Pelvic Cramping in Early Pregnancy

I am 4 1/2 weeks pregnant. I have some abdominal cramping. It is not constant and doesn’t last very long. Is that normal? From what I have read it could just be my uterus preparing for the baby but how do I tell?”

Some mild cramping—like you might experience before your period—is very common in early pregnancy and shouldn’t be considered a sign that anything is wrong. The cramping is caused by your uterus softening and swelling to accommodate your pregnancy, and the fertilized egg implanting in the wall of the uterus and developing a new network of blood vessels to support the placenta and the fetus. You may also experience some ligament pain as the
muscles around your uterus adjust to the new weight and pressure of your pregnancy. If the cramping is really severe, or happens in rhythmic intervals and/or is accompanied by heavier bleeding, as if with a period, then notify your care provider. Otherwise, it’s normal and nothing to worry about!