The second trimester of pregnancy is weeks 13 through 26 when the baby continues to grow and develop rapidly. The mother will notice a number of changes during this time.
Cramping may occur at 18 weeks, during the second trimester, and is normal.
Common causes of cramping during pregnancy may include:
- Round ligament pain
- The round ligament supports the uterus
- When the uterus expands, it causes the round ligament to stretch, which can cause cramps
- False labor (Braxton-Hicks contractions)
- Cramps can occur at irregular intervals in preparation for childbirth
- Constipation
- Gas/bloating
- Sexual intercourse/orgasm
When Should I Worry About Cramping at 18 Weeks?
Serious causes of cramping at 18 weeks or any time during pregnancy include:
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Cramping accompanied by painful urination may mean a UTI
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Is usually a problem earlier in pregnancy when a fertilized egg implants outside a uterus
- Causes painful cramps
- A serious condition that requires treatment
- Miscarriage
- Cramping may range from mild to sharp and be accompanied by vaginal spotting
- Contact your doctor immediately if you experience severe cramps and/or heavy bleeding
- Preeclampsia
- A serious complication of pregnancy in which high blood pressure (hypertension), protein in the urine, and evidence of organ injury develops in a pregnant woman after 20 weeks of pregnancy
- Can cause pain and cramping in the upper abdomen
- Preterm labor
- Cramping before 37 weeks gestation may be a sign of preterm labor
- Placental abruption
- Occurs when the placenta separates from the uterus before the baby is born
- Cramping is painful and does not go away
- A potentially life-threatening condition
- Contact your doctor immediately if this occurs
Contact your doctor if you experience cramping at 18 weeks or any time during pregnancy characterized by:
- Severe pain that does not go away
- Lower abdominal pain accompanied by contractions
- Vaginal cramping
- Gastrointestinal symptoms
- Cramping, along with pain in the shoulder and/or neck
- A sudden increase in thirst, accompanied by a decrease in urination, or no urination for an entire day
- Severe headache that does not go away, sudden swelling, changes in vision, or unexplained weight gain (symptoms of preeclampsia)
- Bloody diarrhea
- Pain or burning during urination, difficulty urinating, or blood in the urine
- More than four contractions an hour, which may be a sign of labor
Call 911 or go to a hospital’s emergency department if you experience cramping at 18 weeks or any time during pregnancy accompanied by:
- Heavy or ongoing bleeding
- Fluid leaking from the vagina
- Tissue passing from the vagina
- Severe abdominal pain
- Fever or chills
- Prolonged nausea or vomiting
- Lower back pain
- Pelvic pain
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Chest pain
- Loss of consciousness
- Low blood pressure
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Reviewed on 4/11/2022
References
Image Source: iStock Images
https://familydoctor.org/changes-in-your-body-during-pregnancy-second-trimester/
https://www.whattoexpect.com/second-trimester-of-pregnancy.aspx
https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/symptoms-and-solutions/abdominal-cramps.aspx
https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/pregnancy-concerns/cramping-during-pregnancy-5589/
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/preeclampsia/conditioninfo/diagnosed