The process of trying for a baby and the early days of pregnancy can both be stressful for you. There may be an increased awareness of symptoms or you may ask yourself whether these symptoms are normal. A cramping sensation, known as implantation cramps is similar to menstrual cramps and is one of the early signs of pregnancy. Check out this article to find out if you have an implantation cramp or periods.
What Is Implantation?
Eggs are fertilized by sperm, which happens inside the fallopian tubes. An egg takes several days to travel down a fallopian tube and enter the uterus. The fertilized egg changes into a ball of cells called a blastocyst as it travels down the fallopian tube. This ball of cells is then implanted into the uterine lining.
Fertilization may be considered the beginning of pregnancy, but successful implantation is an important step. It is possible, however, that a fertilized egg does not make it to implantation. On average, four to six out of ten fertilized eggs will not reach implantation. A failure of implantation is not generally considered a miscarriage, since pregnancies are believed to begin with implantation1.
What Is Implantation Cramps?
During the process of attaching the fertilized egg to the uterine lining, the woman may experience cramps called “Implantation cramps.” Dull cramps a week before the period is probably due to implantation cramps. These cramps are different from menstrual cramps. It can last one to three days.
When Do Implantation Cramps Occur?
The length of a menstrual cycle varies from woman to woman. Because of this, it is difficult to predict when exactly she will experience implantation cramps. An egg that has been fertilized can take anywhere from six to ten days to implant in your uterus. Women who have a regular menstrual cycle are likely to experience implantation cramps about 4 to 8 days before their next period. Depending on the length of the cycle, women’s implantation can be delayed or early.
What Is Implantation Bleeding?
An implantation bleeding is spotting or bleeding that occurs when a fertilized egg burrows into the uterine lining. Some of the uterine linings may be shed during this process. At this point, some women will notice a bit of bleeding because the uterine lining is rich in blood. Does this mean you bleed heavily during implantation?
Calculate Due Date With Conception Date
Not at all. Usually, there will be a small amount of spotting or bleeding. Although the bleeding won’t be heavy enough to make you require a feminine pad, you may want to wear a pantyliner. Just like implantation cramps, not all pregnant women experience implantation bleeding as well.
When Do Implant Bleeding Occur?
Implantation bleeding typically occurs between 6 and 12 days after conception, when the embryo (or blastocyst) attaches to the uterine lining. It is right around this time that a woman’s period is due. As implantation bleeding often occurs at the same time as menstrual bleeding, it can sometimes be hard to tell if you’re experiencing menstrual bleeding or an implantation bleed.
How Do I Know If It’s Implantation Or Period Cramps?
You get implantation cramps around your period. It is possible to distinguish between implantation cramps and menstrual cramps based on certain sensations. It is not unusual for women to experience specific sensations like tingling, pulling, and prickling during implantation. Such symptoms are not common during menstruation.
Related Reading: How To Know If Your Period Is Coming Or You Are Pregnant
Implantation Cramps Or Periods- 8 Ways To Know
Apart from twinges and cramping, implantation comes with no other indications. Even though there are no other obvious signs of implantation (implantation bleeding is one obvious sign, but not all pregnant women experience it. And even if they do, they may mistake it for an early period), there are a number of signs of early pregnancy. You can determine if the cramping you feel is from implantation cramps or the period coming when you are aware of these early pregnancy symptoms.
Within a week of conception, you may start experiencing pregnancy symptoms. However, this is not the case for all women, as some women report having no symptoms after conception for a few weeks.
Look out for the following early pregnancy signs if you experience cramps:
1. Mood swings
After implantation, the levels of estrogen and progesterone, as well as hCG, spike rapidly. The hormonal changes that affect neurotransmitters in the brain may make you moody. Some pregnant women encounter frequent highs and lows. However, there are also others who experience periods of happiness interspersed with periods of anxiety or depression.
2. Headaches
These wildly rising hormone levels are good and necessary for a successful pregnancy, but they can also give you headaches after implantation. You may be surprised to learn that blood flow increases roughly by 50% during pregnancy.
The blood volume may start to slightly increase or blood flow may slightly increase after implantation. The hormone level will also change after implantation. A sudden change in hormone levels along with the change in blood flow in your body can cause headaches during the early days of pregnancy.
3. Nausea
Nausea can be caused by an increase in progesterone levels following implantation. Yet again, this does most commonly occur around 4 to 5 weeks after conception (around the time when you miss your period). The hormone progesterone slows down digestion, which may contribute to nausea.
The combination of rising hCG levels and a more sensitive sense of smell can significantly aggravate this problem. It is worth pointing out that although hormones and hCG levels will rise enough to cause nausea only after a few weeks after implantation, some women can experience nausea up to a week before the due date of their periods.
Related Reading: 12 Simple Ways to Prevent Pregnancy Nausea
4. Digestive issues
Smooth muscles throughout your body, including those in your gastrointestinal tract, are relaxed by progesterone (one of those pregnancy hormones). It slows down your gut, allowing it to take in nutrients from your food and take them to the baby. The downside is that it can cause gas during early pregnancy (and beyond).
5. Increased urination
When an egg implants in your uterus, the hCG hormone production increases dramatically. hCG is believed to promote angiogenesis (Development of new blood vessels)2. As a result, your pelvis and kidneys will receive more blood, helping them function more effectively.
Consequently, you feel the need to go pee every five minutes. Almost all pregnant women will have increased hCG levels, but not all will have frequent urges to pee during the initial week of pregnancy. You may not notice this as one of the first early signs of pregnancy, but frequent urination is definitely a standard pregnancy symptom. This usually starts two to three weeks after conception.
6. Breast tenderness
Following implantation, hCG levels, estrogen levels, and progesterone levels increase rapidly. This can cause your breasts to feel very tender. Although many women experience breast swelling or tenderness before their periods, the symptoms are more likely to be pronounced in the very early stages of pregnancy as compared to normal.
7. Lower backaches
It is common for women to experience lower backaches during pregnancy. In most cases, it occurs as the pregnancy progresses to the second and third trimesters. However, it can also happen at the beginning of pregnancy. The pregnancy hormones can potentially soften the ligaments. As a result, your lower back joints can become strained, triggering lower back pain.
8. Fatigue
From the very beginning of pregnancy, fatigue can set in. Those pregnancy hormones and, more importantly, your body’s efforts to nurture your baby are to blame. During pregnancy, your body produces more blood to carry nutrients to your growing baby. This can affect the sugar level in the blood and blood pressure. A combination of several factors can make you feel super sleepy during the initial days of conception.
Do Early Pregnancy Cramps Feel Like Period Cramps?
Implantation is usually signaled by light and short-lived cramping. Period cramps are usually more intense and last longer. Remember, women have different pain thresholds. In other words, what women feel about these two types of cramps cannot be generalized.
Conclusion
Trying to conceive can both be exciting and nerve-racking. When you’re waiting for a baby, days and months can feel like years, and every small change in your body can make you wonder if you’re expecting. Keeping track of what’s going on with your body can be overwhelming at times. Nevertheless, it’s worth it. Discovering pregnancy as soon as possible can be beneficial in many ways.
FAQs
Yes, it does. Your cervical mucus will be clear, stretchy, and slippery just like egg whites during ovulation. It turns thicker and gummier after implantation. The mucus may appear white or yellow in color, and it may become more profuse.
As a rule, implantation cramps are usually mild and don’t require treatment. Here are some ways you can relieve your discomfort. Take a warm bath or shower. It eases implantation cramps by relaxing your uterine muscles a bit.
As a rule, implantation cramps should not be debilitating. You should seek medical attention if your pain is severe, accompanied by other worrying symptoms such as bleeding or fever.
If the pain is intense and is experienced on only one side you should seek immediate medical attention. An ovarian cyst, early miscarriage, or ectopic pregnancy could be the cause.
You need not worry. The likelihood of pregnancy is not lessened if you do not experience implantation cramps when trying to conceive.
Sometimes women don’t recognize implantation symptoms as they don’t feel them or don’t realize they’re experiencing them.