6 Weeks Pregnant Cramping (Right or Left Side), Back Pain, belly, Spotting

Last updated on July 27th, 2018 at 12:59 am

Questions: Should I be concerned about 6 weeks pregnant cramping, back pain or spotting? What should my 6 weeks pregnant belly look like?

If you’ve finally reached your 6th weeks of pregnancy, your baby is growing, and for sure, you do want any complications to occur. Any cramps, spotting or severe back pain can easily make you concerned.

Are you worried why you have belly cramps in your 6th week of pregnancy? Do you feel cramps more on the right or left side of your abdomen? Are you experiencing vaginal bleeding too?

If this pregnancy is your first, you will be new to cramp-like pains in your abdomen.

The truth is, a lot of women who are expecting, will get a light tummy pain every now and then; And there is absolutely no reason to panic as there is no harm to your baby.

It’s not abnormal to get anxious though; Here are other pregnant women concerns at 6 weeks you could learn from

Am 6 weeks 5 days pregnant and every now and then these light tiny cramps can be felt in my abdomen. I heard if you have a miscarriage, you will get cramps too. Is this true because am not spotting?

I just tested for pregnancy yesterday after series of tiny cramps and breast pain. I also saw brownish spotting about 3 days before my menstrual period

Because i felt differently, I quickly had a test for pregnancy that came out positive.

However, cramps won’t stop and are becoming more severe. Will cramps affect my baby and how can I stop these cramps?

If you are one of these mothers that now experience cramps, you are concerned about the potential risk of losing your baby.

Most of the time, mild abdominal cramps during early pregnancy, will have no effect on your baby.

On the other hand, if cramps are very severe with vaginal spotting and unbearable back pain, it’s likely something’s wrong.

Common causes of tummy cramps at 6 weeks are urinary tract infection, ovarian cyst, ectopic pregnancy, and a miscarriage.

This article explains the causes of 6 weeks pregnant belly pain, danger signs and what to do to feel better.

How should my 6 weeks pregnant belly look like?

What causes 6 weeks pregnant cramping?

For sure, if missed your period for 2 weeks now, you are 6 weeks pregnant. Here are causes of belly cramps;

1.  Implantation

Implantation is the attachment of the embryo (formed after the union of sperm and ovum) to your womb by burrowing into the endometrium.

The truth is, implantation bleeding occurs very early in pregnancy ( three to four weeks of pregnancy) and pain is not very severe.

Usually, bleeding and cramps are common in one-third of women during early pregnancy. Both implantation bleeding and cramps are a normal occurrence and not something to worry about.

However, persistent cramping pain that is intolerable and lasting for days to weeks is abnormal.

2.  Miscarriage

Because you are in your 6th week of pregnancy, it’s possible you may have a miscarriage.

Miscarriage means your pregnancy ends before 20 weeks and cramping abdominal pain is a common symptom.

Infrequently, stomach pain at 6 weeks without bleeding may be your only sign of a miscarriage. This occurs if you have a missed miscarriage.

However, most women that are diagnosed with a miscarriage usually experience vaginal bleeding and intense belly cramps.

But don’t panic yet; Not all vaginal spotting and cramps indicate you are having a miscarriage. If you’ve had sexual intercourse with your partner and notice you have spotting and cramps, it’s likely the reason it occurred.

On the other hand, a heavy bleeding that contains fetal parts will mean you are having a miscarriage.

What steps to take?

Because you are not sure if your stomach cramps are due to a miscarriage, it’s important you see your doctor for clinical evaluation.

An abdominal ultrasound will help confirm if you have a miscarriage and if your baby is still alive.

If your pregnancy is viable and you are spotting, it’s essential to have bed rest. Having a stressful time and hard work should be avoided. There is no proof that this works, but it’s generally advised by doctors.

More than 40 – 50% of pregnant mothers that will get scared of cramps and spotting in early pregnancy, will still not have complications and have a safe delivery.

Alternatively, if your doctor suspects a serious health problem – miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, other actions will be taken.

HCG test (human chorionic gonadotropin) is used to check if your pregnancy is viable or not. This hormone is produced by placenta just after your baby implants into the uterine endometrium.

In fact, if you had your doctor already confirm your pregnancy, this hormone is the reason you tested positive.

Normally, this hormone will increase by doubling every 2 – 3 days. During a miscarriage, there is a sup-optimal rise or HCG starts to fall to levels before pregnancy.

3.  Ectopic pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy is not very common, though, it is a leading cause of death in the first 3 months after conception.

More than one percent of deaths related to pregnancy is because of an ectopic pregnancy. In the United States, it complicates about 2 – 4 percent of pregnancies.

The cause of an ectopic pregnancy is tubal damage that could result from previous surgeries, pelvic infections, or a fail tubal ligation.

Pelvic infections usually occur when you’ve not gotten yourself checked for a while and continue to have unprotected sexual intercourse. Chlamydia, gonorrhea and other organisms that cause pelvic infections are transmitted mainly through intercourse.

The truth is that a miscarriage may easily be confused as an ectopic pregnancy. However, the latter causes much more severe pain (often described as stabbing and sharp) on either the right or left side.

If nothing is done quickly, you will continue to get worse with subsequent rupture and intra-abdominal bleeding.

Danger signs of ectopic pregnancy are

• Dizziness when standing or lying down
• Fainting
• Feeling very weak

Talk to your doctor if you experience these symptoms

4.  You have a fibroid

With more than 20 percent of women within their child-bearing age having a fibroid, it very possible you could have a fibroid without knowing.

Some fibroids, depending on their position and size, will not cause symptoms till you get pregnant. Fibroids usually get bigger in size and may even result in an early pregnancy loss or preterm births.

A fibroid attached to the outside of the uterus with a stalk (pedunculated fibroid) may twist on itself and cause moderate to severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting during pregnancy.

Having said that, most fibroids are generally painless.

How to ease 6 weeks pregnant cramping and back pain

Most times, these tiny belly cramps will subside on its own. However, these are ways you can feel some relief.

• Apply heat or cold pad on your belly
• Take a warm bath when you can
• Take plenty of water if you are bleeding too much
• Use pain relief medications like acetaminophen (consult to doctor first)

What causes 6 weeks pregnant spotting?

If you are 6 weeks pregnant and spotting, it could be due to

• Ectopic pregnancy
• Miscarriage
• Urinary tract infection
• Ovarian cyst
• Ovarian torsion
• vaginal infections
• Sexual intercourse

What causes 6 weeks pregnant back pain?

Ordinarily, back pain will not mean anything serious if it’s occurring without bleeding or tummy cramps.

If you are bleeding with back pain, it could be due to a miscarriage and other causes listed here.