Is a woman’s bloated belly a sign of uterine contractions?

Many pregnant women will experience hardening and bloating of the belly in the middle and late stages of pregnancy. If only your stomach is bloated, it may be caused by the uterus growing bigger and squeezing other gastrointestinal organs. If it is also accompanied by a tight belly, it is most likely caused by uterine contractions. However, many pregnant women do not know what uterine contractions are, so let us introduce some knowledge about uterine contractions in pregnant women.

Uterine contraction is an important feature of labor. In short, it is the regular contraction of the uterus. The contractions are irregular and weak at first, then gradually become regular, becoming increasingly stronger, lasting longer, and with shorter intervals, such as an interval of 2-3 minutes, lasting 50-60 seconds. The last few months of pregnancy are characterized by irregular contractions, especially in the last few weeks. After the fetal movement, just put your hands on your abdomen and you will feel your abdomen hardening from time to time. This type of contraction is irregular, non-cyclical, and painless.

False labor, also called prolonged labor, is an occasional uterine contraction. Its characteristics are that the time of occurrence is irregular and the degree varies from time to time. False labor begins around 6 weeks of pregnancy, but you won't feel it until the second half of pregnancy. A gynecologist at Peking Union Medical College Hospital said that frequently touching the belly in the late pregnancy can cause false labor and lead to premature birth.

Pregnant women should pay attention to distinguish whether it is real labor contraction or false labor contraction. If it is false labor contraction, it is caused by some psychological emotions and thoughts. It is important to maintain a good physical and mental state during pregnancy. If the pregnant woman cannot tell whether it is uterine contractions, she should go to the hospital for a prenatal check-up. After all, prenatal check-ups are essential during pregnancy.