Association, implantation can happen about 6 to 12 days after an egg is fertilized. If you’re pregnant, this is when your body will start producing hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), the hormone a pregnancy test detects. It can take a few days for your body to produce enough hCG to be detectable via a pregnancy test, so waiting until after your missed period is the best way to limit the risk of a false reading. Can’t hold out? You’ll want to wait at least five days from the onset of those suspcious cramps. Testing early may lead to a false negative result—even if you’re actually pregnant.

If you’re actively trying to get pregnant, you may feel encouraged or even excited by some sudden mild pelvic discomfort—and, yes, you might be experiencing implantation cramps. Still, you shouldn’t fret or assume you’re not pregnant if you don’t feel anything at all. It can be confusing and frustrating, but a pregnancy test can provide clarity (and, hopefully, the confirmation!) you’re looking for.

About the experts:

Julie Lamppa, APRN, is a certified nurse midwife at Mayo Clinic. She also serves as a clinical instructor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.

Sherry Ross, MD, is an ob-gyn and women’s health expert at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. She received her medical degree from New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York.

G. Thomas Ruiz, MD, serves as lead ob-gyn at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. He received his medical degree from UC Irvine School of Medicine in California.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

Plus, more from The Bump

5 Best Ovulation Tests to Figure Out When You’re Fertile

14 Early Signs of Pregnancy

What Does a Faint Line on a Pregnancy Test Mean?

Interventions for leg cramps during pregnancy

What is the problem?

Leg cramps manifest themselves as sudden, intense involuntary contractions of the leg muscles. This is a common problem during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester. They are painful and can interfere with daily activities, disrupt sleep, and reduce quality of life. Various types of interventions are used to treat leg cramps during pregnancy, including medications, electrolytes (magnesium, calcium, sodium) and vitamins, as well as non-drug therapies such as muscle stretching.

Why is this important?

The aim of this review was to find out which treatment for leg cramps during pregnancy is effective and safe.

What evidence did we find?

In September 2019, we searched for evidence and identified eight randomized controlled trials in 576 women 14 to 36 weeks pregnant comparing magnesium, calcium, calcium with vitamin D or B vitamins versus placebo or no treatment, and compared vitamin C with calcium. All drugs were given as tablets to chew or swallow.

Magnesium supplements may reduce the incidence of leg cramps in women compared with placebo or no treatment, although studies have not been consistent. Different studies have assessed the effect of magnesium supplementation differently. Some studies have shown magnesium to help reduce the incidence of leg cramps, while others have shown little or no effect. Data on the effect of magnesium on pain reduction was also inconclusive, with only one study showing a reduction in pain intensity, while others showed no difference. Differences in the occurrence of side effects such as nausea and diarrhea were negligible or non-existent.

Calcium did not always reduce the incidence of leg cramps in women after treatment compared to those who did not receive any treatment. It also found that the evidence was of very low quality, so we cannot be sure of the results.

More women who received B-vitamin supplements made a full recovery compared to those who received no treatment; however, these results were based on a small sample size and the study had design limitations.

Frequency of leg cramps did not differ between women receiving calcium and women receiving vitamin C. with placebo.

What does this mean?

The quality of the evidence was low to very low. This was mainly due to small study sample sizes and study design weaknesses. Four studies were well-conducted and presented their reports. The remaining four had flaws in their design: in several studies, women were not best assigned to different treatment groups, and in two studies, women knew whether they were receiving treatment or not. Adverse effects, such as the effect of treatment on complications of pregnancy, childbirth and child, were not reported. Several studies have focused primarily on serum calcium and magnesium levels. The frequency and intensity of seizures and duration of pain were not uniformly reported, and there was often no information on whether they were assessed during treatment, at the end of treatment, or after treatment was discontinued.

It is not clear from the evidence reviewed whether any oral interventions (magnesium, calcium, calcium with vitamin D, B vitamins, vitamin D, or vitamin C) are an effective and safe treatment for leg cramps during pregnancy. Supplements can have different effects depending on how women usually take them. None of the trials looked at forms of treatment such as muscle stretching, massage, relaxation, or heat therapy.

Translation notes:

Translation: Luzan Maria Alexandrovna. Editing: Yudina Ekaterina Viktorovna. Russian translation project coordination: Cochrane Russia - Cochrane Russia, Cochrane Geographic Group Associated to Cochrane Nordic. For questions related to this transfer, please contact us at: [email protected]

Convulsions - Prevention Clinic

About the disease

If suddenly sharp muscle contractions begin, causing pain, then this is called convulsions. At the same time, they can be both in the legs and in the arms, and in the stomach, and in the hips.

Experts have noticed that this disease is more typical for young people than for children or the elderly. But this does not negate the possibility that seizures can begin in any person.

CAUSES

Seizures are a fairly common condition in people with poor circulation. Excessive load, for example, in the gym, or psychophysiological disturbances, and now involuntary muscle contractions appear.

In a certain group of people, convulsions may occur due to a sharp sound or injection. Too fast reaction follows the factor from the outside, the body does not have time to react, and the first seconds of misunderstanding of what is happening result in a disease.

Diseases of the nervous system, varicose veins, poisoning, gases and odors that irritate the sense of smell can also cause convulsions. There are many reasons, but the main one is constant interaction with traumatic consequences for a long time on the same muscle group.

Children are on a separate list. In them, convulsions can occur due to the not yet fully formed brain and nervous system.

They can also be caused by diseases inherited from the mother even at the stage of intrauterine development. Toxicosis, chronic inflammation during pregnancy, metabolic disorders, these are just a few factors.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Parkinson's disease

The manifestation of the disease depends on the severity. If this is a mild form of seizures, then the characteristic signs will be:

• convulsive twitching;
• tingling at the point of the body where it all started;
• snort;
• darkening of the eyes;
• confused consciousness.

The second stage includes all the above signs and adds more:

• urinary and fecal incontinence;
• fainting lasting a few seconds.

But the severe degree already includes an epileptic seizure. There is an unreasonable appearance of a feeling of fear, and numbness, and nausea with dizziness, and foam from the mouth. Add to the overall picture the wrong direction of the head and eyes, profuse salivation and the ensuing prolonged fainting, and here you can’t do without an ambulance.

To cope with cramps, first of all, it is worth dealing with the reason that caused them. An independent approach is unacceptable here, since using medications can disrupt the course of the body as a whole. The following are some of the ways a doctor may prescribe.

• Thermal treatments. They are aimed at eliminating muscle spasm by relaxing and calming them. Heat has a pleasant effect on tension, gradually removing it and eliminating it.
• Massage. This procedure is effective, but it should be carried out carefully. After all, even a slight pressure can lead to increased convulsions and sharp pain. Therefore, the muscles should be kneaded slowly, gradually increasing the pressure depending on the patient's feelings.
• Medicines. Perhaps the use of phenobarbital, hexamidine, benzonal, difenin. But only after consultation and permission of the doctor. Self-selection threatens dire consequences.
• Drinking. During convulsions, the patient often loses a significant amount of water. Therefore, especially if the weather is hot outside, it is worth making a solution of cold water and salt (1 liter - 1 teaspoon) and give it to the patient. At the same time, you should not overdo it. The loss of fluid does not mean at all that the patient is able to absorb several liters at once. The body may refuse to accept such a volume.
• Contrast. If the convulsions are not of the third degree of severity, then either warm or cold objects can be applied alternately to the place. The muscles will react to the temperatures and gradually stop spasmodic movements, bringing relief.
• Sipping. With a mild version of seizures, and this happens when you swim or walk for a long time, it is enough to pull the muscles. This is a painful method, since it will require you to stretch out properly, but it is effective. For example, if it is cramped in the calf area, then the heel should be directed down, as if we want to make the leg longer.

The most important thing is to determine in time which group the disease belongs to and act according to the circumstances.

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