In the first few weeks of pregnancy many women will experience cramping and spotting. These two symptoms may not always occur together, but it should cause some concern as most miscarriages occur during the initial 12 weeks of the pregnancy. If she suffers from heavy spotting, and especially if she also suffers from fever, chills and cramps, she should immediately seek a doctor's attention.

When the egg is making its journey into the uterus wall, women may experience light spotting, called implantation spotting, it may cause a little irritation, but is not cause for alarm. The blood may be a light pink or even a rusty color, and may be accompanied by a little cramping. These signs and symptoms are often mistaken as a sign that her menstruation is about to start.

The other reasons for spotting during early pregnancy are, as a result of sexual intercourse, following a doctor's internal examination and a pap smear. The spotting is caused because the cervix is more sensitive during the pregnant state and because of bodily changes that are occurring in her pregnant body. These are normal occurrences, but should the spotting last for longer that 1 or 2 days, or if cramping is also experienced, the woman should immediately see her doctor.

It is very normal for a woman to experience cramping in the first few weeks of her pregnancy, because the uterus is stretching to make room for the growing fetus. However the cramping is mild, but if cramps are experienced lower in the abdominal wall and are more intense, that may indicate an ectopic pregnancy, and the woman should seek immediate medical attention.

Cramping that happens during the latter half of a pregnancy are expected, and are due to gas or constipation, and later on in the pregnancy, by the start of labor itself. Because of the uterus stretching the cramping will continue for a while.

So even though there may be spottings and cramping in a pregnancy, it is a good idea to check with your doctor to make sure that everything is well and that the pregnancy and the growth of the baby and the welfare of the mother is as could be expected.