Why does my stomach feel tight at 38 weeks pregnant?

When the pregnancy reaches 38 weeks, it is already the late stage of pregnancy. The birth may take place at any time in the late stage of pregnancy. Many pregnant women tend to have a tight stomach at 38 weeks of pregnancy. Most pregnant women tend to be nervous when this happens. They don’t know why this happens, and they are afraid that it will affect the baby in the belly and be detrimental to the baby’s growth and development. Why is the stomach tight at 38 weeks of pregnancy?

Why is my stomach tight at 38 weeks of pregnancy?

It is very normal for most healthy expectant mothers to feel a tightness in their stomach in the late pregnancy. This is a reaction caused by uterine contraction. Generally, you don't feel pain when your stomach tightens. Sometimes it's a mild feeling like menstrual pain. Each time it's very short, about less than 1 minute, and it often occurs frequently after the expectant mother is tired.

1. Folk saying: A hard belly in late pregnancy means it's a girl

In the late pregnancy, as the uterus continues to grow and the fetus grows, the baby's space for movement is reduced, so when the baby wants to move a lot, it will hit the belly, especially for baby girls. Many folk legends have mentioned that baby girls are held face to face with their mothers, so their buttocks are facing the mother's belly. In this way, when the mother-to-be moves, a big bulge will form on her belly, and it will be very hard. Although this has not been truly scientifically certified, many expectant mothers of baby girls will experience this phenomenon.

2. Scientific explanation: A hard belly in late pregnancy is a false labor

The scientific explanation for a hard belly in the late pregnancy is false labor and painless labor. This is because the uterus becomes more and more sensitive in the late pregnancy, and some stimulation will cause labor. This type of labor is different from the labor before labor, and will not cause premature delivery of the fetus. However, expectant mothers should also pay attention to these false labors. When the belly becomes hard, you should immediately stop the work at hand and take a break. If a false labor occurs on the road, stop and continue after it eases.

What to do if your belly becomes hard during late pregnancy

1. Pay attention to rest, because the enlarged belly in the late pregnancy is already a burden for expectant mothers. If you are overworked, it may cause premature birth.

2. Never stimulate the uterus. Be careful when walking and don't let people or objects hit your stomach.

3. If you often have a hard abdomen in the late pregnancy, you can do fetal heart monitoring to observe whether there are irregular uterine contractions. If there are irregular uterine contractions, appropriate treatment should be given.

4. If your abdomen is hard and accompanied by abdominal pain and back pain in the late pregnancy, you should go to the hospital for examination immediately.

5. A hard belly in the late pregnancy is a situation that most pregnant women will encounter. Expectant mothers do not need to worry too much. They should pay attention to rest. If uterine contractions are accompanied by abdominal pain or back pain, they should go to the hospital for treatment.