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When to see a doctor

Pregnancy is often an exciting time in a woman’s life, but it is also a time filled with strange new physical symptoms or experiences. Stomach-tightening is one such symptom that many women experience during pregnancy.

There are many reasons for the stomach or abdomen to tighten during pregnancy, and these may vary, depending on the trimester.

In this article, we look at the causes, as well as when to speak to a doctor.

There are many reasons why a woman may feel her stomach is tightening during the first trimester of pregnancy, including:

Stretching

During the first trimester, the uterus is growing and stretching rapidly to accommodate the growing fetus.

This can cause abdominal cramping or sharp, stabbing, or shooting pains along the side of the abdomen, as the ligaments and other tissues stretch.

Gas or constipation

Gas pain is a very common problem throughout pregnancy. It can cause cramping or shooting pain in the abdomen, and it can be very painful.

Constipation is also a common complaint in early pregnancy. The changing pregnancy hormones can slow down the gastrointestinal tract.

Also, the iron in some prenatal vitamins can harden stool and make it difficult to go to the bathroom. Both gas and constipation can sometimes make it feel as if the stomach is tightening.

Miscarriage

Rarely, tightening of the abdomen can signal a miscarriage, which is the loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks.

However, a miscarriage is most common before the 12th week of pregnancy. Other signs of a miscarriage include:

• mild to severe back pain
• bright red or brown vaginal bleeding
• cramping
• vaginal discharge of tissue or clots
• decrease in the symptoms or signs of pregnancy, such as morning sickness or breast tenderness

The signs of a miscarriage vary between individuals and, in some situations, a woman may not have any signs at all. It is important for a woman to get regular prenatal care during early pregnancy so that her doctor can monitor the baby’s development.

In early pregnancy, a woman should call the doctor’s office with any vaginal bleeding, especially if it is red and resembles a period.

Stretching, cramping, and stabbing pain along the sides of the uterus often continues into the second trimester, and is known as round ligament pain. The round ligaments are located on either side of the uterus and connect the uterus to the groin.

During pregnancy, the ligaments stretch as the uterus grows, which can cause the sharp pain. This pain commonly occurs with changes in position, such as sitting to standing or bending down.

Most women start to feel their uterus contract and periodically tighten some time during the second trimester, the point in their pregnancy between 14 to 28 weeks. These are known as Braxton-Hicks contractions, false labor, or practice contractions.

The purpose of Braxton-Hicks contractions is for the uterus to prepare for the hard work of labor and delivery. It is thought that they help to tone the muscle in the uterus and promote blood flow to the placenta.

Braxton-Hicks contractions are normal and very common. They typically last for around 30 to 60 seconds but can be as long as 2 minutes. They are not as painful as regular contractions, but can still cause considerable pain and discomfort.

Some things may trigger or worsen Braxton-Hicks contractions:

• sex or orgasm
• dehydration
• a full bladder
• sharp kicking by the baby

Even though Braxton-Hicks contractions are common during pregnancy, it is important to mention them to the doctor at prenatal visits. The doctor can help determine whether they are Braxton-Hicks, or if they could be a sign of preterm labor.

It is important to call the doctor if:

• contractions get stronger or closer together
• contractions are not relieved by rest or drinking water
• there is fluid leaking from the vagina
• there is vaginal bleeding

A doctor should evaluate these symptoms to make sure that a woman is not experiencing complications or preterm labor.

Share on PinterestDuring the third trimester, Braxton-Hicks contractions may increase in strength.

Stomach-tightening associated with Braxton-Hicks contractions increases in strength and frequency during the third trimester. These contractions are especially common during the last few weeks of pregnancy as the uterus prepares for birth.

However, it is still important to notice and keep track of them. If a woman has more than a few in an hour, she should speak to her doctor.

Things a person can do to relieve the pain and stretching feeling include:

• Drinking a glass of water: Dehydration is a common trigger for Braxton-Hicks contractions. Try having a big glass of water and lying down for a few minutes.
• Using the bathroom: Having a full bladder is associated with increased Braxton-Hicks contractions. Sometimes, just using the bathroom and emptying the bladder can stop the contractions.
• Changing positions: Sometimes body position can put pressure on the uterus, triggering Braxton-Hicks contractions. Try shifting positions or lying down.
• Taking a warm bath or shower: Sitting in a warm tub can relax tired or achy muscles, including the uterus.
• Drinking a cup of tea or warm milk: Warm milk or herbal tea can be both relaxing and hydrating.

It is important to call a doctor if home remedies do not relieve stomach tightening or if there are more than four contractions in an hour.

Many women have called their doctor or gone to the hospital if they experience Braxton-Hicks contractions, especially near the end of their pregnancy. As Braxton-Hicks contractions get stronger and more frequent, it often feels as if labor is beginning for real.

There are a couple of differences, however:

Other signs of labor can include:

• back pain or cramping
• leaking of fluid from the vagina
• bloody vaginal discharge

As always, it is essential to contact the doctor or make a trip to the hospital with any questions or concerns.

Increased tone of the uterus during pregnancy

Nicotine constricts the blood vessels of the expectant mother, as well as the vessels of the placenta and umbilical cord, through which the fetus is nourished. Of course, smoking by itself is unlikely to lead to hypertonicity, but in combination with other factors, it may well

If the work is associated with constant stress, it has harmful effects or it is physically difficult, give it up as soon as possible. If this is not possible, use your rights, which are enshrined in the labor legislation of the Russian Federation

Hypertonicity must be distinguished from Braxton-Hicks contractions: it lasts much longer than these training contractions and usually does not go away on its own (or goes away only after a long time)

what is hypertonicity

, - muscle, and according to the laws of physiology, muscle tissue is reduced under the influence of any factor. Slightly the uterus contracts in women every month during menstruation, much stronger during labor pains. The uterus can also contract during pregnancy, doctors call this condition hypertonicity. What it looks like: suddenly, at some point, a woman feels that her stomach is tense, becomes hard, as if “hardening”. This state lasts for a long time - half an hour, an hour, half a day or even all day. Additionally, discomfort (or pain) in the lower back or sacrum may also appear. It is clear that such tension in the abdomen worries the mother, because since the uterus is contracting, then perhaps there is a threat of termination of pregnancy. But here it all depends on how much and how often the stomach tenses.

Braxton-Hicks contractions

It turns out that the stomach can tense up not only when there is a threat of miscarriage. Starting from the end of the second trimester, the expectant mother can feel the so-called training contractions (Brexton-Hicks contractions) - the stomach also tenses with them for a while, as if “hardening”, - in general, the sensations are the same as with hypertonicity. But the main difference between such contractions and hypertonicity is that they last for a very short time (a few seconds - a couple of minutes) and pass by themselves, as well as if you change the position of the body or take a shower. Braxton-Hicks contractions occur up to about ten times a day, and by the end of pregnancy they appear even more often. These contractions are completely normal during pregnancy, and they do not indicate any threat of interruption. It’s just that with their help, the uterus, as it were, prepares (trains) for childbirth.

where does hypertonicity come from

Hypertonicity can appear in any trimester of pregnancy. In the early stages, it occurs more often due to the fact that there is not enough progesterone, a hormone that is needed for the normal course of pregnancy. Another cause of hypertonicity is some changes in the uterine wall, for example, fibroids (a knot of uterine muscle tissue), endometriosis (growth of the uterine mucosa into the thickness of the wall), and inflammatory diseases. In these situations, the wall of the uterus is not able to stretch as it should. At later dates, hypertonicity can develop, on the contrary, with overstretching of the uterus (with polyhydramnios, large fetuses, multiple pregnancies). Very often, hypertonicity is provoked by some kind of physical activity too strong for a woman, for example, if, in a fit of “nesting”, the mother suddenly began to move and rearrange something in the apartment herself, or she simply moved for a very long time without resting. Someone hypertonicity occurs after psychological overstrain.

how to recognize hypertonicity

Hypertonicity must be distinguished from Braxton-Hicks contractions - as mentioned earlier, it lasts much longer than these training contractions and usually does not go away on its own (or goes away only after some long time). But if the mother cannot understand whether she has hypertension or not, you should consult a doctor. If there is still an increased tone of the uterus, the doctor, simply by placing his hand on his stomach, will feel a seal, tension, up to the feeling of a stone at hand. In addition, you can always do an ultrasound, on which, with hypertonicity, areas of local thickening of the muscular layer of the uterus are visible, and also look at the cervix, by the state of which you can also judge whether there is a threat of abortion or not.

what to do in case of hypertonicity

If it appears, the first thing you need to do is:

1. Calm down and lie down if possible. Do not panic, extra stress will not bring any benefits, especially since without consulting a doctor it is still not clear whether there is hypertonicity and how pronounced it is. Or maybe it's a false alarm? In addition, you can use relaxation techniques (breathing, auto-training, etc.).

2. Call your doctor. Of course, the doctor will not make a diagnosis in absentia, but since he knows the history of the expectant mother, her real or possible problems, he will be able to give the right direction for further action.

3. If it is not possible to contact your doctor, you can contact any clinic or antenatal clinic where pregnant women are treated. If medical institutions are already closed (late evening, at night), you can call an ambulance - she will take you to the nearest hospital or maternity hospital (you can also get there by taxi).

4. Hypertonicity is well eliminated by special medicines that relax the uterus (tocolytics), and if the doctor has prescribed them, then you should not be afraid to take them: they help quickly enough and do not harm the child.

how to prevent hypertonicity

There are simple rules that can prevent hypertonicity or reduce the risk of its occurrence:

1. Quit smoking, watch your weight, do not eat surrogate foods. No matter how trite it may sound, but it is a healthy lifestyle that is the basis of our well-being.

2. Distribute your forces correctly. Laundry, cooking can wait if the expectant mother suddenly feels that she needs a rest. If any activities require physical or psychological stress, cancel them for a while. Do not attend events or places where you may feel uncomfortable, reduce communication with people that are unpleasant for you.

3. Follow your doctor's recommendations: if he recommends any examination or treatment, do not neglect them.

Listen to your body, follow the doctor's advice, tune in to the positive - this is the key to a successful pregnancy. And then no hypertonicity is terrible for you!

symptoms in the early stages, in the second and third trimesters, what to do, how to determine

So what is this “increased uterine tone”, why does it occur, does it harm the child a lot and how can it be prevented? Let's find out.

What is uterine tone

Let's start with the anatomy: the uterus is made of muscle tissue, and any muscle can be in a relaxed and tense state - tone. (1) In a non-pregnant woman, the uterus contracts during menstruation. During childbirth, these contractions help the baby to be born.

— Uterine contractions are usually irregular, relatively painless, and resolve spontaneously without medical intervention. Sometimes the tone of the uterus increases, this is normal - for example, in the last weeks of the term, when the pregnant woman begins training contractions, - says obstetrician-gynecologist Laysan Ibatullina .

If the period is still short, and the tone of the uterus persists for a long time, this may cause a threat of termination of pregnancy or premature birth. Uterine hypertonicity can provoke rejection of the ovum or deterioration of uteroplacental blood flow, which is fraught with intrauterine hypoxia (lack of oxygen) of the fetus.

Symptoms of uterine tone during pregnancy

— The following symptoms indicate that you have an increased tone: mild pain, tension, feeling of a “stone” in the lower abdomen. To relieve discomfort, it is often enough for a woman to relax, take a comfortable position. In the West, doctors consider hypertonicity to be a physiological condition (unless, of course, there is severe pain and discomfort passes quickly). The uterus contracts when we laugh or sneeze when we are stressed. Even during an examination on a gynecological chair, a woman is a little nervous, and her uterus comes into tone. It is possible to judge an increased tone as a norm or pathology, depending on its duration. If the tension lasts for a long time, the pulling pain in the abdomen and lower back does not go away, the pregnant woman needs urgent medical care, explains obstetrician-gynecologist Laysan Ibatullina .

In the early stages - the first trimester