cramps??

[mdgirl]

just wondering a few things....can you have PG symptoms before you have implantation bleeding? how long before AF is due can you do a HPT? I believe that I am having implantation bleeding right now because my period is not due until next week and I've never experienced anything like this before.  is it normal to be cramping while you have implantation bleeding? please help. thanks a bunch.

[Still_AndiJ]

Implantation bleeding isn't a hard and fast thing. In all 5 of my pregnancies, I had it once that I can remember. No, you can't have actual pg s/s before implantation as they are due to rising hcg levels which does not happen until the egg has implanted. Depending on the sensitivity of the HPT, you can test up to 4-6 days beofre AF is due. Most OTC ones will allow you to test up to 3-4 days before AF is due.

From what I understand, the cramping from implantation should be minimal and not last in duration. I have posted on these boards somewhere a site that addresses this issue, but i cannot remember where it is : ) Here is a little piece from babyzone.com

Implantation Bleeding
In the past it’s been thought that an egg eroding into the uterine lining would cause bleeding at the time because of a burrowing effect. It’s doubtful whether there’s any bleeding when this happens, and if so, it's too small an amount to notice. The myth persists because there are bleeding episodes in which no cause is ever identified and in which the pregnancy goes on successfully to term. Such a mystery that starts off so menacingly but ends so well begs for an explanation that must include a natural process. Implantation makes sense under these criteria but can’t be proven.

If you cut and paste this link it will take you to a section on possible causes of spotting.

http://www.babyzone.com/features/content/display.asp?TopicID=2200&ContentID=187


Good Luck!

Andrea