Skip to main content

Having pregnancy cramping at 19 weeks? We can help you deal with it

What to do if you're experiencing 19 weeks pregnancy cramping

With pregnancy comes exhaustion, a constant need to pee, cravings for random food, mood swings, and a bulky belly. Sometimes, you may even experience pregnancy pain. One thing you may not be expecting, however, are cramps. Cramps are a common contraction of muscles many women experience during their menstrual cycle in their lower abdomen. It’s also a symptom commonly associated with miscarriages in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Do you have 19 weeks pregnant cramping? That’s probably not something you’d thought you’d be feeling, especially in the second trimester. Of course, you may immediately worry that the cramping is a symptom of a second-trimester miscarriage, but actually cramping at around 19 weeks can be completely common.

Related Videos

The 19 weeks pregnancy cramps can be quite uncomfortable, though. Since you weren’t expecting to have this pregnancy symptom, here are some explanations as to why you’re cramping and what you can do to relieve some of the pain and discomfort.

Pregnant woman on couch experiencing cramps

Why are you cramping?

As your baby develops, your body goes through a number of gradual changes, causing you to feel pain, start to swell, and get hit with cramps as the little peanut inside you develops. The main cause of cramping around the 19-week mark is the stretching of muscles and ligaments in the uterus. This is the time your uterus begins to expand more and more.

While that feeling of tugging on both sides of your lower abdomen can be uncomfortable, it also means that your child is developing and growing. The main ligament of the uterus is the round ligament, and it’s typically the cause of any painful cramping. As this round ligament stretches, it can create either an aching pain or a sharp, tight pain on your sides. The pain can happen every once in a while, but not consistently. If the cramping you’re feeling is constant and consistent, you should immediately consult with your doctor.

 Pregnant woman on couch holding her stomach

Other common causes of 19 weeks pregnancy cramping

In addition to the stretching of the round ligament in the uterus, cramping in pregnancy around the 19-week mark can have other causes, including:

  • Being bloated
  • Excess gas
  • Constipation
  • Extra blood flow to the uterus
  • Braxton Hicks contractions, which happen around 20 weeks and are very short, contraction-like pains

Pregnant woman with back pain

What are some ways to reduce or get rid of cramping?

Depending on the cause of your cramps, there can be a number of ways to reduce the discomfort or get rid of it for the time being. Whether you have severe gas pain, post-sex cramping, or a stretching ligament in your uterus, you can be on your way to a more enjoyable and comfortable pregnancy with these simple tips.

Some recommended ways to reduce or remove cramping include:

  • Gas medicine can quickly and easily reduce cramping caused from being bloated or constipated. Before taking any gas-reducing over-the-counter medicine, make sure you speak to your doctor first.
  • Changing up the position that you’re sitting or lying in can be an effective way to ease cramping. It will take the pressure off of the painful area and hopefully relieve the discomfort.
  • A warm bath can relieve cramping and help you relax while you’re at it.
  • Drinking more water may help get rid of those annoying pains since dehydration can often by a cause for cramping. Ensure you are drinking enough water each day. The Institute of Medicine recommends pregnant women drink at least 10 eight-ounce glasses of water every day. 
  • Try not to move too suddenly or abruptly. Doing so can cause cramping as the ligaments in your uterus stretch with sudden movement. By changing positions slowly, you’ll give the ligaments more time to catch up, which will reduce the chances of hurting yourself.
  • Put a warm rag or hot water bottle on the places that hurt. Just like when you have period cramps or leg cramps, a warm compress will be a welcome relief.

 Woman experiencing a painful headache during pregnancy

When are cramps concerning?

While most pregnancy cramps should not be a cause for concern, it is important to see your doctor whenever you feel a mix of certain symptoms. If you experience any of these symptoms on top of cramping, something more serious may be happening. Go see your doctor right away.

Some of these serious symptoms include:

  • Intense pain in the lower abdominal region that lasts for an extended period of time
  • Spotting that comes with painful cramping
  • Fever or chills
  • Sudden severe headache, swelling, and vision changes
  • Painful urination and cramping
  • Intense cramping that does not go away
  • Heavy bleeding accompanied by intense cramps
  • Dizziness

These symptoms belong to a variety of conditions and issues that may arise during pregnancy. They are oftentimes accompanied by cramping, so it is important not to dismiss a cramp when coupled with other symptoms. Although most cramps are not harmful or life-threatening, it is important to be aware of your body at all times. If you have any concerns at all regarding the 19 weeks pregnancy cramping, call your doctor. 

Pain during pregnancy

Some causes of cramping that require immediate medical attention 

In addition to the serious symptoms listed above, the following serious complications may involve cramping as well and should be evaluated by your doctor. 

  • Urinary tract infection (UTI)
  • Miscarriage
  • Placental abruption
  • Preeclampsia
  • Ectopic pregnancy

Doctor talking to pregnant patient

When to call your doctor

If you experience any sudden or unusual changes during pregnancy, your best bet is to see your doctor just to be safe. They’ll get you set up with the answers and solutions to address any issues or relieve any pain. Always trust your gut and get checked out if you feel like you should. It’s always best to err on the side of caution during a pregnancy.

Regular cramps during pregnancy are just another uncomfortable change many expectant mothers endure. Also, 19 weeks pregnancy cramping is an important and healthy part of your baby’s development. These half-way-there cramps are one more thing a pregnant mother gets to experience before they meet their precious baby. Have a warm compress handy, get those feet up in a comfortable position, and tell yourself the cramps will be worth it once you are holding that little bundle of gorgeousness. Whenever you feel as if something isn’t right, your 19-week cramps are accompanied by other symptoms, or simply feel better talking to your doctor, call your obstetrician. 

Editors' Recommendations

Need advice on parenting teens? Get support from these Facebook groups just for you
The best Facebook groups for parenting teens advice
A parent and teen talking.

Parenting teens can be a challenge, but doing it with the support of other parents can make it easier. These Facebook groups are places to find advice and support from other parents of teens as sounding boards to help you figure out the dilemmas that come up, like discipline, body image issues, dating and sex, and building trust.

Moms of Teens Support Group
This group is exclusively for moms, while others are open to all parents, caregivers, educators, and others. Get support, trade advice, or just vent about how parenting a teenager is going.
Parenting in a Tech World
Teens finding information, strangers, bullies, or all manner of things online is a concern for any parent in the modern age. This group of over 288,000 parents discusses issues of social media, screen time, online safety, and more about parenting in a tech world.
Parents of Teens with Depression, Anxiety and OCD
From 2016 to 2019, 5.8 million teens had anxiety and 2.7 million had depression, and those numbers have been increasing since. Supporting your teen's mental health is a special skill that can take an emotional toll and takes work to find a delicate balance of how to approach. This group of over 25,000 parents can help you find support in a safe space.
Raising Teenage Boys Is HARD!!
No matter their gender, raising teenagers is hard, but there are special challenges that come along with raising teen boys. This group, run by Teen Thrive, is for those raising teenage boys and looking for advice about puberty, communication, substance use, dating, bullying, internet and gaming device use, and mental health.
Raising Teenage Girls Is HARD! Parenting Teens Support Group by Teen Thrive
The sister group to the one above and also run by Teen Thrive, this group is all about raising teen girls. Issues like menstruation, mental health, dating, academics, body image and self-confidence, and peer pressure can all be discussed with over 35,000 other parents here.
Teenager parenting (Raising teens)
With hundreds of new posts every month, this group is a teen parenting haven. You can read through what others ask to get ideas on how to handle what's to come, give advice to others if you've been in their shoes, and ask your own questions about how to handle your own struggles with your teenager.

Read more
What is normal teen sexual behavior? We’ve got answers to help you understand your teenager
Read this to find out if your teen's sexual behavior is "normal"
Two teenagers on a date outside

What can parents actually expect when their kids turn into teens and start exploring their sexuality? It can be an uncomfortable subject, but being educated about typical sexual development and what your teen may be hearing from their peers is important to make sure you can talk openly with your child about protection, consent, risk reduction, and other issues.
Teens will be talking about sex and exploring this new part of their lives eventually and it's perfectly natural. Having your head in the sand won't make it go away, so the information below will prepare you with information to tackle this new stage of parenting.

Puberty
The onset of puberty is what can start the beginning of this stage of life for teens, but it doesn't mean they're ready for sex; just that they may start experiencing sexual thoughts like crushes or urges like feeling aroused. On average, puberty begins between ages 8 and 14.

Read more
Going through the IVF process? Here’s what to expect
Ready for the IVF process? The steps and expectations from start to finish
A woman undergoing an ultrasound

Because of modern science, the birds and the bees aren’t precisely what they used to be. The rise of assisted reproductive technology (ART) has given parents ways of conceiving besides intercourse.

More than 8 million babies have been born via in vitro fertilization (IVF) since its inception in 1978 and 2018. In 2019, more than 83,000 babies were born via ART, according to CDC data. It’s unclear how many of those were from the IVF process, but the CDC notes it’s the most common form of ART.

Read more