Hard Stomach During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is the phase during which it is normal for a woman to undergo lots of physical and mental changes. The most prominent physical change is the growing and protruding belly. Skin changes, and stress are also normal during pregnancy. Hardness of stomach is quite common during pregnancy, and it is natural for any pregnant woman to experience it. In fact, almost every pregnant woman experiences hardness of the stomach region. Excessive hardness often leads to unnecessary mental stress in a pregnant woman. This is because the hardening sometimes results in excessive pain. Take a look at the causes below.

Causes

The common cause for stomach hardening during the late months of pregnancy is the growing size of the uterus. It has been explained below.

The baby grows in the uterus or the womb of the mother. The uterus is a hollow, pear shaped organ located in the pelvic cavity, between the bladder and rectum. Hardening of the stomach during the 21st week of pregnancy (second trimester) is quite normal, and generally every pregnant woman experiences it. The uterus swells with time as the baby grows to create adequate space for the baby, the position of the uterus during this time is between the belly button and pubic bone. The growing uterus puts pressure on the walls of the stomach resulting in a feeling of hardness. A pregnant woman may experience the symptoms of a hard stomach after the second trimester, because it is during this trimester that the baby's skeleton develops and grows strong. The stomach thus hardens more as the time of delivery nears.

It is also seen that women who are thin experience this early in the pregnancy months, and women who are fat may experience hard stomach late in the pregnancy. It is also accompanied by pain, but the woman has to bear this pain, as there is no foolproof medication available to heal the pain. The pain recedes on its own after the delivery. Another important concern is stretch marks. Gently massaging the belly region with a good quality moisturizer can help in preventing stretch marks.

Consumption of inappropriate food, or eating too fast often leads to stomach problems. Hard stomach can also result due to constipation. Over consumption of foods like soft drinks, sodas can cause gases and bloating of stomach. This can result in temporary pain and hardening of stomach. To avoid this, a pregnant woman should adhere to a strict fruit rich diet, and should keep the consumption of sodas and fast food at a minimum.

To avoid the digestive causes (constipation, diarrhea, bloating) of stomach hardening, a woman should restrict her food choices to healthy food options, especially high fiber foods. Though this lasts only for a few hours, it can make the woman face some tense moments.

A hard stomach during late trimesters is normal and a result of uterus expansion due to the growth of the baby. But, if the hard stomach is accompanied by severe pain, the guidance of a doctor should be sought. Take care.