Pregnancy is generally a time filled with joy, fears, surprises, and a lot of emotion. Among the surprises is the sensation of a crooked belly during pregnancy, which can scare parents, especially the mother. However, it is completely normal for the belly to become hard and crooked during pregnancy. Especially from the third trimester of pregnancy onwards, when the baby is already big and as it continues to grow, the space becomes naturally tighter and any sudden movement becomes apparent to everyone externally.
Baby’s Position
At this moment, the baby may simply be with its back on one side, and its hands and feet on the other, giving the impression that the belly has moved all to one side1. This is why many questions about a pregnant belly are common on pregnancy forums.
Main Questions from Pregnant Women
Questions like: My belly is crooked, is that normal? Suddenly, my belly became crooked, what happened? As moms share their concerns, they realize that the same thing happens with many of them and it is quite normal. Don’t worry, a crooked belly during pregnancy is not a sign of a problem. Learn to identify if there are any other symptoms that deserve more attention, and if everything else is fine, just enjoy each moment with your belly, because this phase passes quickly and you will miss it.
Why Does the Belly Get Hard During Pregnancy?
The hard belly in pregnancy has several explanations2. Early in pregnancy, around the second month, the belly is still not very visible, but we already notice a firmness below the navel.This firmness is the uterus already expanding to accommodate the baby. As the weeks go by, as the baby develops and gains weight, the belly grows and the uterus expands more and more.Around the third trimester, the pregnant woman already has a round and firm belly and begins to feel the first contractions, which are just practice contractions, scientifically known as Braxton-Hicks contractions. These contractions are just to train the uterus for labor, they usually do not cause pain and are very quick and sporadic3.
Practice Contractions Are Not a Rule
They occur in a disorganized manner, with an average frequency of once an hour. It’s common for mothers not to feel the baby’s movements during contractions. If you are at this stage of pregnancy and do not feel these contractions, don’t worry either; not all women notice them and this is perfectly normal.
Difference Between Practice and Active Contractions
The factor that differentiates practice contractions from true contractions is exactly their frequency and the presence of intense pain. If you are at 36 weeks or more and are feeling more intense and painful contractions, you should see your doctor to check if these are signs of labor.Besides contractions, the baby’s position can also cause part of the belly to become even firmer. The further the pregnancy advances, naturally the baby is bigger, and you and even others are able to feel some part of the baby’s body—the little foot, the head, the little hands—and at this time this part gets firmer and does look crooked.Another question future mothers have is about the famous low belly in pregnancy. Below, we’ll talk a little about this to help you understand the reasons and know how to handle it better.
Low Belly at the End of Pregnancy
It is normal for pregnant women, especially first-time moms, to have thousands of doubts and always be on alert whenever something different happens, especially when it’s related to their belly.Whether it’s a belly that is slow to grow, or one that is bigger or smaller than expected, when there is a lot of movement, or if it remains still for long, there are also the bellies that get crooked and the famous low belly.What happens at this stage is called a physiologic flip: at 27 weeks (for most cases), the baby turns and adopts the cephalic position, but is not necessarily engaged for birth. The belly usually drops during pregnancy around the 36th week of gestation, but typically, the baby will only truly engage at the start of labor. Therefore, there is no need to grab the hospital bag and rush to the maternity hospital—usually, the belly drops about 4 weeks before labor.
Last Weeks and the Belly Didn’t Drop
If you are already in your final month of pregnancy and your belly hasn’t dropped, do not worry, many babies are born without being fully engaged and this is not a problem. By having proper prenatal care, your doctor will know how to assess the right time for delivery.Regardless of the situation, what’s most important is that whenever you have a concern or feel something is not normal, talk to your doctor. They are the one who can reassure you and make sure everything is fine with your baby.The pregnant belly truly is a box of surprises, dreams, and expectations. Big or small, firm and even crooked, it is one of the best sensations that motherhood provides. Carrying, inside your body, a little part of you that will soon be ready for life, and soon comfortable in your arms, is truly a magical moment and should be experienced with tranquility and love. So enjoy every minute and cherish your pregnant belly.See Also: At What Month Does the Belly Start to Show?Photos: Free-Photos, 3907349
