What causes a pregnant woman's belly to become hard?

A woman's body will undergo many changes after she becomes pregnant. For example, a pregnant woman's belly becomes hard, which is a very common condition. This situation is very likely caused by uterine contractions, that is, the contraction of the uterus. However, it is not ruled out that it is caused by some other diseases. Therefore, people need to pay special attention to this situation. The following is a detailed introduction to why a pregnant woman's belly becomes hard.

1. Why does a pregnant woman have a hard belly?

The reason why pregnant women in the late stage feel their stomachs hard from time to time is often due to frequent and irregular uterine contractions, also known as false labor pains. Starting from the 28th week of pregnancy, false labor will often occur in the abdomen. If the pregnant woman stands or sits in the same posture for a long time, she will feel her abdomen hardening from time to time. These are false labors.

Its characteristics are that the time of occurrence is irregular and the degree varies from time to time. Before delivery, the lower part of the uterus is stimulated by the traction caused by the descending fetal head. False labor will become more and more frequent. Uterine contraction is the contraction force of the uterus, which refers to the contraction of the smooth muscle of the uterine body. It is paroxysmal, with contractions and pauses alternating repeatedly, and is not controlled by the will of the mother. It plays a vital role in childbirth. Only through effective uterine contractions can the fetus continue to descend along the birth canal to complete delivery.

2. Is it normal to have a hard stomach?

By the time you're just a few weeks away from your due date, these contractions may become stronger, more frequent, and cause some discomfort. Those painless, occasional false labor contractions in the early stages will not cause obvious changes in the cervix. The contractions at this time may help your cervix become "mature": the cervix gradually becomes softer and thinner. It may even cause your cervix to start opening slightly. Sometimes this period is also called the pre-labor period. These are all rehearsals for the expectant mother's future delivery, and preparation is also a normal physiological process. As long as the pregnancy test is normal; there are not four to six consecutive contractions within an hour; and there is no severe abdominal pain, hard stomach and abdominal distension. As long as you pay attention to fetal movements, expectant mothers don't need to panic too much.

3. What to do if a pregnant woman's belly becomes hard

The hardening of the abdomen brings discomfort to pregnant mothers, which can be relieved by the following methods:

1. Change your activity or posture. Sometimes walking can relieve your discomfort, and sometimes resting can relieve false labor (if it is real labor contractions, no matter what you do, the contractions will not stop and will gradually increase).

2. Take a hot bath and relax your body.

3. Drink a few glasses of water, as false labor can sometimes be caused by dehydration.

4. Try relaxation exercises or take slow, deep breaths. While this won't stop your false labor, it may help you cope with the uncomfortable feelings.