Stomach Tightening During Third Trimester

During pregnancy, a woman undergoes a lot of pain and ache, including tightening of stomach. Usually, stomach tightening begins as early as in your first trimester. This happens because your uterus grows as it tries to accommodate the baby within. It causes abdominal cramping or sometimes shooting pains along the side of stomach because of the tissue and ligament expansion.

Pain caused due to gas accumulation is a common reason of pain during pregnancy. It can cause intense cramping in the abdomen leading to severe pain. Another major reason is constipation. The altering pregnancy hormones sometimes decelerates the gastrointestinal tract. Beside the hormones, iron present in the prenatal vitamins can coarsen stool. Hence, both gas and constipation are other causes for a pregnant mother to feel the pull of tissues causing stomach tightening.

Sometimes, painful stomach tightening is a sign of miscarriage. It happens mostly before the 12ᵗʰ week of pregnancy. However, if you experience painful stomach tightening alongside other signs of miscarriage, it is advised to call a doctor or midwife for assistance.

As your body begins to embrace pregnancy, you may feel stomach tightening and sharp pains known as round ligament pain. It is often experienced in the second trimester of pregnancy and may extend from your hip area or abdomen to your groin. You may also experience Braxton-Hicks contractions in early fourth month of your pregnancy. However, they aren’t painful like the regular labor contractions. In some cases, to-be mothers also experience what is called as an irritable uterus. Having an irritable uterus causes frequent stomach tightening that doesn’t ease by rest or hydration. Experiencing regular cramps that come and go can be dealt with by consuming plenty of fluids. But if the frequency of cramps tend to stay longer and occur in close intervals, immediately consult your healthcare provider to avoid premature delivery.

The third trimester of pregnancy specifically marks tightening of stomach that may a sign of labor. Labor contractions usually take a subtle start and get stronger over time. Real labor contractions and tight stomach during pregnancy’s third trimester become vigorous over time. Braxton-Hicks contractions become common in the stage of pregnancy. These contractions are also termed as false labor because in many cases, women misunderstand them for labor. Nevertheless, if you experience extreme contractions at irregular intervals then consider going for an immediate check-up to your practitioner.

While these may render temporary relief; but if you notice signs of a preterm labor like bleeding, continuous fluid discharge from the vagina, or increased pressure in the pelvis, then consult your doctor immediately. For you might discover that the contractions could actually be real. Hence, it is best if you check with your healthcare provider.

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