One of the earliest signs of pregnancy is implantation cramps. Not all women feel them, and many mistake them for their regular period cramps. Knowing the difference between the two and learning to identify implantation cramps can be very beneficial. Read on to learn what implantation cramps are and how to recognize them.
The process of the fertilized egg attaching to the uterine wall is known as implantation. During this implantation, some women may experience cramping or sharp pain in their abdomen.
Implantation cramps, though very common, are not felt by all women going through implantation. Some women can experience severe cramps, and some may experience no cramping at all. All are normal. The presence or absence of implantation cramps has no effect whatsoever on the pregnancy.
It varies from woman to woman. Some women may experience it for just a day or two, while some may not experience it at all. Just like period cramps, the intensity can be high for a few hours and subside, or it can be a dull pain for two days. Implantation cramping usually occurs around the 22nd day from the 1st day of your previous menstrual cycle. This is roughly about a week after ovulation – when successful fertilization would have likely taken place.
Both implantation cramps and period cramps feel very similar. The only way to confirm those cramps are indeed implantation cramps is by taking a pregnancy test. Until you get a positive pregnancy test, one can never be sure if those cramps were just period cramps or the first signs of pregnancy.
Different women experience cramps differently. This can be due to their bodies or their level of pain tolerance. Implantation cramps can feel like a prickling sensation in the lower belly that is mild and constant. One may even feel a pulling or tingling sensation during implantation.
Period cramps, on the other hand, can be for short periods, intense, and sometimes very painful. Some women may even have to alter their physical routines due to the intense period cramps. It is very unlikely to experience such intense pain during implantation.
If there is a difference between the two cramps, then why do women get confused?
It can be quite hard to differentiate between the cramps, and one can never be sure until she takes a pregnancy test. Implantation sometimes even causes light bleeding or spotting, known as implantation bleeding. So, many women mistake this for spotting before their period. Also, both type of cramps starts around the uterine area, thus making it tricky to identify implantation cramps.
Many early symptoms of pregnancy are very similar to what a woman experiences right before menstruation. Hence, such symptoms can also be mistaken for regular onset of menstruation.
If you have been trying to get pregnant and are experiencing cramps just before your period, here are some additional pregnancy signs to watch out for:
● Breasts feel heavier, fuller, or swollen
● Tiredness or fatigue
● Nausea or vomiting
● Constipation
● Mood swings
● Headaches
● Heartburn or indigestion
● Increase in urine frequency
● Food cravings or aversions.
If you are undergoing fertility treatment, you may or may not experience implantation cramps and the above-mentioned symptoms. However, your fertility specialist will keep a close watch and take tests to confirm successful implantation.
No, you cannot prevent implantation cramps because there is no way to predict them. You may or may not experience cramping during the implantation. Different women experience it differently hence, there is nothing you can do to avoid such cramping. In most cases, implantation cramps are less painful and severe than period cramps. So, don’t fear these cramps.
If your implantation cramps are very painful, you can try the following:
● A warm shower (hot tubs and hot baths are not advisable during the first trimester)
● A warm compress
● Relaxing exercises
● You can even ask your doctor for some pain reliever, but most doctors won’t recommend it.
If you experience cramps just before your period and have been trying to get pregnant, take a pregnancy test. Only a pregnancy test can confirm a pregnancy. Different women feel different pregnancy symptoms. So, if you don’t experience any cramps or other signs, don’t worry! You are not alone, and the lack of such signs does not indicate any issue with your pregnancy.
Different women feel it in different areas around their uterus. Most women experience it in their lower abdomen near the middle rather than to one side, like in period cramps. Some women can experience mild pain in their lower back and pelvic region, too.
Regular period cramps, indigestion, or constipation can also be mistaken for implantation cramps. All three can cause discomfort in the abdomen area and can also cause mild pain or cramping. It is easy to mistake them for implantation cramps. Calculating the dates since the last period can help reduce such mistakes.
A dull pain or mild cramping around the middle section of the lower abdomen can indicate pregnancy. If the cramps are sharp, painful, prolonged, or to one side of the pelvis, they may not be implantation cramps but just period cramps.
One of the strongest symptoms of a successful implantation is a missed period. If the implantation is successful, it results in pregnancy. Pregnancy will result in a missed period. All other symptoms and signs can vary from woman to woman, thus making them unreliable to confirm successful implantation.
