What causes a hard belly during pregnancy?

A woman's body will undergo great changes after she becomes pregnant. As the fetus grows day by day, her belly will also become bigger and bigger. What women often worry about most is that some accidents may happen to the fetus in the belly. Many women often find that their belly is particularly hard during pregnancy, which makes them particularly worried and anxious. They don't know what the cause is. Do such symptoms mean that there is a problem with the baby in the belly? Let's understand why the belly becomes hard during pregnancy.

What causes a hard belly during pregnancy?

A hard belly during pregnancy usually means uterine contractions. 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 childbirth.

In the middle and late stages of pregnancy, many pregnant women will feel slight uterine contractions from time to time (that is, they feel a slight distension of the abdomen, but the tightness and pain are not obvious). This kind of uterine contraction is called false uterine contraction. It is irregular, not only with long intervals, but also short duration, and will not cause real delivery.

Is it normal to have a hard belly in late pregnancy?

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. 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. 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. This is false labor and is a normal phenomenon.

Its characteristics are that the time of occurrence is irregular and the degree varies from time to time. Before delivery, that is, in the late pregnancy, false labor contractions will become more and more frequent due to the traction stimulation caused by the descending fetal head in the lower part of the uterus. As long as there is no pain, pregnant women do not need to worry.

What should I 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 these are real labor contractions, they will not stop no matter what you do, but will gradually intensify).

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.

The above is an introduction to why the belly becomes hard during pregnancy. Female friends should not be too anxious if they experience such symptoms. After all, everyone's physique is different. They must go to the hospital for examination in time. In addition, women must maintain good living habits during pregnancy and get more rest. They must pay attention to nutritional balance in their diet and have regular prenatal examinations.