I'm 32 and in the 14th week of my second pregnancy. (My first was a planned C-section due to breech position.) I'm experiencing debilitating vaginal cramps. They last two to three minutes, several times per day. My OB will not address them at all. He says my joints are stretching, but he has not examined me. He acts like I'm making them up. They are very real. Sometimes they bring me to my knees. What's wrong with me or my baby? I'm not experiencing any other symptoms other than heavy pressure in my cervix area after the cramps.

Toya

There are several possibilities for the cramps you are feeling. One is that you are having uterine contractions; with the advent of ultrasound we now realize that mild, focal contractions occur from early pregnancy on. Most of the time, you cannot feel these contractions at all, and they do not soften or dilate the cervix.

Stretching of the round ligaments, the "joint stretching" your doctor mentioned, is another possibility. This crampy, stretchy pain is usually felt in the groin and is often worse with each pregnancy. Scar tissue from your prior c-section could be another explanation for your pain; the growth of your uterus "tweaks" your scar tissue, causing intermittent pain, often worsened by certain positions and sudden movements.

The baby's movements can cause discomfort at times as well, although 14 weeks is a bit early to be feeling this.

Certainly, if you are in pain you should be examined. You may be experiencing "real" contractions, or you may be exhibiting signs of an incompetent cervix. I would be concerned about the pressure sensation you describe. A pelvic exam to check your cervix is easy to do and will go a long way to either diagnose a problem or reassure you that everything is okay. Call your doctor and ask to have your cervix checked.