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| URL | https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/stomach-pain-cramps-pregnancy/ |
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| Meta Title | Stomach pain and cramps in pregnancy: first trimester (weeks 0 to 12) |
| Meta Description | Find out what types of stomach pain and cramps are common during the first trimester of pregnancy and when to get medical help. |
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FireFox
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Stomach or tummy pains in pregnancy are very common and can happen at any time.
Most of the time, they are nothing to worry about. But sometimes they can be a sign of something more serious.
It is important to know what to look out for in each trimester and when to get help.
Urgent advice:
Contact your GP, midwife, maternity unit or hospital urgently if:
you have severe stomach pain that won't go away
Weeks 0 to 12
Cramps and period-like pains are very common in early pregnancy. These are usually caused by changes in your hormones and by your growing womb.
Sometimes stomach pains in early pregnancy can be a sign of something more serious such as:
ectopic pregnancy
miscarriage
appendicitis
urinary tract infection (UTI)
When to get medical help in your first trimester
Non-urgent advice:
Contact your GP, midwife, maternity unit or hospital if:
you have pain when you pee - this could be a sign of a
urine infection
you have smelly or cloudy urine, or blood in your urine - these could be signs of a urine infection
you have any bleeding from your vagina - this could be a sign of a miscarriage or an
ectopic pregnancy
vaginal discharge that is unusual for you - this could be a sign of an infection or a
miscarriage
the pain is mainly on one side, is severe and may cause dizziness - these can be signs of an ectopic pregnancy or
appendicitis
you have a fever (a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher)
- this could be a sign of infection
Page last reviewed: 9 March 2026
Next review due: 9 March 2029
This project has received funding from the Government of Ireland’s Sláintecare Integration Fund 2019 under Grant Agreement Number 123. |
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# First trimester (weeks 0 to 12) - Stomach pain and cramps in pregnancy
## Contents
1. First trimester (weeks 0 to 12)
2. [Second trimester (weeks 13 to 28)](https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/stomach-pain-cramps-pregnancy/second-trimester/)
3. [Third trimester (week 28 onwards)](https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/stomach-pain-cramps-pregnancy/third-trimester/)
Stomach or tummy pains in pregnancy are very common and can happen at any time.
Most of the time, they are nothing to worry about. But sometimes they can be a sign of something more serious.
It is important to know what to look out for in each trimester and when to get help.
### Urgent advice: Contact your GP, midwife, maternity unit or hospital urgently if:
- you have severe stomach pain that won't go away
## Weeks 0 to 12
Cramps and period-like pains are very common in early pregnancy. These are usually caused by changes in your hormones and by your growing womb.
Sometimes stomach pains in early pregnancy can be a sign of something more serious such as:
- [ectopic pregnancy](https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/ectopic-pregnancy/)
- [miscarriage](https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/miscarriage/)
- [appendicitis](https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/appendicitis/)
- [urinary tract infection (UTI)](https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/urinary-tract-infections-uti/)
## When to get medical help in your first trimester
### Non-urgent advice: Contact your GP, midwife, maternity unit or hospital if:
- you have pain when you pee - this could be a sign of a [urine infection](https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/urine-infections-pregnancy/)
- you have smelly or cloudy urine, or blood in your urine - these could be signs of a urine infection
- you have any bleeding from your vagina - this could be a sign of a miscarriage or an [ectopic pregnancy](https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/ectopic-pregnancy/)
- vaginal discharge that is unusual for you - this could be a sign of an infection or a [miscarriage](https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/miscarriage/)
- the pain is mainly on one side, is severe and may cause dizziness - these can be signs of an ectopic pregnancy or [appendicitis](https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/appendicitis/)
- [you have a fever (a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher)](https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/fever-adults/) - this could be a sign of infection
[Heartburn or indigestion during pregnancy](https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/heartburn-indigestion-pregnancy/)
[Constipation in pregnancy](https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/constipation-pregnancy/)
Page last reviewed: 9 March 2026
Next review due: 9 March 2029
This project has received funding from the Government of Ireland’s Sláintecare Integration Fund 2019 under Grant Agreement Number 123.

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Stomach or tummy pains in pregnancy are very common and can happen at any time.
Most of the time, they are nothing to worry about. But sometimes they can be a sign of something more serious.
It is important to know what to look out for in each trimester and when to get help.
### Urgent advice: Contact your GP, midwife, maternity unit or hospital urgently if:
- you have severe stomach pain that won't go away
## Weeks 0 to 12
Cramps and period-like pains are very common in early pregnancy. These are usually caused by changes in your hormones and by your growing womb.
Sometimes stomach pains in early pregnancy can be a sign of something more serious such as:
- [ectopic pregnancy](https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/ectopic-pregnancy/)
- [miscarriage](https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/miscarriage/)
- [appendicitis](https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/appendicitis/)
- [urinary tract infection (UTI)](https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/urinary-tract-infections-uti/)
## When to get medical help in your first trimester
### Non-urgent advice: Contact your GP, midwife, maternity unit or hospital if:
- you have pain when you pee - this could be a sign of a [urine infection](https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/urine-infections-pregnancy/)
- you have smelly or cloudy urine, or blood in your urine - these could be signs of a urine infection
- you have any bleeding from your vagina - this could be a sign of a miscarriage or an [ectopic pregnancy](https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/ectopic-pregnancy/)
- vaginal discharge that is unusual for you - this could be a sign of an infection or a [miscarriage](https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/miscarriage/)
- the pain is mainly on one side, is severe and may cause dizziness - these can be signs of an ectopic pregnancy or [appendicitis](https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/appendicitis/)
- [you have a fever (a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher)](https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/fever-adults/) - this could be a sign of infection
Page last reviewed: 9 March 2026
Next review due: 9 March 2029
This project has received funding from the Government of Ireland’s Sláintecare Integration Fund 2019 under Grant Agreement Number 123. |
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