37 weeks pregnant, frequent hardening of the abdomen

During the 10 months of pregnancy, the pregnant woman's body will undergo many changes every day, which will make her feel very hard. Of course, during the pregnancy, the pregnant woman will also encounter some abnormal phenomena. When such phenomena occur, the pregnant woman should first calm down. If she feels that the phenomenon is not normal, she should go to the hospital for examination in time. For example, if the pregnant woman frequently experiences a hard stomach at 37 weeks of pregnancy, she should pay attention.

Reasons for frequent hardening of the abdomen at 37 weeks of pregnancy

False labor in late pregnancy.

Irregular, weaker uterine contractions during late pregnancy, without pain. Its characteristic is that it appears frequently at night and disappears the next morning. This is different from the labor pains in late pregnancy, which are characterized by short, regular, and gradual abdominal pain. It is estimated that about 1/3 of the so-called threatened premature labor cases are not real labor, but false labor.

It's possible that labor pains are coming.

If you feel regular hardening of your abdomen near delivery (within 3 weeks before the due date, i.e. entering full-term pregnancy), and this happens repeatedly, it probably means that real labor (delivery) is approaching.

There is a possibility of premature birth.

This refers to birth before the full 37th week of pregnancy. If a pregnant woman experiences tightness and hardness in the lower abdomen, abdominal pain, 2 to 3 uterine contractions every 10 minutes that last more than 30 seconds, or bloody vaginal discharge, it is a sign of premature labor and she needs to go to the hospital for examination and observation. If the cervix dilates progressively during the observation process and the cervix is ​​dilated to more than 2 cm, premature birth will be inevitable.

Frequent fetal movements.

When the fetus moves frequently in the abdomen, some pregnant women will also experience tightness, hardness and pain in the lower abdomen.

What to do if your abdomen becomes hard during late pregnancy

1. Rest in the left side lying position, which can increase the blood flow to the uterus and placenta and prevent or reduce spontaneous uterine contractions.

2. Sexual intercourse is prohibited in the late pregnancy to prevent urinary tract infection.

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

4. If your stomach is hard in the late pregnancy and your uterine contractions are accompanied by abdominal pain or back pain, you should go to the hospital for treatment.

5. Hiatal hernia. During this stage, as the uterus grows, the intra-abdominal pressure increases, and about 30%-50% of pregnant women experience widening of the esophageal hiatus, leading to the formation of a hiatal hernia. When the esophagus is compressed and spasmed, it can cause upper abdominal pain, which is sometimes more obvious in the late stages of pregnancy.

6. In the later stages of pregnancy, the amount of exercise should be reduced appropriately, and gentle walking should be taken as the main approach. Do not walk too far or for too long, and do not climb stairs excessively, as these will cause the belly to become tight and hard, and even worse, may cause premature birth.