When does your stomach become hard during pregnancy? During pregnancy, women generally experience many changes. Starting from physical changes to health problems. One of them is a change in the stomach that will get bigger and more prominent.
In the first trimester, usually, the belly bulge or also known as the baby bump is very visible. But in the second and third trimesters, the baby bump will certainly look very clear. This is because the fetus is growing in size in the womb.
With the development of the baby in the womb, it will certainly make the mother’s stomach feel harder every semester. Mothers should not worry, because this is normal during pregnancy. There is nothing to worry about if the mother has a hard stomach during pregnancy.
Here are the reasons why a mother’s stomach feels hard during pregnancy.
1. Uterus
Babies develop in the womb which is in the pelvic cavity between the bladder and rectum. Of course, this will increase as the baby develops in the womb. This usually makes the stomach feel tight, because of the pressure on the stomach. Usually, this also occurs in early pregnancy or the first trimester.
2. Development of the Fetal Skeleton
Usually, a hardened abdomen is due to the development of the skeleton in the fetus during the second trimester of pregnancy. Babies who grow bigger will also make an expansion of the place in the uterus which makes the stomach firmer and fuller.
Read also: Foods to Eat When Pregnant First Trimester
3. Constipation
In addition to the development of the baby in the womb, a hard stomach can also be caused by constipation. Pregnant women should eat lots of vegetables and fruits to meet the fiber needs in the body. That way, pregnant women will avoid constipation and digestion become smooth.
4. Contraction
Usually, when entering the second and third trimester of pregnancy, the mother will experience false contractions. These false contractions can also cause the mother’s stomach to become hard and tight. It is better for mothers to recognize the feeling of false contractions and real contractions by asking for information from a doctor.
5. Baby Movement
In the third trimester of pregnancy, usually, a tight stomach is caused by the movement of the baby in the womb. Usually, when the baby changes positions or kicks the mother’s stomach, the stomach will feel tight. Of course, this is nothing to worry about. Normal baby movements indicate that the baby is healthy in the womb.
Read also: How Do I Know If My Baby Is Okay In The Womb
Beware of a tight stomach, a sign of miscarriage
At the age of the first trimester of pregnancy or the so-called age of the first 3 months of pregnancy (0-12 weeks), usually, the stomach is not too hard. At this gestational age, the uterus has begun to develop and stretch. Babies will develop quickly at this age, so the stomach sometimes feels very tight.
If the mother feels hard in the stomach accompanied by pain such as wanting to menstruate and is accompanied by blood spots, you should immediately check the health of the mother and the womb to the doctor. This is done to avoid unwanted things such as miscarriage.
If you experience a hard stomach during pregnancy, you should not worry. For nutritional problems, don’t forget to eat healthy food and drink enough water for the health of the mother and baby in the womb.