17 weeks pregnant, hard stomach when lying flat

After a woman becomes pregnant, the baby in her abdomen will gradually grow day by day, and the doctor will summarize the baby's development at each obstetric checkup. At 17 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus is almost four months old. At this time, some expectant mothers have already shown their belly, and the bulging belly can be seen. So why does my lower abdomen feel hard when I lie flat at 17 weeks of pregnancy?

Why is my lower abdomen hard when I lie flat on my back at 17 weeks of pregnancy?

After lying down, the supporting force of the abdomen will be increased and the skin will be slightly tightened. If there are no abnormal symptoms such as abdominal pain except the feeling of stiffness, there is no need to worry too much. When you are lying flat, you can bend your knees a little, which is conducive to relaxing the waist muscles. In addition, irregular uterine contractions may occur after the second trimester of pregnancy. Uterine contractions are mainly manifested as hardening and tightening of the abdomen. If it only happens once in a while, there is no problem and there is no need to worry. During your pregnancy, make sure to have regular prenatal checkups.

Why do uterine contractions occur frequently during the second trimester?

1. False labor. False labor usually occurs at night and is rare during the day. It has three characteristics: inconsistent contraction frequency, unstable duration, and no increase in the amplitude of uterine contraction. When the uterus contracts, pregnant women feel mild distension and pain in the lower abdomen, but the degree will not be too severe.

2. Placental abruption. Another common abdominal pain in late pregnancy is placental abruption. If the pregnant mother suffers from pregnancy-induced hypertension, chronic hypertension, or has suffered abdominal trauma during pregnancy, she should be more careful. Tearing pain in the lower abdomen is a typical symptom of placental abruption, and is often accompanied by vaginal bleeding. When it is severe, the pregnant woman's abdomen becomes hard and the fetal movement disappears. It is one of the most dangerous and critical obstetric diseases and must be treated every minute to ensure the safety of maternal and child products.

The above shares why the lower abdomen is hard when lying flat at 17 weeks of pregnancy. Many expectant mothers experience such a situation. Especially in bed at night, this phenomenon will be more obvious. The second half of pregnancy is the stage when the baby's fetal movements are more frequent, but many pregnant women will also experience uterine contractions at this time. When this happens, expectant mothers must pay attention and do corresponding examinations in time.