The biggest belly during pregnancy is normal and dangerous

Why is there a big belly during pregnancy?

The reasons why one woman has a large belly, while another remains miniature even in recent weeks, are completely varied. Heredity often plays a role in waist size, and less often, pregnancy pathologies. However, both these and other causes need to be able to identify, distinguish and, if present, consult a doctor.

As the fetus develops and the amount of fluid surrounding it increases, the size of the uterus also increases. Such features are the norm, and by the end of pregnancy, your waist size will be 3-4 times larger than before. Already starting from the 20th gestational week, the gynecologist takes measurements of the abdominal circumference and the height of the uterus (from the navel to the pubis, from the pubis to the top point of the grown uterus). In accordance with these parameters, the height and weight of the baby are approximately determined. Of course, such indicators are conditional, and quite often erroneous, but today the method is still used.

Reference.
The definition of “big belly during pregnancy” cannot be established by the woman herself. To say that, indeed, the size of the abdomen and the growth of the uterus exceed the approximate developmental period of the child, it is necessary to conduct some research.

Causes of a big belly

To say that the abdomen and uterus are in the required measurement parameters, the gynecologist at each scheduled visit to a woman measures her height, weight, abdominal size and uterine height. Deviations upward or downward are not considered critical, but always imply the appointment of additional studies.

Important!
Possible pathology, if any, must be confirmed not only by deviations in the size of the abdomen, but also by other parameters. A big belly in itself is not a pathology.

What could be the causes of a big belly? After some research, the doctor refutes or confirms the following diagnoses:

High water. A common symptom that indicates an excess amount of amniotic fluid. The waist circumference reaches 100-120 cm at the level of the navel, the presence of stretch marks and gurgling from the abdomen are noted. The condition can be characterized as moderately severe, severe and mild, depending on the percentage of fluid exceeding the norm. Polyhydramnios contributes to a series of negative consequences, including both termination of pregnancy and premature birth with possible late toxicosis. The baby develops a heart muscle defect, the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract function and develop incorrectly. Increased fluid volume is considered a fundamental link in the chain of factors leading to a voluminous belly.
Incorrect position of the fetus if we are talking about a gestational age of at least 36 weeks.
Infectious diseases of the mother. At the same time, there are always other manifestations - fever, vomiting, redness or rash on the skin, abdomen, headache and general fatigue.
Pathology of the formation and attachment of the placenta. For example, diseases of such an organ are extremely rare, while presentation of the baby's place on the front of the uterine wall is quite common. And instead of developing along the back wall, as it should be, the placenta is attached to the front wall of the uterus and grows there without any pathologies. This feature is not a dangerous condition, but will require the supervision of a doctor and his professionalism. After all, it is not always possible to listen to the baby’s heartbeat through such an organ.
Several fetuses in the uterus are twins or twins. Naturally, such a pregnancy is considered difficult for the mother’s body and, literally from the first months, the size of her belly is strikingly different from other mothers.
A large fetus due to genetic inheritance is also a common occurrence. At the same time, the mother herself may not always be large in stature and build; more often than not, the baby’s father may be large.
Mother's genetic predisposition. For example, if a woman’s mother or her grandmother had the same problems, then, most likely, the same symptoms will be observed in her granddaughter.
Impaired metabolism of the fetus or mother. In the first situation, diseases and pathologies of the fetus are considered that could lead to such consequences, and in the second, when the mother’s metabolism is disturbed, her lifestyle, habits and weight gain are considered. Excess body weight is a risk not only for the child, but also for the woman herself, who risks having a difficult birth with consequences and complications.

It is worth clarifying that there is no independent diagnosis of a large belly as a pathology. This is only the result of an existing pathology or disease. But when such symptoms appear, there is also no need to worry for no reason - the emotional state and stress will only contribute to the worsening of the situation. The diagnosis is made only by an obstetrician.

When should you consult a doctor?

You should definitely consult a doctor if:

An increase in coolant is accompanied by pain.
Growth stopped at the same time the baby began to move.
The growth began abruptly - the stomach noticeably increased in volume overnight.
The abdominal wall is overly tense.
The increase is happening at a very high rate.
The belly is clearly smaller than it should be at your term.

If you observe the described symptoms in yourself, it is better to get medical help immediately, because it may be necessary to maintain health and maintain pregnancy.

How the belly increases during pregnancy

In the early stages, the tummy is practically invisible. Close relatives or a husband who sees his significant other in underwear may notice the changes. In this case, the tummy does not grow, as usual, but becomes rounded, as if swelling. A woman, not yet aware of her situation, cannot pull in her stomach; discomfort appears when she pulls in her stomach or when wearing tight clothes - jeans and tight skirts.

Reference.
From 13 or 14 weeks (depending on the woman’s body constitution), waist size increases by 1 cm every 7 days. After 33 weeks, this parameter changes somewhat. By the end of pregnancy, a woman's waist will be on average 100-115 cm.

From the 18th week, the growth of the abdomen, as well as the baby, increases rapidly. The waist size becomes approximately 10 cm larger. The longer the period, the greater these indicators, and before childbirth the waist size can be as much as 120 cm. But in this case, there is no need to worry. Mommy can finally feel important, needed and always be the center of attention.

If there are deviations, but there are no other alarming consequences, there is no need to worry. Perhaps the child has thus found a place in the uterus so that its entire bulk is hidden behind the pelvic bones. The main rule is to listen to the frequency and rhythm of his thrusts. This parameter is the most important.

What are the dangers of deviations from the norm?

A surprisingly large or small belly of a pregnant woman, provided the due date is correctly set by the obstetrician, can indirectly indicate pathology. However, this does not always happen, so you need to undergo an examination to rule out health problems in the mother and her baby. Deviations are dangerous at any time:

early on they indirectly confirm conception outside the uterus, complete hydatidiform mole;
in the later stages they speak of oligohydramnios, polyhydramnios, or partial hydatidiform mole.

A huge belly is evidence of polyhydramnios, multiple pregnancies, and carrying a large child. An abnormally small belly is observed when the fetus is malnourished or has low weight, which is explained by an inadequate diet of the pregnant woman or genetic characteristics.

Such deviations are dangerous due to protracted labor (doctors usually resort to caesarean section), but under medical supervision it is quite possible to carry and give birth to a healthy baby. In any case, if your tummy is ahead of the norm, don’t be upset. Only a special medical examination will make it possible to clarify why the stomach is larger, whether it is dangerous or not.

Alarming symptoms

How can we determine the very boundary between normal and pathological on our own? What is considered a manifestation of natural changes, and what is considered dangerous symptoms? Symptoms vary depending on the cause that led to the formation of a large belly:

If this is polyhydramnios, diagnosed by a doctor and confirmed by research, then the stomach will gurgle, the legs will swell, and throughout pregnancy there will be nausea without vomiting. This condition can lead to the baby being placed incorrectly in the uterus, not turning over on time, and the need for a caesarean section.
When we talk about impaired metabolism, the mother must understand the importance of the situation, taking the necessary medications, and strictly controlling the quantity and quality of food consumed per day. This condition occurs due to diseases of the thyroid gland, pancreas, and liver. High blood sugar cannot be ruled out either. If a woman did not have diabetes mellitus before conception, then with an increase in indicators during gestation, a diagnosis of temporary gestational diabetes mellitus is made. Treatment is the same as for normal diabetes with following a diet, following the rule of eating small portions in steamed or boiled form. Symptoms are attacks of hunger with shaking hands, sometimes you want to eat everything at once. After eating, food is poorly digested, bloating occurs, gas formation and diarrhea occur.
During a multiple pregnancy, the belly is the largest, but there is no need to worry about this. In the final stages, the doctor will prescribe wearing a bandage, since the abdominal muscles cannot cope with such a load. By the 28th week, the volume of the mother’s abdomen becomes the same as that of a normal mother in labor at 40 weeks.
With a genetic predisposition, no alarming symptoms are noted. Pregnancy proceeds without complications, women give birth easily, and after childbirth their weight and waist return to normal.

Important!
It will not be possible to return to its previous shape in less than 2 months after birth for the reason that this is exactly the period the uterus needs to return to its previous size. If the pregnancy was difficult and childbirth was difficult, then this process may be delayed up to 4 months.

If we talk about repeat pregnancies, then it is worth understanding that some women, without taking measures to eliminate the consequences of the first birth (they do not engage in strength exercises or a repeat pregnancy occurred in a short period of time). In this situation, there is no need to say that the belly will be smaller upon reconception. As a rule, the abdominal muscles of a woman who has done strength exercises every day are more wear-resistant, and therefore do not stretch as much as those of an untrained girl.

Abdominal growth without deviations

A gynecologist should monitor pregnancy.
At the next appointment, he measures the volume of the tummy in the navel area and the height of the uterine fundus. The first type of indicator indicates the duration of pregnancy. The second form of the indicator depends on the female constitution, weight gain and other factors. After 20 weeks, measurements are taken every 1-1.5 weeks. If pregnancy proceeds normally, the tummy resembles an egg shape. In this case, the baby is positioned head down. With polyhydramnios, the abdomen takes on a spherical shape. When the fetus is positioned transversely, the uterus becomes like a horizontal oval. If a woman gives birth again, her belly will begin to sag a little. Firstborns have a pointed and elastic abdomen.

Big belly during second pregnancy

Repeated pregnancy means changes that are visible not only to the woman herself, but also to gynecologists. Literally everything changes and almost irrevocably: the size of the uterus, its weight, the thickness of the walls of the uterus, its location, the cervical os and its shape. Such changes are not noticeable externally, but every gynecologist and obstetrician can determine whether a woman has given birth or has not given birth before.

Such changes do not go unnoticed by the abdominal muscles either. After the first pregnancy they are more elastic, more stretched. This affects the size of the abdomen, but only if physical training is not carried out again before the planned pregnancy. As a rule, a large belly during the second and subsequent pregnancies is not considered normal or abnormal. Rather, the characteristics of the child’s development, the mother’s urine and blood parameters, as well as screening data are taken into account.

How to eliminate bloating

There cannot be a belly that is too big in the early stages. More often, in the form of changes in the hormonal background, bloating is noted in the presence of an increased amount of gas. To reduce discomfort, you need to adhere to the following recommendations:

Eat cooked, not raw food, and do not eat fruits that increase fermentation. In particular, you should not eat fresh apples; it is better to bake them in the oven with honey.
You should not consume kefir at night; it is better to replace it with warm milk or low-fat cottage cheese.
Do not drink water while eating, washing down porridge with milk or tea, for example. After eating, you can drink tea or water a few minutes later, but not during the meal.
Do not drink raw, unheated water, especially from springs or wells. Changing water has a negative impact on your well-being during pregnancy.
Do not combine carbohydrates with animal fats. You cannot eat pasta with meat, potatoes with meat or cheese at the same time and within an hour. It is better to replace the side dish with vegetables steamed in the oven.

Calculation results

The calculation of norm and pathology should be carried out exclusively by the doctor leading the pregnancy. It is impossible to independently determine the norm and pathology. You can only ask about the indicators and research data. As a rule, the norms for child development and uterine growth are as follows:

Week 18: fluid volume (amniotic fluid) 400 ml, uterine height 16-20 cm, waist size 75-80 cm;
Week 30: fluid volume 1 liter, uterine height 29-32 cm, waist – 85-95 cm;
36-40 weeks: fluid volume decreases and may be at first 1200 ml, and by the end of pregnancy again 1 liter, uterine height 34-35 (stomach drops), waist size 110-120 cm.

Such parameters are approximate and cannot be applied to absolutely all pregnant women. If a woman before conception had a dense build with a waist of about 85 cm, then during pregnancy before childbirth such parameters can be as much as 140 cm. This will not be considered a deviation.