Do you get period pains when you're pregnant?

The American Pregnancy Association states that it is possible to have light cramping during the early stage of pregnancy. This cramping mimics the menstrual cycle and is felt in the lower abdomen or on one side of the abdomen.

According to the American Pregnancy Association, one cause of the cramping is a result of changes that the uterus experiences as the egg begins to develop. The cramping could also be caused by a cyst that forms on the ovary during ovulation. The cyst is located on the ovary where the egg is prior to reaching the uterus. The cyst produces progesterone until the placenta has grown enough to produce progesterone independently, according to the American Pregnancy Association.