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Why does the stomach feel tight before childbirth? Feelings on the eve of childbirth
Some phenomena that may bother a woman in the third trimester are caused by the growth of the fetus and uterus. They can occur at any time and are not signs of imminent labor.
Heartburn. Since the size of the uterus is already very large, it puts pressure on the gallbladder; In addition, under the influence of pregnancy hormones, bile production increases. All this leads to the fact that bile is thrown from the duodenum into the stomach.
Constipation. Pregnancy hormones relax the uterus to allow the fetus to grow and develop. These same hormones also act on the intestines, which reduce their activity, which causes constipation.
Varicose veins of the lower extremities and veins of the rectum. In the third trimester of pregnancy, you may experience rapid leg fatigue, cramps at night, a feeling of heaviness, itching, swelling of the feet, or you may notice spider veins or blue protruding “worms” on your legs. Under the influence of pregnancy hormones, the frame of the vein walls softens, and the veins easily undergo changes. The growing uterus, especially in the third trimester of pregnancy, can put pressure on the veins and prevent blood from flowing from the legs. Due to the increase in blood volume in the body and increased blood flow during this period, the load on the veins increases. For these reasons, their overstretching occurs. Frequent constipation, as well as deterioration of blood flow through the veins of the rectum can lead to dilation of hemorrhoidal veins.
Leg pain. They can be associated not only with varicose veins, but also with a lack of calcium. In this case, the pain is spastic in nature and can appear at night; many patients say that their legs are cramping. Since the fetus grows especially actively in the third trimester of pregnancy, and the mass of its bones and muscles increases rapidly, it is at this time that pain in the legs may first appear.
Pain when the fetus moves. At the end of pregnancy, the baby grows quite quickly, occupying the entire abdominal cavity. By 40 weeks of pregnancy, its weight reaches an average of 3-4 kg, and its height is about 50 cm. Such a “giant” can no longer move freely in the uterus, so at the end of pregnancy the number of movements decreases, but the force with which the baby pushes increases , affects the uterus and neighboring organs. Therefore, fetal movements in the third trimester can be quite painful. Pain when moving can be felt in the area of the right or left hypochondrium - this often happens when the fetus is in a cephalic presentation, that is, its head is directed towards the exit from the pelvis, and the legs hit either the liver area or the mother’s stomach.
Itching of the skin of the abdomen. This sensation is explained by the fact that the growing uterus stretches the skin of the abdomen.
Dyspnea. Due to the fact that the growing uterus lifts the diaphragm upward, it becomes difficult for a pregnant woman to breathe even after slight physical exertion.
Swelling of the feet and legs. This condition is classified as hydrops of pregnancy, in which water accumulates in the tissues of the lower extremities. Such a symptom requires consulting a doctor, changing the drinking regime (liquid restriction), and sometimes taking certain medications.
Pain in the lumbar region and pubic symphysis (pubic area). These unpleasant sensations are caused by softening of the ligaments caused by the hormonal characteristics of pregnant women.
Frequent urination. It occurs due to the fact that the uterus occupies more and more of the abdominal cavity and the bladder cannot contain a large volume of fluid.
Bloody discharge from the nose, bleeding gums. Bleeding gums are associated with the occurrence of gingivitis during pregnancy (inflammation of the gums), which occurs under the influence of hormones. During this period, increased formation and spread of plaque occurs, which leads to the rapid formation of tartar, which causes bleeding gums. Nosebleeds are also caused by changes in blood circulation, which occurs due to hormonal changes in the body.
How to know when labor is approaching?
Now we list those phenomena that are harbingers of labor, but do not allow us to accurately determine the time of its onset.
Braxton Hicks contractions. We are talking about false contractions that prepare the pregnant woman’s body for the upcoming birth. During them, the uterus tenses, acquiring a “stone” density, while the expectant mother does not experience any unpleasant sensations. Such contractions are irregular, they help soften the cervix, preparing it for childbirth, but do not cause its dilatation.
Removal of the mucus plug. The cervical canal contains mucus produced by the glands of the cervix. It can be released 1-2 weeks before birth, or maybe just before birth. The amount of this mucus is about 20 ml, it is transparent, colorless, sometimes streaked with blood. The mucus located in the cervical canal, together with other factors, protects the fetus from infection, but after it leaves the path of infection, another reliable barrier remains - the fetal membranes. The discharge of mucus requires seeking medical help only if it occurs earlier than 2 weeks before the expected date of birth.
During your first pregnancy, your belly may sag before giving birth. This happens if the fetus is in a cephalic presentation and its head is pressed against the pelvic bones. It becomes easier for the expectant mother to breathe, and the doctor can measure the height of the fundus of the uterus - from the pubic joint to the highest point of the uterus, and note that this value has decreased. So, if at 38 weeks the height of the uterine fundus can be 40 cm, then before childbirth it is 38 cm.
Reducing body weight. A few weeks before giving birth, the expectant mother's appetite may worsen; before giving birth, the functioning of the endocrine system is restructured. If throughout pregnancy progesterone, which promotes fluid retention in tissues, ensures its safety, then before childbirth the influence of estrogens increases, which also leads to a decrease in body weight.
The “nesting instinct” is a kind of psychological sign of an approaching birth. Just before giving birth, the expectant mother strives to limit contacts with friends and acquaintances; she is constantly at home, where she chooses a cozy corner for herself. This state is accompanied by mixed feelings: on the one hand, the desire for a speedy resolution of pregnancy, and on the other, fears of labor pain and anxiety about the relative unknown.
The above phenomena do not require emergency measures or immediate medical attention, however, if you have any doubts, consult your doctor; Don’t consider going to a maternity hospital as a re-insurance.
How does labor begin?
Now let's talk about the symptoms that, if they appear, should go to the maternity hospital.
Contractions - the most common option for the onset of labor. Contractions are regular contractions of the uterus, accompanied by nagging pain in the lower abdomen and/or lower back. At first, contractions are weak, last a few seconds, and the interval between them is 10-12 minutes. Sometimes contractions immediately begin every 5-6 minutes, but they are not very strong yet. Gradually contractions become more frequent, stronger, longer, and more painful.
If you are sure that you can get to the maternity hospital within 1 hour, then it is better to go to the maternity hospital when contractions occur once every 10 minutes.
Another option for starting labor is spilled amniotic fluid or leakage of amniotic fluid in small portions. In this case, you no longer need to wait for the contractions to begin, but you must immediately go to the maternity hospital, since the longer the anhydrous period, the greater the likelihood of a complicated course of labor, infection penetration into the uterus and the fetus.
If you went to the maternity hospital at the end of the third trimester...
When the fact of the onset of labor is indisputable, that is, regular labor activity is detected, there is a greater or lesser opening of the cervix, amniotic fluid has flowed out, then the outcome of events is the same - in the near future (maximum within 24 hours) the baby will be born.
If a woman feels irregular pain in the lower abdomen, not accompanied by tension in the muscles of the uterus, and fluid leaks from the vagina, which, after laboratory testing, turns out to be cervical mucus and not water, then such a patient is observed in the maternity ward. Observation can last from 2 to 12 hours and include examinations by an obstetrician-gynecologist, taking tests (blood from a vein, from a finger, urine test), and monitoring the fetal heartbeat. If, as a result of observation, it becomes clear that there is no labor activity, then further tactics depend on the duration of pregnancy and on the condition of the fetus and mother. If the pregnancy is up to 40 weeks and the results of observation and examination are good, the pregnant woman can be discharged home. If the pregnancy is more than 40 weeks and (or) negative observation results, the patient is transferred to the department of pathology of pregnant women, where further tactics for managing pregnancy are determined. Most often, in this case, the woman is prepared for childbirth.
The last trimester of pregnancy is the most exciting period for a woman. The closer the birth gets, the more questions arise. The most relevant ones concern how contractions begin before childbirth, what sensations arise during this process, and whether pain is felt.
It is this process that is most feared by the fair sex, whose pregnancy is their first. There's really no need to be nervous about this. With negative emotions, pain can seem very strong. The less you think about it and fear contractions, the easier the birth will be.
Yes, and there are special techniques to reduce pain during this natural process.
A woman carrying a baby under her heart can be misled by false (training) contractions. They can begin from the 20th week of pregnancy. False contractions before childbirth cause slight discomfort, but are irregular, short-lived and in most cases practically painless. Uterine tension and discomfort can be relieved by a warm bath or walking. It is important to remember that the bath temperature should be between 36 and 38 degrees.
True contractions are the main harbinger of childbirth. How are contractions before childbirth and what are they like? Every woman experiences contractions differently. This depends on the physiological characteristics of the pregnant woman and the position of the baby in the tummy. For example, some may feel weak aching pain in the lumbar region, which after a certain period of time spreads to the abdomen and pelvis, encircling the woman.
Others note that the sensations during contractions are comparable to the discomfort that occurs during menstruation. The pain subsequently intensifies. During contractions, the uterus may seem to turn to stone. This can be clearly seen if you put your hand on your stomach.
All of the above signs may also be characteristic of false uterine contractions. Then how to recognize real contractions before childbirth? There are general signs of this natural process by which every pregnant woman can determine that she will soon begin labor:
- regularity of occurrence;
- gradual increase in frequency;
- increasing pain over time.
At first, a pregnant woman may feel contractions after a long period of time. The pain is not severe. In the future, the intervals between contractions gradually decrease, and the pain of this natural process increases.
Based on the general signs of contractions before childbirth, 3 phases of the process can be distinguished:
- initial (latent, hidden);
- active;
- transitional.
The initial stage lasts on average about 7-8 hours. The duration of the contraction can be 30-45 seconds, the interval between them is about 5 minutes. During this period, the cervix dilates by 0-3 cm.
During the active phase, which lasts from 3 to 5 hours, contractions can last up to 60 seconds. The frequency of contractions during childbirth is 2-4 minutes. The cervix dilates 3-7 cm.
The transition phase (deceleration phase) is the shortest. A woman can stay in it for 0.5-1.5 hours. Contractions become longer. Now they last for 70-90 seconds. The interval between contractions also becomes shorter compared to other phases. After about 0.5-1 minutes, a woman in position will feel uterine contractions. The neck of this organ dilates by 7-10 cm.
Contractions during the second birth are also divided into three phases, but the total duration of each of them is shorter than during the first birth.
What to do if contractions start?
When contractions occur, a pregnant woman should calm down, because fuss is not the best helper. It is advisable to take a comfortable position in a chair, chair or bed and begin to record the intervals between contractions and their duration. It is advisable to record all this data. There is no need to think about what is more painful: contractions or childbirth. Fear will make the pain seem unbearable.
If contractions do not last long and the duration between them is long (20-30 minutes), then it is too early for the baby to be born. The woman has time to collect the necessary things and call an ambulance. At this time, with the help of loved ones, you can take a warm shower. When contractions occur, the intervals between which are 5-7 minutes, you already need to go to the maternity hospital.
There is no point in postponing a trip to a medical facility, despite the fact that the initial phase of contractions can last several hours. The amniotic fluid may recede earlier, and at this time it is advisable to be under the supervision of an obstetrician-gynecologist. When your water breaks, you should never take a warm or hot bath, because this may increase the likelihood of developing infectious complications, bleeding, embolism, etc.
How to induce contractions and labor?
For many women, labor begins at 37-40 weeks. However, there are cases when pregnancy continues at 41, 42 and even 43 weeks. Representatives of the fair sex in such situations begin to worry and get nervous, because they so want to see their baby quickly, but he still doesn’t want to be born. Yes, and there are cases when the child died at this stage in the mother’s tummy, and contractions never began.
The death of a child can occur due to the fact that the placenta begins to age. The baby may no longer have enough oxygen and nutrients. How to induce contractions and childbirth is a question that worries expectant mothers who are carrying a child longer than the expected date of birth, which was calculated by the doctor.
To prevent negative consequences from occurring, contractions and childbirth can be induced. However, this decision should only be made by a doctor. If there are no pathologies and the amniotic fluid is clean, then there is no need to stimulate the birth process. Everything has its time. If any abnormalities are detected, the doctor will certainly offer stimulation of contractions and childbirth. There is no point in giving this up.
Contractions can also be induced independently. For example, they recommend being more upright, walking, moving, but there is no need to provoke fatigue or stress, as this will not be beneficial.
Feelings of contractions before childbirth can occur due to sex. Sperm contains prostaglandins, which prepare the cervix for childbirth by softening it. Sexual arousal and orgasm tone the body and cause uterine contractions.
You can induce contractions by massaging your nipples. You can start doing it from the 37th week of pregnancy. During a massage, the hormone oxytocin is released in the body, due to which the muscles of the uterus can begin to contract. Massage allows you not only to stimulate labor, but also to prepare the skin of your nipples for breastfeeding your baby.
There are also folk remedies for stimulating labor and contractions, but you should not try them on yourself. For example, certain teas and decoctions can negatively affect the health of the mother and her baby, because some herbs are contraindicated for pregnant women, as they can cause miscarriage.
How to ease contractions during childbirth?
Doctors can help a pregnant woman reduce pain during labor and childbirth using special medications. However, you should not rely on anesthesia. There is a possibility that the medicine will have a negative effect on the mother and her baby.
The main way to reduce pain is proper breathing during childbirth and labor. With its help, a woman in labor can relax. When a contraction occurs, it is recommended to focus on exhaling. At this moment, it is worth imagining that pain is “leaving” the body along with the air. A woman in labor may also make “noise” during contractions and childbirth. Sighs, groans and screams will ease the condition. Proper breathing should be learned in advance and practiced more often, because childbirth is stressful, due to which all poorly memorized information can be easily forgotten.
A woman in labor can relax thanks to a massage and simple gentle touches from a loved one. Contractions are the beginning of labor. It is when they occur that it is recommended to slowly massage the lower back. At this time, a woman can stand or sit on a chair, leaning on its back with her hands.
Massage of the lumbar back during childbirth is considered very effective. This is because the sacral nerve travels to the spinal cord from the uterus through the lower back. If you massage this area, the pain during contractions will be felt less. It is very good if the spouse wants to be present at the birth and help his beloved at this difficult moment.
The psychological attitude is no less important. Positive emotions and thoughts that you will soon be able to see the baby will help reduce pain. In order to react correctly to what is happening and not worry, a woman needs to understand how childbirth proceeds and what she can feel at this time.
There is no need to wait for the next contraction between contractions. This time is given to the woman for rest. When you are tensely waiting for the next contraction, you can quickly get tired.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that contractions are a natural process. All pregnant women go through this. The question of how contractions begin before childbirth worries many expectant mothers. It is worth noting that it is impossible to accurately describe all sensations, since they are individual. Some compare contractions to pain during menstruation, while others compare them to intestinal upset.
Many women are concerned about this issue, and what are the causes of pain. Undoubtedly, such knowledge is important only in theoretical form, because self-medication for abdominal pain during pregnancy is strictly prohibited. Otherwise, this can lead to quite serious consequences. The topic of today's article will help expectant mothers understand all the nuances of the issue.
Why can your stomach hurt before childbirth?
Possible physiological reasons for the appearance of precursors of labor:
Contractions, active fetal movement, change of position, dilatation of the cervix. Such reasons are called physiological because they arise as a result of natural processes and do not pose any danger, since they are completely normal and there is no need for concern.
Many women experience abdominal and lower back pain before giving birth; this is most often due to an increase in the fetus and its mass, as a result of which the lumbar part of the spine is bent.
In addition, pain also occurs as a result of prolapse of the abdomen and stretching of the pelvic muscles.
Symptoms of the development of precursors of labor
When the stomach hurts before childbirth, women feel spasms from the perineum, in the abdomen, the pain often “flows” into the hips or side. Moreover, in 95% of women this is most often explained by frequent contractions of the uterine muscles, as well as existing fetal pressure. The perineum may hurt as a result of stretching of the tissues in the lower parts of the birth canal. It is also completely natural and normal for your breasts to start to hurt. This is a direct indicator of the appearance of colostrum - milk that is produced for several days before childbirth and for a couple of days after the birth of the child.
Such sensations in a woman in the last weeks of pregnancy may indicate the approaching moment of childbirth. Already at the 30th week of pregnancy, pain may be felt in the lower abdomen and legs. This is how the body prepares for the birth of a baby. Precursors manifest themselves differently in every pregnant woman. Some may feel a “movement” of the pelvic bones, which results in pain in the lower abdomen and legs. But others, who are not particularly sensitive, do not feel a single manifestation, and labor begins suddenly.
Additional warning signs before childbirth
5 - 6 weeks before giving birth, the stomach drops. This is explained by the fact that the baby’s head begins to press tightly against the bony rim of the small pelvis. His motor activity decreases. A pregnant woman usually has easier breathing, but pain appears in the lower abdomen and legs, as the baby now puts pressure on the muscles and ligaments, as well as on the nerve endings.
From about 37 - 38 weeks, the cervix also begins its preparation for childbirth. It moves towards the center and softens.
The next harbinger usually brings a smile to many expectant mothers - this is the so-called “nesting” syndrome. When you want to put everything in order, prepare everything, make the world perfect.
Body weight decreases by 1-2 kg. Excess fluid is removed from the body.
And finally, a couple of days before or on the day of birth, the mucus plug comes out, which is a thick mucus of light or dark brown color, in an amount of about two tablespoons.
How to relieve pain in the lower abdomen before childbirth?
Most pregnant women prepare themselves to endure pain during childbirth. They may be different. Thus, some women experience severe pain as a precursor to childbirth, while others do not feel any “symptoms” of the process at all. To slightly relieve the symptoms of labor pain, you need to walk more, do yoga, do proper exercise, listen to relaxing music and learn to distract yourself.
It’s just important to remember that the charging should not be dangerous for your child, and not very long in time. You should also talk to your doctor ahead of time about whether you should start exercising, whether it's safe for you, and best of all, work out exercises for your stomach pain together.
What to do if your stomach hurts a lot before giving birth?
False contractions are short-term, almost painless and irregular contractions of the uterus, lasting 10 to 15 seconds. It is very easy to distinguish them from real labor contractions; they do not change their intensity and frequency. These contractions can last for several hours. You can soothe pain before childbirth with a warm bath with valerian, placing warm hands on the stomach, and a certain type of breathing - abdominal.
A common precursor to childbirth is the appearance of nagging pain at 32 - 33 weeks. This is the process of stretching the ligaments. A light massage with copper ointment or arnica oil helps to relieve tension.
Painful sensations in the lumbosacral spine. Massage using the above remedies can also help here, as well as swimming, water aerobics for pregnant women and yoga for pregnant women.
Aching and sometimes aching pain may appear in the pubic joint before childbirth, which indicates an increase in the pelvis provided by the divergence of the pubic bones. The knee-elbow position, bandage, warm baths and swimming help a lot.
From the 35th, 37th week of pregnancy before childbirth, discomfort appears in the hip area. The child also begins training and turns his head to the sides. Lightly and gently stroking the belly and talking to your baby can help.
If severe pain begins to appear in the last days of pregnancy, this indicates the imminent onset of labor. It is generally accepted that no childbirth can be completely painless and you need to prepare yourself mentally for this in advance. As a rule, women’s idea of childbirth is formed solely from the stories of friends who have already given birth or eyewitnesses of this process. You shouldn’t believe too much in what women who have given birth say, because everyone’s pain threshold is different, and anatomical features also play a fairly important role during childbirth.
If you believe the physiological point of view, then a healthy woman is quite capable of giving birth to a child without too much pain, deformation or rupture of the genital organs. In order for the body to fully prepare for the birth of a child, it has nine months, and this is not so little. This time is enough for the tissues of the birth canal to become softer, more elastic, and stretch easily so as not to injure the baby.
It is worth noting a rather interesting fact: not a single creature on the planet experiences terrible pain during childbirth, because this process is perceived as completely natural. At the same time, physiologists two centuries ago proved that pain during childbirth is caused either by the presence of pathologies, diseases, or by fear and severe stress. Accordingly, none of this should be present either during pregnancy or during childbirth.
If we talk about the reasons that can cause pain during the birth process, then they include:
- the woman’s age and health status;
- features of the anatomical structure of a woman’s body: the size of the pelvis, the state of the muscular, hormonal and other systems that play an important role during childbirth;
- if there were disruptions in the menstrual cycle before pregnancy, this may also affect childbirth;
- premature birth, when the body has not yet had time to fully prepare for this process;
- fetal size and position;
- the woman’s pain threshold level and her mental state.
Causes of pain before childbirth
The first common cause of pain before childbirth is false contractions. These contractions are training contractions; they literally tone the uterus for a minute and force it to contract. Such sensations occur after the 20th week of pregnancy and may cause slight discomfort, but not severe pain. Of course, every day these sensations may become more and more unpleasant, but the pain can only be felt in the lower abdomen. This is the main difference from real contractions, which will be regular, and the pain before childbirth will begin from the lower back. More severe pain may occur directly during contractions, when the uterus expels the fetus.The most important cause of pain during childbirth remains the psycho-emotional state of a woman. Because of fear, a woman cannot completely relax, she begins to tighten her muscles, and this causes severe pain. The more a woman strains, the more she will interfere with the natural process and stretching of muscles and ligaments.
The causes of pain can be pathological diseases, a woman’s narrow birth canal, or a pelvis that is too narrow. In addition, the ability to relax has a very strong influence; try to learn how to do this during pregnancy and then childbirth with a minimum amount of pain is guaranteed.
Symptoms of pain before childbirth
Every woman is able to understand that childbirth is approaching. The main symptom of the onset of labor is real labor pains. Of course, initially some women may confuse them with false contractions, which do not open the cervix and ultimately do not result in the birth of a child. False contractions will be irregular and all the discomfort will be concentrated in the lower abdomen. If this is not the woman’s first birth, then most likely the body will not train, because it has remembered the previous practice. The main signs of false contractions are:- appearance 3-4 weeks before the expected date of birth;
- the pain is dull and nagging;
- pain occurs in the lower abdomen and may resemble that which occurs during menstruation;
- the uterus is very tense and can be easily felt;
- in the intervals between training contractions, the uterus does not lose its tone;
- contractions are irregular and do not last more than one minute;
- the pain is easily relieved when changing posture or moving.
- the uterus begins to contract regularly;
- pain occurs rhythmically every 10-20 minutes;
- in between contractions, the uterus is completely relaxed;
- pain spreads to the whole body, especially to the lower back and abdomen;
- the mucous plug and amniotic fluid are discharged.
Abdominal pain before childbirth
Every woman understands that it is impossible to avoid abdominal pain before childbirth by meanness. Of course, they should not exceed the woman’s pain threshold and, ideally, be the same as during menstruation. This process is completely normal and has a simple explanation: the uterus stretches and because of this, the organs begin to gradually shift. If this is a woman’s first pregnancy and childbirth, then most likely she will feel abdominal pain and discomfort between 20 and 30 weeks of pregnancy. Mild pain during this period is quite normal and thus actively prepares the mother’s body for the future birth process.At this time, the muscles are stretched, the tissues become softer, and the cervical canal of the cervix becomes several times shorter than usual. During this period, you need to try to reduce the amount of physical activity and relax more, walk in the fresh air, get positive emotions and in no case be nervous.
Chest pain before childbirth
Slight breast tenderness during pregnancy and before childbirth is completely normal. It is worth emphasizing that if there is no chest pain, then this is a reason for the gynecologist to suspect the presence of a hidden pathology or other health problem. Towards the end of pregnancy, the breasts begin to noticeably increase in size, this is caused by the proliferation of glandular tissue. Soreness causes stretching of the breast skin and the capsules located inside.Also the cause of breast pain is the formation of milk ducts and slight enlargement of the nipples. Some women have severe breast pain at the beginning of pregnancy, while others only immediately before childbirth, when there is a significant enlargement of the mammary glands. It is worth noting that breast pain is quite tolerable and should not be too intense. Also, the expectant mother should understand that if the breasts hurt, then colostrum is formed in it, and the body is intensively preparing for bearing and giving birth to a baby. If the breasts do not hurt, then this may be a sign that colostrum is not being formed and in the future the baby may not have enough milk for proper feeding.
Almost every woman experiences abdominal pain before childbirth. There are plenty of reasons for the appearance of such pain, and most often they are directly related to changes in a woman’s body, due to her new position. Women are often very worried, fearing that they will miss the onset of labor, and become very worried if they have abdominal pain. So what explains the stomach pain before childbirth?
Pain before childbirth, at 40 weeks and later accompanies almost every birth. Most often in these cases, women experience lower back and abdominal pain. These pains often have a pulling sensation in the lower abdomen, a feeling that the abdomen is hardening or even turning to stone. Most often, the process when the stomach hurts before childbirth is associated with an increase in the tone of the uterus, which is caused by false contractions, which are harbingers of labor. The woman experiences a feeling of discomfort that occurs periodically, often with spasms that periodically increase, which may indicate signs of labor beginning.
This process, when a woman experiences pain before childbirth, is called precursors of labor. Some of them cause pain. At this time, loosening of the stool often occurs. This is also a natural process in the body where estrogen levels increase and fluids are removed from the body. At the same time, stool becomes more frequent and stool becomes thinner. This causes spasmodic pain in the abdominal area. During this process, a woman should be careful, because frequent urge to go to the toilet may not be a harbinger of childbirth, but a serious food poisoning.
Also, if your stomach hurts before giving birth, this may indicate that the uterine fundus has begun to prolapse. This is the process in which the baby begins to press the presenting part to the bottom of the uterus, pulling it down, pressing, most often with its head, against the pelvis. This indicates that the fetus is already beginning to prepare for release, taking the most comfortable position before contractions. In this case, the fetus ceases to exert pressure on the respiratory tract, but, having descended into the pelvic area, begins to put pressure on the internal organs, in particular the bladder. It also causes a nagging pain with frequent urge to go to the toilet.
The precursor, false or training contractions themselves occur shortly before childbirth and are normal labor activity, because during this process the uterus opens. The contraction itself is a single contraction of the walls of the uterus, lasting several minutes. This tension builds up for a few seconds and then drops just as quickly. By placing your palm on your stomach, you will be able to feel how it suddenly became very hard, and after a while it relaxed again. In fact, a woman is quite capable of distinguishing false contractions from real contractions. False contractions, for the most part, are irregular, weak, practically painless, and, most importantly, occur at long intervals, from 30 minutes or more between contractions. Labor contractions, real contractions, on the contrary, greatly open the uterus, they are frequent and very painful.
Also, in the last weeks and days before giving birth, women experience discomfort in the lower abdomen accompanied by pain. The cause of these pains is a sprain of the pelvic ligaments, which can be described as a slight nagging pain. All of these warning pains occur approximately two weeks before childbirth, and rarely require seeing a doctor. The main thing is to listen to your body and not be afraid of changes in the body associated with prenatal activities.
