When the belly drops before childbirth - features, description and causes

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

While waiting for the birth of a baby, the expectant mother listens to the slightest changes in her condition. The closer the expected date of birth, the more questions a pregnant woman has. One of the current problems is the prolapse of the abdomen.

In obstetric practice, this process is called the prolapse of the uterus or the formation of the fetus. The period at which the stomach drops before childbirth is individual for each girl. Important characteristics of the course of pregnancy, age, physiology, etc.

What does a sagging belly look like before childbirth? Why is he going down? How long will it take for the water to break? You can find answers to these and many other questions in this article.

The period at which the stomach drops

If the expectant mother feels well, no pathologies were diagnosed during the gestation process, then the first signs of a change in the shape of the abdomen appear 2-4 weeks before delivery. However, in modern obstetric practice, this process may begin much earlier or later.

Definingfactors are the constitution of the body and the weight of the woman in labor, the degree of training of the muscles of the abdominal cavity. For example, if they are weak, the child may descend to the small pelvis as early as the second trimester and stay there until the very moment of birth.

According to the standard, the abdomen before childbirth falls in the period from the 36th to the 37th week. The permissible deviation is 14 days in one direction or another. There is an opinion that the beginning of uterine prolapse is a harbinger of childbirth within two weeks.

Parameters of abdominal prolapse in primiparas

With a normal pregnancy and no pathologies in a woman carrying her first child, the stomach begins to undergo changes at the 36th week. Previously resembling a large ball pressed to the chest, it will now look like an oval with a pointed area near the navel.

When a primiparous stomach drops before childbirth a few weeks before the due date, do not worry, the child will not leave the mother's womb for 10 or more days. Therefore, the modification of the abdomen is not a direct sign of impending contractions. If there are no additional harbingers of the imminent birth of a baby into the world (for example, the passage of a mucous plug), it’s too early to get ready for the hospital.

One thing is for sure - from now on, a girl should listen to her well-being with special diligence.

When the belly drops before childbirth in multiparous women

If a woman has already experienced the joy of motherhood, abdominal prolapse can occur days and even hours before labor.

Bwhat is the reason? During the first pregnancy and childbirth, the muscles of the peritoneum weakened and stretched. They are no longer able to provide a rigid fixation of the uterus with the baby growing in it. And if the omission did occur, this indicates the normal state of the muscles and the approaching quick delivery.

Signs of sagging during pregnancy

When the baby is getting ready to go out into the world and the stomach drops before giving birth, the woman feels a number of signs that are characteristic of this phenomenon. Changes are reflected both internally and externally. Read more about the feelings of the expectant mother and other manifestations of the upcoming childbirth below.

Internal signs of abdominal prolapse

The prolapsed uterus begins to put a lot of pressure on the bladder, because of this, urination becomes more frequent, and temporary incontinence is possible. It is enough for a woman to drink a glass of juice, as she will immediately feel the desire to go to the toilet “in a small way”. There may also be frequent urge to have a bowel movement.

Heartburn disappears. The unpleasant burning sensation that has overcome the region of the esophagus over the past few months disappears completely. The thing is that the uterus is displaced below its previous position, does not put pressure on the stomach, and all the organs of the gastrointestinal tract restore normal functionality.

Shortness of breath disappears, finally, you can take a deep breath of air - and this is another way to help you understand that your stomach has dropped before childbirth.

Discharge from the genitals is transparent white. The reason for their appearance is an increase in the tone of the uterus, asevidence of her preparation for labor. If the color of the discharge is brown or red, this is an occasion for an unscheduled visit to the gynecologist.

The fetus becomes less active. The baby is growing rapidly, there is no longer enough room for sharp coups and kicks. He takes a comfortable position and behaves more calmly.

Discomfort while walking and sitting. The fetus not only reached a large size, but also increased in weight, therefore it puts pressure on the pelvic bones. A dull ache may be felt in the perineum, lower back, sacrum, and legs as a result of pressure exerted on the nerve endings.

External signs of abdominal prolapse

When the tummy takes on a new shape, changes are noticed not only by the expectant mother, but also by the people around her. It moves from high under the breast to below the navel in how many days before delivery.

The stomach drops, but how to make sure of it? A woman carrying a baby should place her palm horizontally between her stomach and chest. If the hand fits easily, then it is worth checking the bags collected for the hospital again, they will probably be needed soon.

The gait of a pregnant woman also undergoes changes. The fetus changes position, the uterus goes deeper into the small pelvis, which significantly complicates movement. Steps become clumsy, gait resembles a duck.

In some cases, the abdomen before childbirth falls unnoticed by the pregnant woman and her loved ones. The figure does not change in a certain category of women:

• with underdeveloped abdominal musclespress;
• narrow pelvis;
• who are diagnosed with low fetal presentation in the early stages - he has nowhere else to move down.

Let's move on to the discussion of the next question.

Sagging abdomen - anatomical aspect

Changing the shape of the abdomen involves pulling it forward. It has been repeatedly observed that in a woman pregnant with a boy, it acquires a pointed shape, and in mothers of girls it stretches to the sides.

The drooping belly begins to hang down more, settling a few centimeters below the pelvic bones and putting additional stress on the spine. At this stage, it is recommended to wear an antenatal bandage belt.

Abdomen visibly hardens, stretch marks may appear on the skin.

The distance between the chest and stomach increases every day, the waist becomes noticeable.

Sagging belly can have negative sides

It would seem that the stomach has dropped, which means that the trip to the hospital is just around the corner and the long-awaited meeting with the baby will happen soon. However, it is not in vain that it is believed that the last weeks of pregnancy are especially difficult for women.

This is a dull almost continuous pain in the abdomen. As a rule, its focus is localized in the lower part. The reason for the discomfort is that the uterus is thus preparing for the birth process. If the pulling and pressing feeling develops into a sharp unbearable pain, you should consult a doctor or call an ambulance.

The next unpleasant moment is an increase in the load on the spine. This causes pain in the lumbar region, it is difficult for a pregnant woman to find a comfortable position for sitting and lying.

The chair is broken. Pressure on the organs of the gastrointestinal tract leads to causeless diarrhea or constipation. And also problems with urination are not excluded.

Change in the location of the fetus leads to the fact that the expectant mother experiences inconvenience in the performance of everyday activities. So, putting on shoes, especially winter ones, is almost impossible without outside help. It is difficult to climb on a stool, quickly go down the stairs, drive a car - you can endlessly enumerate activities that are practically inaccessible to a pregnant girl in the later stages.

When there is no change

We are anxiously wondering how much the stomach drops before giving birth, and in fact in some cases this does not happen at all. Obstetrician-gynecologists say that the absence of visual changes in the outlines of the abdomen is a variant of the norm.

The belly can take a new position as early as 32 weeks or not drop until the onset of prenatal contractions. If you do not notice changes in yourself, then there is no reason to worry. There are many reasons: structural features of the mother's body, a large fetus, a narrow pelvis and much more.

About the normal course of pregnancy in the third trimester, doctors judge the entry of the baby's head into the pelvic area. This indicates a he althy state of both the woman and the baby, as well as the upcoming natural birth. Fetusslowly moves down, taking the correct comfortable position, in which it will stay immediately before the onset of active labor activity.