Belly at 6 months pregnant: photos, sensations, tests

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

The end of the second trimester falls exactly on the sixth month of pregnancy. By this time, a woman gets used to her position, constant changes in her appearance, figure, habits, day and night regimen. At the 6th month of pregnancy, the belly becomes visually noticeable, and even in chubby women it acquires a beautiful rounded shape, the waist is smoothed out. Changes are also taking place inside the womb, the baby is actively developing, his movements are clearly palpable and you can even understand what position he is in.

Fetal development

The second trimester is notable for the fact that the stomach begins to actively grow. At the 6th month of pregnancy, it becomes more rounded in some, while in others it sticks out forward like a ball. Every woman is very different. For others, it becomes quite obvious that a womanis in position. True, there is one exception: women who are overweight or are used to wearing loose clothing. For some time they will still be able to keep their pregnancy a secret. However, for the woman herself, who is observed by a doctor, controls her well-being, external changes in the body become pronounced.

At the 6th month of pregnancy, the belly will grow as actively as the baby grows, because it needs more space, and the amount of amniotic fluid increases accordingly. To relieve the increased stress on the back and legs, it is recommended to support the abdomen with a prenatal bandage. It will allow you to prolong your walks and significantly facilitate the overall well-being of the pregnant woman.

At the end of the second trimester, the fetus is about 30 cm tall and weighs about a kilogram. These parameters are monitored during the next screening and at the appointment with a gynecologist. He takes weekly measurements of the circumference of the abdomen to determine the risk of developing a possible pathology at an early stage.

Polyhydramnios

If a woman notices that she has a big belly at 6 months of pregnancy, then perhaps this is polyhydramnios. This can be established during an ultrasound examination. At the next examination in the antenatal clinic, polyhydramnios is diagnosed by measuring the circumference of the abdomen and the height of the fundus of the uterus. Since it is believed that the latter corresponds to the gestational age of the fetus, significant upward deviations just indicate the development of polyhydramnios.

Goodthe girth of the abdomen at the 24th week of pregnancy is about 80 cm, and the height of the uterine fundus is about 22-27 cm. It is worth considering the individual characteristics of each woman. So in the presence of excess body weight, these figures may be somewhat larger and vice versa. Many women pay attention to what kind of belly is at 6 months of pregnancy, compare it with their previous pregnancies and agree that there are no two identical forms. You should not look for signs of pathology in yourself, and if there are certain suspicions, it is better to consult a doctor.

In addition to the increased size of the abdomen, a pregnant woman may be accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms: gurgling in the abdomen, shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling of the legs, abdominal girth of more than 100 cm, pulling the lower abdomen. At the 6th month of pregnancy, these signs should alert not only the expectant mother, but also the observing gynecologist. Self-treatment and medication is strictly prohibited. The main tests that must be taken in this situation should determine or exclude the risk of developing: infection, kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, malformations in the child, heart disease.

Low water

Opposite to polyhydramnios, another pathology is a small amount of amniotic fluid, which also affects the size of the abdomen at 6 months of pregnancy. It can be moderate or pronounced, vulnerable, late or prolonged. With oligohydramnios, on the contrary, it looks smaller than it should be at this time. This phenomenon is much less common, butDespite this, it causes some concern in pregnant women. A woman may notice that she has a very small belly at 6 months pregnant. For a baby, oligohydramnios means that the space for movement is reduced, he becomes less active. As a result, the lack of amniotic fluid leads to fetal hypoxia, so it is necessary to diagnose oligohydramnios in a timely manner and undergo treatment.

When determining deviations, doctors are guided by the standards adopted by WHO. For example, if the water content is less than 500 ml, then this indicates oligohydramnios. It is also worth paying attention to the nature of the discharge. So it can happen that the water is leaking and this causes oligohydramnios. In this case, only a qualified specialist gives a competent assessment of the condition of the mother and fetus. If a woman began to feel pain in the lower abdomen while moving the baby, besides pulling the lower abdomen: at the 6th month of pregnancy, it is important to exclude self-treatment, it is better to consult a doctor unscheduled.

In addition to ultrasound, it is recommended to undergo dopplerography, which will allow you to control the work of the vessels of the placenta, to exclude insufficient oxygen supply to the baby. It is also worth taking tests to exclude the development of an inflammatory or infectious process. Among the reasons may be hypertension, obesity, multiple pregnancy, abuse of bad habits, deviations in the development of the baby.

Multiple pregnancy

If, in the case of a singleton pregnancy, the belly grows fromweek by week, then when carrying several babies, its size can change before our eyes, from day to day. Therefore, do not be surprised that at the 6th month of pregnancy, the stomach is covered with stretch marks and no oils and creams will save you from this. The increased load on the entire body cannot bypass the appearance of a woman. The waist is smoothed out, and the stomach can no longer be hidden, and it noticeably reminds others that they are pregnant.

For a future mother expecting twins or triplets, this period becomes a real test. She gets tired faster, the sensations of hiking may not be so pleasant. It is worth using a prenatal bandage to ease your burden, do not overwork, if possible, rest at the first sign of fatigue. During the movements of babies, the shape of the abdomen may change, for example, if they take a transverse position. What does the belly look like at 6 months of pregnancy in this case? Most likely, it will look like an oval, however, this phenomenon is temporary. Since there is still time ahead, it is likely that they will be in the correct position before the onset of labor and the stomach will have a more familiar rounded shape.

Feeling of growing belly

By the end of the second trimester, a woman gets used to her new position and changes in her body. Therefore, most of the thematic photo shoots fall on this period. The most popular photos of the abdomen at 6 months of pregnancy are taken at home in amateur shooting mode. This is a simple and quick way to record the growth of the baby in memory,which is actively developing inside the womb. In addition to the pleasant sensations from fetal movements, a woman may experience discomfort associated with pressure on internal organs. The longer the period, the heavier the stomach becomes and, consequently, the load on the back. Pain in the lumbar region can indicate internal tone and overexertion. In this case, it is recommended to reduce the load and wear a brace, allow yourself to lie down during the day or sleep better.

It is believed that during the normal course of pregnancy throughout the entire period, a woman should not experience any negative symptoms, pain. The appearance of fatigue, various skin rashes on the body, a feeling of tone more often indicate the presence of a vitamin deficiency in the body, excessive physical activity, lack of a proper daily routine, nutrition, sleep and rest disorders.

Appearance of striae

Active growth of the abdomen during the bearing of a baby by a woman is accompanied by damage or stretching of the skin, in a word, stretch marks appear. A pregnant woman may feel itching in the area where the stretch occurs: the sides, lower abdomen, the area around the navel and even the chest. In some women, especially when carrying several babies, striae can cover the entire surface of the abdomen. There are many stories on the web about how to prevent their occurrence. The most popular recommendations are related to the use of special cosmetics for body care during pregnancy with various vitamin complexes. A photo of the abdomen at 6 months of pregnancy, no matter how neat it is in shape, with red stripes cannoticeably spoil the mood of any woman. Therefore, special attention is paid to skin care.

The color of the stretch marks can be from pale pink to purple. If a woman tans in the summer, then due to the uneven surface of the skin of the abdomen, its color will almost certainly be heterogeneous. Therefore, it is a mistake to believe that a tan will help hide them. Moreover, do not abuse open sunlight to avoid burns. Since the skin on the abdomen is so thin, exposure to ultraviolet light can cause even more damage than usual.

Prevention of stretch marks

Needless to say, there are those who, in general, have never experienced stretch marks and have no idea what it is to use special creams for skin care on the abdomen during pregnancy. If by the end of the second trimester a woman has not found a single red stripe on her body, this does not mean that in the third trimester they will bypass her. It is advisable to use oils containing vitamin E or A (for example, olive) for the purpose of prevention. Feelings of gentle stroking of the abdomen can provoke reciprocal fetal movements or uterine tone, so hand movements should be gentle, not exerting strong pressure on the abdomen.

It is noted that in women who go in for active sports, keep their figure in good shape, the abdominal muscles are more resistant to stress during pregnancy. As a rule, they are less likely to experience the appearance of stretch marks not only on the abdomen, but also on the hips and chest. This is also facilitated by proper nutrition, abstinence fromalcohol and smoking abuse, stable weight. If the metabolic processes in the body proceed without any deviations, then the restoration of the skin is faster.

Pigment strip

Changes in hormonal levels can be seen with the naked eye, when in the second trimester, due to the active growth of the fetus, the stomach also increases. If you look at a photo of the abdomen at 6 months of pregnancy, it can be noted that this strip does not spoil the appearance at all. In about 90% of pregnant women at this time, it has either already manifested itself or is becoming more noticeable. Although it is likely that it will not appear at all (this happens in 10% of women). Outwardly, it seems to divide the stomach in half with a vertical line.

In some, it stretches from the navel down to the pubic bone, in others it continues to the diaphragm. It has been noticed that in dark-skinned women, as well as those who are prone to pigmentation, it is brighter. It is almost impossible to prevent its occurrence. The reason for this is the production of melanin, which stains the white line of the abdomen in a dark color. This is a tendon that connects the symmetrical abdominal muscles in the middle. In the normal state, when a woman is not pregnant, its color is white and invisible to the naked eye. When carrying a baby in the body, the production of hormones changes and it turns light brown. The longer the term and the closer the due date, the darker it becomes.

The length and width of the pigment strip is purely individual and does not depend on gender or the number of babies. It is possible to exclude longexposure to the sun, while wearing closed clothing. This will reduce pigmentation and the strip will be lighter. It is also believed that the intensity of its color is affected by the content of folic acid in the body of a pregnant woman. With a lack of it, the strip will be brighter.

If your stomach hurts?

Doctors recommend to be careful when any unpleasant symptoms appear, in particular, accompanied by pain. They are not always associated with the risk of preterm birth or deterioration in the he alth of the expectant mother. It happens that the child, while moving, touches the internal organs and this causes pain. Also, do not exclude cases when a woman has problems with bowel function. Most often this is due to constipation or gas formation. You can solve the problem by establishing proper nutrition, it is also worth drinking enough clean drinking water (about 1.5-2 liters per day).

However, you should be wary if at 6 months of pregnancy the stomach pulls, it tenses and turns to stone. This may indicate uterine tone or even training contractions. Doctors recommend taking a pill "No-shpy" or putting a candle "Papaverine". If there are no other symptoms (brown or bloody discharge, water leakage), then these drugs should help and the pain will subside. Otherwise, you will need to contact a doctor or call an ambulance.

What tests should be taken at 6 months

During the next visit to the gynecologist, he will definitelymeasure the circumference of the abdomen. At the 5-6th month of pregnancy, another ultrasound examination is also carried out, a urine test is taken, if necessary, a general blood test. In order to exclude the risk of developing placental insufficiency, a Doppler study may be prescribed. Since the baby is actively growing, starting from the 20th week, the gynecologist listens to the fetal heartbeat through the mother's abdomen using a special obstetric stethoscope. Thus, the doctor can determine in what position the child is.

Any other tests are prescribed strictly according to the indications, as well as in the presence of complaints or chronic diseases of the mother that existed before the onset of pregnancy. Of course, if there are complaints, for example, if the stomach hurts at 6 months of pregnancy, the doctor may recommend taking a urine test, sending it for an ultrasound scan to rule out abnormalities in the kidneys.