Cramps on One Side
by Cynthia Flynn, CNM, Ph.D.

Q. I am 5 weeks pregnant, and I am noticing that my cramps seem to be on my left side - the left lower back and left side of my abdomen - way low.

Should I be worried that these are on one side? I have chronic low back pain/sciatica so I am thinking it is just that. There is no spotting/bleeding and I am not doubled over in pain.

A.When you are first pregnant, the ovary that produced the egg has an ovarian cyst called the corpus luteum. That's what makes the hormones that keep you from menstruating until the placenta forms about week 12. A few women are very sensitive to this cyst and experience it as painful. Also, the uterus rotates to the right as the baby grows, and some people feel the stretching ligaments more than others.

Chances are that these pains are normal, but you should mention them at your next appointment.