What does it mean when your stomach drops before childbirth? Questions. Other signs of imminent labor
Nine months of waiting are approaching the final stage, during which time things are happening. various kinds changes in the mother's body. Pregnancy is coming to an end, and the first sign of impending birth is a drooping abdomen, in this way nature prepares both mother and child for the upcoming event. Since ancient times, this was considered the first sign of labor. If you notice that your stomach has gone down a little and it has become easier to breathe, it means that the fundus of the uterus has dropped down into your abdomen.
What does prolapse of the abdomen mean?
A drooping abdomen indicates that the body is beginning final preparations for the birth of a child. The baby's weight presses on the bottom of the uterus, as a result of which it descends into the lower abdominal cavity, while the baby presses against the bones of the small pelvis, fixing itself there until labor begins. In turn, the mother may feel some relief, since the stomach no longer puts pressure on the diaphragm, and breathing is completely normalized, as a result of which shortness of breath disappears.
But it is worth noting that not all expectant mothers experience a similar phenomenon. If this is not the first time a woman has given birth, her stomach drops when labor contractions begin. This is due to the fact that the muscular wall of the abdominal cavity has weakened significantly after the first birth, thereby preventing the baby from staying near the pelvis. In this case, abdominal prolapse does not occur. Only when contractions occur can muscle spasms push the baby down, indicating the active development of labor.
The situation is different with the prolapse of the abdomen in primiparous women; their muscles have not yet been subjected to such a load, thanks to this they are able to firmly hold the child in its position, and if, under its weight, the baby pulls down, the uterus naturally descends, held by the muscular wall of the abdomen in selected position.
Note! If a first-time mother notices drooping of the abdomen, do not panic and immediately go to the maternity hospital. Rather, this process speaks of preparation for the upcoming birth, which will occur no earlier than in two weeks.
This calculation is correct if the pregnancy proceeded without complications. Otherwise, you should immediately report the incident to your doctor.
How can you understand that your stomach has dropped?
Not everyone can visually determine whether the uterus has descended or not, since this happens on an individual basis. But based on some feelings, this can be understood. To begin, place your palm under the chest, where the abdomen begins, and if a small distance appears between them, and the palm easily fits in this gap, this is the first signal that the uterus has prolapsed.
Perhaps you were tormented by shortness of breath when walking, and your stomach pressed unpleasantly on your ribs, your stomach was not working well, and heartburn did not give you rest - with a lowering of your stomach, all these ailments immediately disappear. Many women are familiar with this. But the unpleasant sensations find a new place in your body. First of all, the internal organs of the small pelvis suffer. There is increased pressure on the bladder, as a result of which the mother simply does not leave the toilet. And due to pressure on the rectum, both constipation and diarrhea can develop.
The baby's head puts more pressure on the uterus, thereby affecting and irritating the nerve endings, which causes a dull pain in the very bottom of the abdomen. Because of this, when walking, a woman moves with waddling steps, which from a distance resembles a duck. From the outside, such changes immediately become noticeable, indicating that the due date is approaching.
After a sagging belly, a woman should more closely monitor changes in the body; if in doubt, she should additionally consult her doctor.
What to do when your stomach drops
The main thing you should know is that the earliest prolapse of the abdomen should occur after the 35th week of pregnancy. If this happened a week or two earlier, and you notice a very sharp nagging pain in the lower abdomen with increased tone of the uterus, there is a high risk of premature birth, you should immediately go to the hospital, where you will be admitted for safekeeping in order to fully carry your baby.
Note! A woman giving birth repeatedly, who notices the process of abdominal prolapse, should carefully monitor all further processes occurring in her body. It is quite possible that the plug may come out immediately after the abdomen subsides - this is direct evidence of the onset of labor. Therefore, do not wait for contractions to begin, call an ambulance immediately.
So, a drooping belly is the first signal for preparations; if there are no health problems, the woman can safely stay at home until the upcoming birth. At the same time, she must follow a number of recommendations that will help her wait for that day without any problems. Lately it has been very difficult for them to fall asleep, so they need to find the most comfortable position for a restful sleep in order to get enough sleep and save their energy. You should regulate the amount of fluid you take in through food and completely avoid any physical activity, as this can cause contractions and early labor. There is no need to disturb the child ahead of schedule; he must want to be born himself.
While waiting for the birth of a baby, expectant mothers are very worried and interested in everything that happens to them. One of the signs that the moment of birth is approaching is considered to be prolapse of the tummy; in medicine this condition is called fetal formation. How long does this happen and how long does the expectant mother need to wait to meet her baby? What will the belly look like, and what does the woman feel at this time?
The process of abdominal prolapse in pregnant women before childbirth
During pregnancy, changes in the body of the expectant mother occur constantly: hormonal levels change, the embryo grows and develops. The changes are especially noticeable in the early and later. Why does the stomach droop and what does it mean?
Why is this happening?
As the baby develops and grows, the uterus constantly increases in size, shifting and compressing the remaining organs of the pregnant woman. The stomach and heart slightly change their position, the lungs are compressed. However, in the 3rd trimester the situation changes: the body is actively preparing for childbirth, estrogen levels increase, and the tummy drops.
Why is this happening?
The main reason is the growth of the child. The baby reaches such a size that the stomach cannot remain in its original state. The child becomes cramped, he cannot actively move and begins to roll over, lowering his head to the pelvis. The fundus of the uterus goes down, resulting in prolapse of the abdomen.
Main features
A woman’s sensations and appearance indicate a prolapsed abdomen. The beginning of this process can be determined by the following symptoms:
- a pregnant woman notices that there is no heartburn - this is due to the fact that the uterus stops putting pressure on the stomach;
- breathing becomes easier compared to pregnancy in the 2nd trimester;
- abundant whitish discharge appears, which indicates increased tone of the uterus;
- due to the pressure of the prolapsed uterus on the bladder, urination becomes more frequent, the woman has to get up to go to the toilet even at night;
- stool becomes frequent and stool becomes soft, constipation disappears;
- the child behaves calmly due to the lack of free space for movement (more details in the article:);
- the increasing pressure of the fetus on the pubis causes pain when sitting, the pregnant woman walks, waddling from side to side, and discomfort in the lower back is possible.
What does the belly look like?
Multiparous women can easily understand that the tummy has dropped, but how can those who become mothers for the first time know this? A woman needs to place her palm on her body between her stomach and chest - if it fits, then prolapse has occurred. In addition, this can be determined by the following signs:
- the stomach changes shape and stretches, hanging slightly below the pelvic line;
- becomes heavy in appearance and very hard;
- some women develop additional stretch marks;
- the drooping tummy is similar in shape to an ellipse or pear;
- the navel protrudes (we recommend reading:).
You can see what the tummy looks like before and after drooping in the photo. However, despite all the obvious signs, a specialist must determine whether the baby has rolled over. If this does not happen, the doctor will tell you how to force the child into the correct position. Sometimes a woman may not even notice that her stomach has dropped, but in any case her health will improve.
Optimal timing of omission
It is impossible to answer exactly the question of how many weeks before the start of delivery the belly will drop. This is influenced by various factors:
- number of births a woman has;
- structural features of the pelvis;
- baby's position;
- age, fitness and health;
- weight and number of children (the greater the weight of the fetus, the faster the process occurs).
If this process begins after the 35th week of pregnancy, this is considered normal. If the stomach has dropped earlier and the woman is bothered by nagging pain in the lower abdomen, this indicates the possibility of premature birth. It is necessary to call an ambulance; in the hospital the woman may be offered to lie down for safekeeping.
According to statistics, during the first pregnancy the belly drops at 36-37 weeks. For multiparous women, no earlier than 38-39 weeks.
How long before I give birth?
If lowering of the abdomen in primiparous women occurs at 37 weeks before childbirth, the baby will be born in 15-30 days. For pregnant women who already have children, labor will begin within 2 weeks (a time period of 2-3 to 7-10 days is allocated).
However, these are just statistics, and no one can determine a more precise time frame. A woman can begin giving birth on the same day or the next after her tummy takes on a new position.
Closer to 38-40 weeks, a woman begins periodic contractions of the uterus, and at these moments the stomach becomes stone for several minutes - these are “false contractions.” This is how the body prepares for a difficult and lengthy physiological process. When there are only a few hours left before giving birth, a woman notices the following symptoms:
- pink discharge;
- discharge of the mucus plug (more details in the article:);
- pain in the sacrum area.
If such symptoms occur, you should immediately go to the hospital - the doctor will refer the woman in labor to the maternity hospital.
What to do when your stomach drops?
If the tummy has dropped, there comes a time when a woman needs to pack her things so that if contractions start, she can quickly get her bearings and be ready to go to the maternity hospital. It is advisable to inform your gynecologist about what happened: if there is a lot of time left before the expected date of delivery, the doctor will check the cervix and may prescribe additional wearing of a bandage or medication to prevent childbirth ahead of schedule or admit the woman to a hospital to maintain the pregnancy. In addition, the specialist will be able to indicate the most accurate date of birth of the baby.
In cases where prolapse occurs before 35 weeks, a visit to the doctor is required. If the expectant mother does not experience any discomfort, there is nothing to worry about. A woman needs more rest to gain strength before an important moment in life.
How does the number of pregnancies affect prolapse before childbirth?
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The number of pregnancies directly affects the time the tummy subsides. For women who are preparing to become mothers for the first time, this can happen even 30 days before giving birth. Often, during the second or third pregnancy, it drops unexpectedly and quickly - 2-3 days before birth or right before it (we recommend reading:). This is due to the fact that the body has adapted to childbirth: the abdominal muscles are already weakened due to a previous pregnancy and cannot support the uterus.
If in a multiparous woman, abdominal prolapse before childbirth was noted at 36-37 weeks, as in a primiparous woman, it means that the first pregnancy did not affect the muscles too much - they remained in good shape. To reduce the number of stretch marks and relieve tension from the lower back, you can choose a prenatal bandage.
Can the stomach not drop, and in what cases?
Not everyone’s tummy drops, but women, not knowing this and not seeing significant changes in appearance, begin to worry: is everything normal, because there is minimal time left before going to the maternity hospital, and the tummy is still round. The child always moves to the bottom of the pelvis, and how noticeable external changes will be depends on many factors. Omission does not occur in the following cases:
- weakness of the abdominal muscles in a woman in labor;
- narrow pelvis;
- the expectant mother is carrying twins;
- low presentation of the fetus - there is not enough room for the baby to move down;
- small or large fruit.
Sank at expectant mother belly or not, labor will begin anyway. If the pregnancy is progressing normally, and no pathologies were detected on the ultrasound, you just need to wait - perhaps this will happen a few days before giving birth. Very heavy weight child, a narrow pelvis or transverse position of the baby most often require a cesarean section.
What negative consequences can occur for a pregnant woman?
A drooping belly is an indicator that labor is about to begin, so only positive emotions should accompany the expectant mother. However, unpleasant symptoms may also bother you:
- Pain in the lower abdomen. The sensation should be pulling, barely noticeable - in case of acute pain you should go to the hospital.
- Problems with bladder function and bowel movements. The child puts pressure on the internal organs, causing temporary discomfort.
- Lower back pain associated with increased load on the spine.
- Inconvenience in performing usual activities due to abdominal displacement.
A pregnant woman in her final stages is waiting for signals that labor is approaching, and abdominal prolapse is one of them.
During what period does a pregnant woman's belly drop?
It is difficult to talk about specific dates when the stomach normally drops, since this process is quite individual.If you rely on statistics, that is, average statistical data, abdominal prolapse is observed several (from 2 to 4) weeks before the baby is born. But if in your case this happened earlier or much later, there is no need to worry, this does not signal any deviations.
How to determine that the stomach has dropped?
The belly begins to swell when it has already reached almost its maximum size, so you can see the signs of prolapse. you will feel.Among the positive signs, it will become easier to breathe (the enlarged uterus puts pressure on the diaphragm, and as it subsides, the pressure goes away), heartburn and belching will disappear, and the internal organs will begin to fall into place.
On the negative side, there may be involuntary release of urine during coughing, sneezing, physical stress, as well as a very frequent urge to urinate. Also, many women who experience abdominal prolapse complain that they cannot lie down comfortably to fall asleep. In addition, pain in the perineum is possible.
Also, after the abdomen subsides, a “duck” gait, characteristic of late-term pregnant women, appears.
To visually determine that your stomach has dropped, place your hand between it and your chest - your palm should fit freely in this space.
What influences the process of abdominal prolapse and what is it connected with?
When the baby is preparing to be born, the fundus of the uterus drops by approximately 4-5 cm. Your gynecologist should notice this and inform you about it. This process allows the baby to get closer to the birth canal and indicates that the baby is ready to be born.With the lowering of the uterine fundus, the baby most often turns his head towards the “exit”, but sometimes the presentation can be with the butt forward.
The prolapse of the abdomen can be affected by the length of your pregnancy. If you're giving birth for the first time, your belly will likely sag a few weeks before giving birth. If this is not your first baby, the process may occur before labor begins.
Reasons why the stomach does not fall
If your abdominal muscles are weak enough, it may not go down until after childbirth.In addition, a too narrow pelvis can cause a lack of abdominal prolapse.
All pregnant women, especially last weeks, there is an irresistible desire to see your baby. This desire becomes especially acute just before childbirth, when a woman begins to react to any change in her body. She begins to listen and look for harbingers.
When the belly drops before childbirth in primiparous and multiparous women
Particular attention is paid to the abdomen, which is almost the main warning sign that childbirth is just around the corner. After all, they began to watch the belly quite a long time ago, namely, how it descends. This happens around 36-37 weeks if it is the first birth.If a woman nevertheless notices that her stomach has become somewhat lower, then the meeting with the baby will take place in about 2-4 weeks. If this is not your first pregnancy, your belly may drop a few days before giving birth. Of course, some women do not know how to determine if their stomach has dropped or not. To do this, you also need to stock up on information in advance.
How to determine that the stomach has dropped before childbirth
In order to accurately replace abdominal prolapse, you need to observe your stomach in the mirror. Over time, as your belly begins to droop, it will change shape somewhat and appear a little smaller. Its level relative to the ribs will also become very noticeable. But to do this, you need to remember what level he was at some time ago.A very important sign that the stomach has dropped will be a feeling of lightness when breathing. Previously, the uterus tightly supported the diaphragm and this made free breathing much more difficult. Finally, it will be possible to forget about the constant pain in the ribs, and the liver will rest from the constant blows. When the belly is completely lowered, the baby’s movements will not cause any unpleasant sensations in the woman. But it’s too early to relax. Despite the fact that the ribs stopped hurting, the pain began to intensify in the area of the pubic bone.
The considerable weight of the child will put pressure on the pelvis and sometimes it will seem that the bones are moving apart again. This is expressed in a slight nagging pain. There will also be significant discomfort when walking and going to the toilet, urination will be frequent and possibly painful, and constipation may also occur. But of course, the most significant evidence will be a trip to the gynecologist, who will confirm that the stomach has dropped. The fundus of the uterus is now five centimeters lower than it was before, and the girth of the abdomen will be on average 100 cm.
Of course, there is a way that allows you to independently check how much your stomach has dropped. To do this, place your palm between the uterus and breast. If the palm fits, then this undoubtedly indicates that the stomach has become lower.
Causes of abdominal drooping
The lowering of the abdomen is a completely natural process. It indicates that the baby begins to gradually move forward towards the mother’s small pelvis, where it remains until birth. But the frames set for lowering the abdomen are completely free. After all this process is individual and can occur at different times in each woman.Its lowering can be influenced by more than one reason, ranging from the characteristics of the female body and ending, for example, with underdeveloped muscles or a narrow pelvis. But just because the belly has sank does not mean that childbirth can occur very soon. During the first pregnancy, abdominal prolapse can usually occur a month before the onset of active labor. But if, along with the prolapse of the abdomen, the mucous plug also comes away, then you need to prepare for an early birth, which can begin a few days after this.
And as always, the most important rule in all this remains calm and hope only for a good outcome.
Video about preparatory procedures before childbirth
While waiting for the baby to be born, expectant mothers are worried about everything that happens to them during pregnancy. The closer the date of meeting the baby approaches, the more questions related to the upcoming birth arise for pregnant women. One of the noticeable harbingers of imminent delivery is abdominal prolapse. Obstetricians call this phenomenon fetal growth or uterine prolapse. The period at which abdominal prolapse occurs is individual for each woman and depends on the course of pregnancy, age, physical fitness of the expectant mother, as well as on the nature of the birth. How to understand that the stomach has dropped before childbirth, why this happens, and how long you have to wait for the cherished moment, the birth of the baby, we will tell you in this article.
Carrying a baby is a difficult and lengthy process during which global changes occur in a woman’s body, mainly changes affecting the abdominal cavity. Starting from the 7th month, the location of the stomach changes, as a result, the expectant mother experiences heartburn, and in some cases she loses her appetite. Before childbirth, in the last weeks of pregnancy, the body gradually rebuilds and intensively prepares for childbirth. The size of the fetus increases every week, and the uterus also grows. The baby occupies the correct location in the uterus, convenient for exiting the womb - head down, and with it the uterus in the pelvis also descends, below its usual position that it occupied during pregnancy, by about 4-5 cm. In this position, the fetus will remain until birth. A woman notices that her stomach has dropped during pregnancy, she has become more comfortable and begins to worry about the most important question: “when is the birth?”
The abdomen, that is, the enlarged uterus, begins to descend in the third trimester; it is impossible to determine a certain period and the exact week of pregnancy; for each pregnant woman, this process occurs in its own way. Some women notice that their belly began to sag already at 29-30 weeks of pregnancy, long before giving birth, while others claim that their belly sank only at 39 weeks - 2-3 days before giving birth. There are women whose belly has not dropped at all; they have not noticed any changes in its location. And yet, how long before childbirth does the stomach drop? According to gynecologists, despite the individual characteristics of each expectant mother, fetal formation occurs from 2 days to 4 weeks in pregnant women preparing for childbirth for the first time. During subsequent births, the belly will drop much earlier.
When does the stomach drop in multiparous women?
Women who have already become mothers and are carrying a second or third baby should prepare for childbirth at up to 38 weeks; in multiparous women, the process of delivery, as a rule, occurs more quickly and earlier in time. Accordingly, their tummy will begin to drop earlier, from 34-35 weeks of pregnancy. There is no need to panic or worry; early lowering of the abdomen in multiparous women is a natural and physiological process that is the norm.
How the stomach drops before childbirth - signs
During the preparation of the body for childbirth, when the tummy drops, a woman feels a number of general signs characteristic of this phenomenon. Both external signs of an approaching birth appear, and the internal sensations of the expectant mother change.
The main signs of the process of abdominal prolapse:
- The pregnant woman notices that she completely lacks heartburn, which has caused so much suffering in recent months. This is due to the fact that the uterus, having assumed the correct position at the bottom of the pelvis, no longer puts pressure on the stomach. All organs of the gastrointestinal tract begin to function normally.
- Along with the absence of heartburn, the pregnant woman experiences a new unpleasant sensation - frequent urination, the cause of which is the pressure of the prolapsed uterus on the bladder. There may also be a frequent urge to defecate or constipation, as the uterus also puts pressure on the rectum.
- The shortness of breath that pregnant women had during the third trimester disappears after the abdomen lowers, and it becomes much easier to breathe deeply.
- Increased uterine tone before childbirth can cause whitish discharge that resembles thrush. If the color of the discharge has a reddish or brown tint, this should alert the woman.
- A woman can notice that she is about to give birth and her stomach has dropped by the decrease in the baby’s activity in the womb. The fetus, which takes up all the space in the uterus, behaves calmly, since there is not enough room for it to move.
- After the stomach has dropped, a woman may experience unpleasant pain and discomfort when walking or sitting, since the fetus, which has reached a large size and increased in weight, puts pressure on the pelvic bones. Nagging pain can occur in the lower back, perineum, or legs - the head, dropped down the pelvis, puts pressure on the nerve endings.
What does a drooping belly look like during pregnancy - external signs
A drooping belly is noticed not only by expectant mothers themselves, but even by those around them. Now it is not located high under the chest, as before, but moves lower to the navel. How to understand that the stomach has dropped? To make sure that the body is ready for childbirth and the tummy has dropped, you need to place your palm between the chest and the protruding stomach: if your palm fits freely, the stomach has dropped, expect early contractions. In addition to obvious external changes in the location of the abdomen, the gait of a pregnant woman changes. Due to the change in the position of the fetus and the location of the uterus in the pelvis, it becomes more difficult for her to move, her gait becomes awkward, popularly called a “duck walk,” the woman walks as if waddling.
Sometimes, in rare cases, the belly can drop completely unnoticed by the expectant mother, without any special changes. appearance abdomen and its location. But at the same time, the pregnant woman will feel much better. This is often observed in pregnant women with a narrow pelvis or poorly developed abdominal muscles. This can also happen in a pregnant woman with an initially low presentation of the fetus; the baby simply has nowhere to move downwards, and prolapse of the abdomen will not occur.
There are several external signs that the stomach has dropped:
- First of all, the shape of the abdomen changes. The tummy takes on a more elongated shape and stretches forward. It has been noticed that in women carrying a girl, the tummy is extended at the sides, and in mothers of boys, it is extended forward.
- The drooping belly seems to hang down, located below the level of the hip bone, and takes on a weighted appearance.
- The tummy becomes very hard, and in some women the number of stretch marks increases significantly.
- The area between the sagging tummy and breasts becomes larger, and you can already see the pregnant woman’s waist.
- Once the belly has completely dropped, it will take on a pear shape.
You can see more clearly how the figure changes when the belly drops in pregnant women in the photo.
Stomach dropped - photo
Stomach dropped during pregnancy - what to do?
When a woman is convinced that her stomach has dropped, a natural question arises - when to give birth? First of all, the prolapse of the abdomen must be reported to the gynecologist in charge of the pregnancy, who, based on additional tests and signs of impending labor, will be able to establish a more accurate date for the appearance of the baby. In some cases, if indicated, a pregnant woman may be sent for preservation and admitted to a hospital. By the time the tummy drops, the woman should be ready to go to the maternity hospital at any time, so the necessary things for the hospital should be collected. A pregnant woman should understand that right now she needs good rest and sleep in order to gain strength for a successful delivery.
When to sound the alarm?
A woman should sound the alarm and immediately seek help if the stomach has dropped before 35 weeks, and the pregnant woman feels a sharp pain in the lower abdomen, accompanied by uterine tone. This condition may indicate the onset of impending premature labor, in which case urgent hospitalization is necessary. In the hospital, the pregnant woman will be prescribed medications to help relax the muscles of the uterus and maintain pregnancy until the due date.
A drooping belly can be considered the first signal to prepare for childbirth - preparing things for the maternity hospital, arranging the nursery. If there are no problems with pregnancy, you can be at home, in a calm environment, waiting for the long-awaited moment. During this waiting period, a woman should be as calm and relaxed as possible, try to rest and get enough sleep. It is not recommended to overeat and do physical work around the house, which can cause premature contractions and early labor. Allow the baby to be born on his own, at the time laid down by nature.
Video about how the stomach drops