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 childbirth 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. Changes are especially noticeable in the early and late stages. 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.
READ ALSO: uterine prolapse after childbirth: symptoms and treatment methods
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: how does the fetus behave in the last days before birth?),
- 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,
- a drooping tummy is similar in shape to an ellipse or pear,
- the navel protrudes (we recommend reading: why does the navel protrude during pregnancy?).
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, physical 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 painful sensations 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: what does the mucus plug look like before childbirth: photo),
- 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 the gynecologist about what happened: if there is a lot of time left before the expected date of delivery, the doctor will check the cervix, may prescribe additional wearing of a bandage, medication to prevent premature birth, or admit the woman to the 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.
Useful video
To learn how to understand that it’s time to go to the maternity hospital, watch this video:
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How does the number of pregnancies affect prolapse before childbirth?
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: signs of impending labor during the third pregnancy). 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.
Difference between multiparous and primiparous
How and when does the belly drop before childbirth in first-time mothers? The main difference between the category of pregnant women (primiparas) and “experienced mothers” is the timing. If the first ones can already detect a drooping belly at 35–36 weeks, then for multiparous women the period shifts to 38–39 weeks.
Doctors note cases when the stomach drops before childbirth in multiparous women several days, sometimes hours, before birth.
Average statistical data indicate that the abdomen drops 4 weeks before the immediate onset of labor. At about 38 weeks, the uterus is ready to reject the fetus. He is fully formed, able to survive on his own. The birth canal is being prepared. The stomach drops and begins to resemble a pear shape. You can freely place your palm between your stomach and chest.
However, there is no clearly established period for how long the stomach drops before childbirth.
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 downwards,
- small or large fruit.
Whether the expectant mother’s belly drops or not, labor will begin in any case. 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. A very large weight of the child, a narrow pelvis or a transverse position of the baby most often requires a cesarean section.
Drooping belly during early pregnancy
The bandage will help with abdominal prolapse
Abdominal prolapse during pregnancy can occur at different stages. This condition can be determined using an ultrasound examination, which is performed in the fifth month of pregnancy.
This condition in the first trimester may indicate that the fetus and placenta are attached too low in the uterus. These factors absolutely do not affect the full bearing of the baby. When abdominal prolapse occurs, most experts recommend eliminating excessive physical activity.
The timing of abdominal prolapse depends on various factors:
- Number of pregnancies
- Health conditions of the expectant mother
- Abdominal muscle development
- Fetal weight
- Physical condition
- Number of fruits
In the second trimester, the belly begins to increase in size and become rounded. At this time, there is a loss of firmness and elasticity of the ligaments and muscles. This condition is absolutely normal, especially if it is not the first time a woman is carrying a child.
A drooping belly in the second trimester of pregnancy should not frighten women, since this condition is most often explained by the low location of the placenta. Abdominal prolapse at this stage is most often observed with weakened abdominal muscles.
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.
Why does this happen
Pregnancy is a long process, taking approximately nine months. During this period, colossal changes occur in the female body, most of which relate to the abdominal area.
From the 7th month of pregnancy, the position of the stomach of the expectant mother changes, it moves towards the ribs. A pregnant woman loses her appetite and experiences heartburn of varying degrees of intensity.
At the 33rd week, the fetus becomes quite large in size. After this, most fruits stop growing rapidly. The tummy becomes noticeable even under loose clothing, and gradually the uterus begins to slowly descend. At first, the pregnant woman does not notice anything during this process, and no changes in well-being occur.
The fetal head descends into the pregnant woman's pelvis. The load on female organs (stomach, kidneys) is reduced. After complete lowering, the load becomes minimal, the pregnant woman feels comfortable compared to how it was before.
Curious women wonder why drooping happens? Doctors note that there is no definite answer; a whole range of reasons leads to this.
The body of the expectant mother is preparing for childbirth.
The baby's head takes a position that is convenient for childbirth - in the mother's pelvis. After this, the uterus begins to open.
The fetus grows to significant volumes; under the influence of gravity, the pregnant woman’s abdomen cannot maintain its previous size and position.
After complete descent, labor occurs over a period of time that varies significantly among different women (from one hour to a whole week).
