Cramping 3 Weeks Postpartum!?

Did you have a C-Section? I did and I bled for 22 weeks! My son is 35 weeks and I should have a DNC, but have yet to schedule it. My dad is an OBGYN and I obviously talked to him about my situation. Anyway, you could be trying to start back to your normal "cycle" or it is just your body trying to shed scar tissue. I am a huge fan of atleast calling your doctors nurse and letting her/him know your symptoms and let them decide if you need to come in for an appointment. Your appendix is on the right so we know it is not that. Anyway, just make a call. I cramped FOREVER and what I had to remember is that you uterus continues to contract until it gets back to its "normal" size. You pay your doctor good money, give him/her a call to ease your mind and allow them to document it in your file. Take care!

B., are you breastfeeding? If so, thats why you are having these.

Hey B.,
My first piece of advice is to go ahead and call your doctor. My daughter is 10 months, she was my first pregnancy as well and one thing I learned was to always give your doctor a quick call even if it is nothing, I had an amazing staff of nurses and doctor, so if you had a good team, they shouldnt mind the call. But I will also tell you that I had the same type of craps, pretty scary, however, based off the time frame, it is probably your uterus, just like me. So you should be fine, but give your doctor a quick call. Hope this helps!

B.
As your uterus shrinks back down there will be some cramping, especially if you are nursing. Also I found out that it was my colon tht was giving me fits on one side. I didn't even know my colon was on my side before that. I doubt that it is anything to worry about either way.

I would give my doctor a call just to make sure it's not something unrelated to having a baby, such as a kidney infection or appendicitis. It could just be your uterus shrinking back down to size, but call your doc and make sure.

If you haven't had your period yet then you may be about to start. You didn't say if you are breastfeeding or not but if you are then it may mean you are going to start or just are getting cramps that could be normal.
Wait and see if you start your period give it a week and a half but if it persist then call your doctor.

Hi B.,
As others said, it never hurts to ask your doctor. But there are two things that come to mind that would cause cramps. One is cramping from your uterus shrinking back down to size. This would definitely still be going at 3 weeks, and is probably the most likely explanation. Especially if it happens mainly when you are nursing, the stimulation from nursing causes these contractions and they are normal and what your body needs to do to get back to normal. From your description that would be my best guess as to what it is.

The other thing that has caused cramps for me was after my 3rd pregnancy I had cramps right around the time of my first ovulation. I only know for sure I was ovulating because I actually got pregnant then. :) It was a surprise. Anwyay, I doubt that is happening at 3 weeks postpartum, but it could.

I think that your cramping is normal, big time normal if you are nursing! It is your uterus going back down to noramal size. You will cramp more if you are nursing because your body sends off a hormone telling it to produce milk AND at the same time hurrying up the process of the uterus returning to it's normal size. Try taking some over the counter Ibruprofen-it's safe for the baby. Plus, that's the only thing I ever get prescribed after I have had all my kids!

Your body has many changes to make. Most notably your uterus needs to shrink from the size of a beach ball back down to the size of a softball. That is most likely what you felt contracting. But your body is still adapting back to prepreg and will be for several more weeks (actually even months).

Tell a doctor. It could be any number of things. I know you are busy taking care of your daughter, but who is going to take care of YOU?

If ever in doubt check it out! It might not be anything to worry about, but it
is concerning you enough to ask. Your doctor can best advise you, since she or he knows your medical history.

Best of Luck,
I. Givens-Brown,MSN,RN