The Bottom Line. Typically, most mild to moderate hits to your pregnant belly won't endanger your baby as the uterus provides a well-protected space to grow. However, harder hits can cause serious harm.
Depending on your stage of pregnancy, your body type, and even the time of day, sometimes your belly will feel soft and other times it will feel tight and hard. The reality is, there's no normal to compare yourself with. Pregnant bellies come in all shapes, sizes, and firmness.
Pressing on your stomach is a way to find out if the size of your internal organs is normal, to check if anything hurts, and to feel if anything unusual is going on. Looking, listening, and feeling are all part of a physical exam.
Gently touch and rub your belly, or massage it. Respond to your baby's kicks. In the last trimester, you can gently push against the baby or rub your belly where the kick occurred and see if there is a response.
Sure…if that's what you want to do. It might seem weird at first, since baby is so small and still developing. But your baby is incredibly well cushioned in there. Remember, she's floating in a sac of amniotic fluid, which is surrounded by a thick, muscular organ (your uterus).
Stomach (abdominal) pains or cramps are common in pregnancy. They're usually nothing to worry about, but they can sometimes be a sign of something more serious that needs to be checked. It's probably nothing to worry about if the pain is mild and goes away when you change position, have a rest, do a poo or pass wind.
A hard spot on your abdomen during the early part of the second trimester is likely to be your fundus, which is the top of your uterus. The uterus is a muscular organ, shaped like an upside-down pear, and the fundus is the curved upper part that's furthest away from your cervix.
Bloating is a common early pregnancy sign . In some cases, bloating can occur even before the first missed period. During early pregnancy, the hormone progesterone increases to prepare the uterus. Progesterone also slows digestion, which can trap the gas in the intestines that may cause abdominal bloating.
Cramp. Abdominal cramps produce a tightening or squeezing sensation in the belly. Cramps are usually related to gas, indigestion, diarrhea, bloating, constipation, menstruation, or possible miscarriage. Cramps tend to come and go, and may disappear entirely on their own.
It is not always possible to prevent a feeling of tightness because it depends on the cause. However, eating a varied diet, getting enough exercise, drinking plenty of water, and managing stress may help keep the gut healthy. Anyone with severe, persistent, or recurring symptoms should seek medical advice.
A hard stomach can happen for various reasons, including constipation, gastric cancer, and some chronic digestive conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Early pregnancy bloating and normal bloating feel exactly the same. Your pregnancy bloating may feel slightly more uncomfortable due to the additional symptoms and increased amounts of gas which can worsen gas pains.
For some women, their belly doesn't change much during the first trimester. Your belly may look a little rounder, but that's most likely due to bloating more than it is a growing baby. However, by the end of the first trimester, you and your significant other may be the first ones to notice a little bump!
Stomach pains or cramps are common in pregnancy and are usually nothing to worry about. Mild stomach pain in early pregnancy (during the first 12 weeks) is usually caused by your womb expanding, the ligaments stretching as your bump grows, hormones constipation or trapped wind.
Most women start to feel their uterus contract and periodically tighten some time during the second trimester, the point in their pregnancy between 14 to 28 weeks.
Certain uterine conditions or weak cervical tissues (incompetent cervix) might increase the risk of miscarriage. Smoking, alcohol and illicit drugs. Women who smoke during pregnancy have a greater risk of miscarriage than do nonsmokers. Heavy alcohol use and illicit drug use also increase the risk of miscarriage.
At two weeks pregnant, your belly won't show any signs of a bump yet, although you may feel a little more gassy or bloated than usual.
Quickening is typically felt low in your belly, near your pubic bone. Early fetal movements are subtle, and your baby is still tiny. At around 12 weeks in pregnancy, your uterus is low in your abdomen or at your pubic bone. When you're 20 weeks pregnant, the top of your uterus (fundus) is at your belly button.
Gently poke or jiggle your baby bump.
And plenty of moms have felt their babies move in utero with just a (very) gentle poke to the stomach or light jiggle of their bump. Just remember not to prod too vigorously: You've got precious cargo in there!
About the size of a grapefruit, the uterus completely fills the pelvis and may be felt by palpating your abdomen. As your uterus continues to stretch out of the pelvis, it may become easier to find it.
As the baby grows and gets bigger, the uterus expands to accommodate it. This extra weight is borne by the pelvis. At the same time, the ligaments supporting the heavier uterus are overstretched. The result is pelvic pressure that may be accompanied by sharp, numb pain in the area and even within the thighs.