18 weeks and cramping?

Cass • First time mama 💜👣

I'm 18 weeks today, and I've been having a ton of period-like cramping. It gets really painful, then settles. Hurts more when I sit than walk, just like a period.

I haven't had a Dr appt in 6 weeks (Dr set it up that way, not me) but have one next week.

Is this possibly normal? I'm used to slight pain/pressure/discomfort, but this has been more than usual, and I'm just so afraid that something could happen to the baby.