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Lowering the abdomen during pregnancy

31.01.2023

3 mins of reading

Kinga Żebrowska

Graduate of Warsaw Medical University

The body of a mother-to-be changes during the nine months of pregnancy. A number of symptoms appear that are related to the development of the baby in the uterine cavity. One of the typical symptoms of pregnancy is an enlarging belly. Often, however, many women notice its reduction before giving birth. Find out what the lowering of the abdomen during pregnancy is due to.

Why does the abdomen lower during pregnancy?

As the baby grows in the uterine cavity, the abdomen of the mother-to-be gradually enlarges. Its growing girth is influenced not only by the fetus, but also by the placenta or amniotic fluid produced. In the following weeks, the bottom of the uterus rises. In the past when ultrasound was not widely used, the age of pregnancy was determined based on the location of the uterine fundus. This is because it is believed that, for example, at the level of the navel, the bottom of the uterus is at 24. Week, and reaches its highest at 36. Week adjacent to the rib arches. The abdomen in pregnancy lowers due to preparation for childbirth. The baby, in order to be born by natural forces, must properly “position” in the birth canal. In the case of a multifetal pregnancy, the lowering of the abdomen often does not occur due to the fact that babies need much more space. Like premonitory contractions, a lowering of the abdomen in pregnancy is among the symptoms that herald labor.

When does the pregnancy belly lower?

The bottom of the uterus moves away from the pubic conjunctiva gradually with the weeks of pregnancy. The abdomen of a pregnant woman enlarges until about 36. of the week. At this time, many moms-to-be notice a lowering of the pregnant belly. As a result, the uterus puts less pressure on the abdominal organs, so the symptoms of heartburn or shortness of breath may decrease. On the other hand, many pregnant women then report a sense of pressure on the pubic conjunctiva and birth canal, so they also have to use the toilet more often. This, in the case of the head position, the baby’s head inserts into the canal so that a natural childbirth is possible. A large number of moms-to-be, especially when the estimated weight of the fetus is large, do not notice the lowering of the abdomen at the end of pregnancy. So it is an individual and quite subjective issue.

Lowering of the abdomen in pregnancy-does it mean childbirth?

Lowering of the abdomen during pregnancy can be one of the symptoms of impending labor. However, it is not a clear-cut symptom. Most often it appears about a month before the due date. The group of symptoms occurring before the birth of a child also includes: