During pregnancy, there are a lot of different feelings and sensations that are new. Some can be a little nerve-wracking and flat out scary like cramping. If you are in your first trimester, cramping can make you think and expect the worse. But don’t fret yet because there are some explanations behind the cramping and things you can do to help them lighten up or make them completely go away. As always, you should make sure to inform your doctor or midwife of the cramping to be on the safe side.

One of the major causes of cramping throughout your pregnancy is your uterus stretching. As your baby grows, the uterus expands to accommodate. The ligaments that support the uterus are also stretching and that will cause cramping. And just as a heads up for you first time mommies, you will also have cramping from the uterus shrinking back down after you have the baby. Luckily it doesn’t take as long to shrink back down as it did to stretch out.

Other common causes for normal cramping can be attributed to constipation and gas. The bigger our bellies get, the more pressure we have on our digestive system. If constipation is the cause of your cramping your doctor or midwife can prescribe you some gentle stool softeners. Also, if you are suffering from severe heart burn, Tums are safe to take but do not over do it. Tums will cause constipation so use them sparingly and see if your provider can get you an alternative. My midwife wrote me a prescription for an ant-acid that I took once a day and it made a world of difference.

If you are moving from your second trimester, into your third, your cramps may be Braxton Hicks. Your body is getting ready for the big day. Braxton Hicks are real contractions but differ from the real deal as they are not nearly as intense, they are irregular and generally stop after laying down, taking a bath or drinking a sufficient amount of water. Whenever you are having these “practice contractions,” you’ll know they are for practice if they stop and do not get any worse.

Cramping during pregnancy can be normal but because it can also be a sign of a more dangerous situation, let your doctor or midwife know right away, especially if the cramping is accompanied with bleeding. It is always better to be safe than sorry especially if there is something that they can do such as stop early labor if that is the cause of your cramping.