It’s very common at the end of pregnancy for a woman to hear from someone else, or even notice herself, that her belly is sitting low. But does this actually mean something, or does it indicate any kind of problem? What can a low belly during pregnancy alert a woman to, and what care should she take?
The belly
After pregnancy is confirmed, the now expectant mother starts paying close attention to her belly every day. Bloated, flat, swollen, normal, or sore, the belly will always catch the future mom’s attention in front of the mirror. After all, what woman doesn’t dream of watching her belly grow out of love for her baby? The first sign of a visible belly may appear around the 12th week. That’s because before then, the belly may only appear larger due to bloating caused by high hormone levels. As the pregnancy progresses and the baby’s growth becomes visible and is felt by the mother, the uterus starts to settle above the belly button line. This typically happens around 20 weeks of pregnancy, for some women a bit earlier, for others later. But it’s always a milestone in pregnancy, as the rising of the uterus makes the bump more noticeable to everyone around1, including the dad.
Belly growth in the second trimester
It’s in the second trimester that the belly really starts to show. And it’s during this phase, at prenatal appointments, that the doctor will measure uterine height. This simple test checks if the baby’s growth is ideal and in line with what’s expected at that stage. Normally, the belly sits quite high during this phase, from 20 to 35 weeks. That’s because the baby is high up, as the cervix is still intact, with no thinning happening. This detail makes all the difference; it means that labor is still a long way away. Another factor that keeps the baby high is weight. Compared to the end of pregnancy, the baby is still much lighter. Did you know that the position of the baby inside the uterus will also determine whether the belly appears high, low, or even lopsided? If the baby stays at the top of the belly, it will remain high. It’s very common for the baby to be in a transverse position within the uterus in the second trimester because there’s still space to stretch out. If the baby settles lower, the bump will look lower, and this can even change daily, depending on the baby’s movements2.
Low belly in the third trimester
After reaching the third trimester,a low belly can happen at any time. It’s important to remember that a low belly isn’t a problem, not at all, except for a few details we’ll discuss below. Having a low belly in pregnancy can mean a few things:
The baby has dropped:
When the baby turns to the cephalic position for birth and drops into the pelvis, the bump will automatically look lower. That’s because the baby’s head will be engaged in the mother’s pelvis, much lower than it was when the baby was resting above the pelvic line. Once the head drops, it will be below the pelvic line. This will certainly cause some discomfort, but it does not pose problems for the mother or baby.
Thinning of the cervix:
When labor is about to happen, the belly naturally drops. Usually this occurs very close to birth, some hours or even a day before. It’s normal for the baby to start descending as labor progresses. The cervix, previously thick, begins to thin out. That’s when the baby starts descending more and more.
Loss of fluid:
This is a case to watch out for, but it depends. When the amniotic sac breaks, some of the fluid volume previously present is lost. This will make the belly shrink down and drop a bit3. However, if the water doesn’t break entirely and the woman notices her belly is dropping more each day, with a loss of fluid (ruptured membranes), she should contact her obstetrician as soon as possible. One detail to remember is that women who’ve been pregnant before tend to have a lower belly quicker during the third trimester. First-time moms may take longer to have a low belly, or might not have it at all, not even on the day of delivery, and still be completely normal. There’s no rule about having a low belly—it’s just very common. Like everything, it varies from woman to woman.
How to tell if your belly is low?
A simple trick to check if your belly is low is easy but should be observed every day for a few weeks. It consists of placing your hand (or hands) in the space between your belly and your chest. As the belly drops, thespace between the chest and the belly will increase, and you’ll notice the need to add another finger or even another hand to fill the gap. Remember that this observation should be made over several days, as the baby’s position can change and affect this “homemade measurement.” Another way to notice a low belly during pregnancy is to use a measuring tape to keep track of the belly’s growth. However, this technique should be performed by someone other than the pregnant woman, as the margin of error is quite significant if she does it herself. Remember, the measurement should be taken from the pubic bone up to the top of the uterus and recorded. Also see: At How Many Months Does the Belly Start to Show?
