The size of the abdomen during pregnancy significantly depends on the personal characteristics of the body structure of the girl. In some expectant mothers, the stomach manifests itself very late, while others observe the manifestation of rounded shapes in the initial stages.
The size of the abdomen during pregnancy increases, subject to a systematic increase in the fetus in the womb and the amount of amniotic fluid. Small changes in the volume of the abdomen can be noticeable to the mother herself from the third month, while others can assume the situation only from 20 weeks. During this period, the stomach becomes quite noticeable, however, many girls with magnificent figures will be able to withhold it much longer.
What determines the size of the abdomen during pregnancy by week
The photo shown below clearly shows the change in size of the abdomen by week. Experts in the process of performing measurements adhere to generally accepted measures, however, they take into account the fact that they can vary significantly in each individual case.
Among the list of conditions that affect the change in the circumference of the abdomen, focus on the following:
- physique of the expectant mother;
- the intensity of weight gain - many pregnant women have a high appetite;
- parameters of the unborn child;
- the position of the baby;
- amount of amniotic fluid.
In future mothers, predisposed to fullness, roundness can be inconspicuous until the very stage of childbirth, while women with a narrow pelvis and fragile physique meet with a change in the size of the abdomen at the very beginning of the second trimester. The size of the abdomen with multiple pregnancy increases instantly, as a result of this an interesting position can be noticeable to surrounding people much earlier.
The stomach can grow not systematically, but in jerks. Obstetrician-gynecologists begin to trace the dynamics of adding centimeters in the abdominal circumference not immediately, but, as a rule, from the fifth month.
The largest size of the abdomen by weeks of pregnancy, the photo of which is attached, is at 38 weeks. By this time, all the main stages of the development of the fetus are ending, and the bottom of the uterus reaches the limit. There is no need to panic if the stomach becomes smaller at 38 weeks, most likely the child has taken a different position, because he is preparing for an early meeting with his mother. Just before the date of the baby’s appearance, the height of the uterine fundus decreases, and the “lowering of the tummy” occurs. Let's try to figure out what the size of the abdomen during pregnancy depends on (photo is shown below).
How to accurately measure the stomach?
It is important to measure the stomach correctly, as the inaccuracy shown can become a significant cause for panic.
Women during pregnancy are especially sensitive. A pretext for their concern may be a mismatch in two centimeters. Undoubtedly, in this case, you need to pull yourself together. This is because all indicators are individual.
Measurements are made with a centimeter tape in this way:
- The expectant mother needs to stand up straight.
- Place the tape at the navel level.
- It is better to take measurements at the same time.
- You can not determine the circle of the abdomen in more prominent places - this is wrong.
If the values obtained are slightly different from generally accepted standards, there is no reason for panic at all. This is due to the fact that numerous conditions, for example, the amount of amniotic fluid, have a great influence on the change in coolant. This size is able to vary significantly during the entire period of gestation.
A cause for concern may be a significant change in indicators before the birth itself. Such differences may indicate that diligence has changed, and problems may arise during childbirth. Doctors in this case assess the condition of the child and decide on the option of delivery (on their own or by cesarean section).
In each case, significant differences in the characteristics of the girth of the abdomen from generally accepted standards are an occasion for visiting a gynecologist. Only after a physical examination can you establish whether this is the norm or cause for concern.
Abdominal circumference
Weekly abdominal circumference during pregnancy is a significant and traceable characteristic. It is measured in accordance with the gestational age and compared with tabular indicators. Determination of abdominal circumference is performed starting from week 20.
Values provide an opportunity to assess the rate of intrauterine formation of the child.
In the process of any routine examination, the doctor establishes the systematic development of the fetus in the uterus. The girl for this is obliged to lie down on the couch. The doctor, using a centimeter tape, sets the length from the pubic joint to a prominent place on the bottom of the uterus. In a similar way, the level of the bottom of the uterus is measured.
Such actions make it possible to control the increase in size in the abdomen. Usually, starting from the fifth month, the pregnant belly increases by 1 cm per week. The abdominal circumference by weeks of pregnancy is certainly compared with the height of the uterine fundus. Normally, these characteristics are required to meet a certain deadline.
The size of the uterus during pregnancy
An increase in uterine volume occurs throughout a pregnancy. In the first few weeks, the uterus is pear shaped. By the end of the 8th week of pregnancy, its size increases by about 3 times, the uterus takes a rounded shape. During the second half of pregnancy, it retains its own rounded shape, and at the beginning of the 3rd trimester it acquires an oval shape. Before pregnancy, the weight of the uterus is up to 100 g, and at the end of pregnancy - 1000 g (the uterus increases more than 500 times). Over the entire period of the baby’s gestation, each muscle fiber becomes 10 times larger and denser about 5 times. The vascular network of the uterus increases significantly, according to its own oxygen regime during pregnancy, it approaches similar vital organs (such as the heart, liver and brain).
The photo below shows how the standing height of the uterus changes over the weeks, which are indicated by numbers in the picture.
At 4 weeks of gestation, the size of the uterus reaches approximately the size of the chicken testicle.
At 8 weeks, the uterus already corresponds to the size of a goose egg.
At 12 weeks, its volume reaches the size of the head of the newborn, the bottom reaches the upper edge of the pubic joint.
After 13 weeks of pregnancy, the size of the abdomen increases even more, and the bottom of the uterus is palpated through the anterior abdominal wall.
At sixteen weeks it is halfway between the pubis and the navel. The same will happen at the 17th week of pregnancy. The size of the abdomen will not be much different.
At twenty weeks, the bottom of the uterus is 2 transverse fingers above the navel. During this period, the abdomen is already significantly enlarged. This is noticeable even if the expectant mother is in clothes.
At 24 weeks, the bottom of the uterus is located at the level of the navel.
At 28 weeks, it is 3 fingers above the navel.
The size of the abdomen at 30 weeks of gestation is different for each woman in labor. But the bottom of the uterus should be in the middle between the navel and the sword-shaped process of the sternum, the navel begins to soften.
At 38 weeks, the bottom of the uterus rises up to the sword-shaped process and costal arches - this is the maximum level of standing of the bottom of the uterus.
At 40 weeks, it decreases up to half the distance between the navel and the sword-shaped process.
Reducing the height of the bottom of the uterus is acceptable with the transverse position of the fetus, if the baby is in the womb so that the head and legs are located on the sides. With the transverse position of the fetus, delivery in a natural way is not feasible.
The size of the uterus is more than the established gestational age also with multiple pregnancy. It has been established that multiple pregnancy refers to pregnancies of significant risk - with it the possibility of various complications increases.
The uterus is able to grow intensively with significant polyhydramnios - a condition where the number of amniotic fluid exceeds the norm, reaching 2-5 liters, and in some cases 10-12. This anomaly occurs in diabetes mellitus, Rh conflict during pregnancy, acute and chronic infections, and pathologies of fetal formation. Of course, all these conditions require close monitoring by medical professionals.
The uterus can grow faster than usual with large sizes of the fetus. Large size may be due to genetics. In other cases, an abnormally large fetal size is observed as a result of diabetes in the expectant mother during this pregnancy.
Amniotic fluid size during pregnancy
Another reason why the sizes of the abdomen differ at different stages of pregnancy are water. The increase in the volume of amniotic fluid (amniotic fluid) occurs unevenly. Thus, in 10 weeks of pregnancy, their amount is usually 30 milliliters, in the fourth month - 100 milliliters. At 19 weeks of pregnancy, the size of the abdomen also increases, and the amount of amniotic fluid is 400 milliliters, etc. The largest volume is seen at 37-38 weeks (1000-1500 milliliters). By the end of pregnancy, the amount of water can drop to 800 milliliters. With the baby's tolerance, there is a decrease in the amount of amniotic fluid (less than 800 milliliters).
Separately, it is worth considering the condition of the fetus and the size of the abdomen by months of pregnancy.
The first month
The union of the male and female reproductive cells leads to the formation of a new one, called the zygote.
A cell along the fallopian tube moves deeper into the uterus (this period lasts 7-8 days). If the cell reaches the uterus, implantation occurs - the introduction of a zygote into its wall. The implantation procedure lasts three days. At the prefetal stage, the active development of the primordia of the organs that appeared during the formation of the embryo takes place, new bookmarks are formed: the stomach and other sections of the digestive tract are secreted, the intestines are laid, it is divided into sections, the muscles are divided, the skeleton is created.
In the second half of the prefetal stage, the facial parts, the neck are formed, the circulatory system and sensory organs are formed, the structure of the brain is differentiated, large digestive glands - the liver and pancreas - are distinguished. By the end of the second month, the beginnings of all organs are created and take their own permanent position. During the fetal period, an increase and multifunctional formation of organs and tissues of the embryo takes place. In other words, starting from this stage, the fetal organs acquire the ability to function.
Second month
At the future baby (its length is already 4-5 millimeters), bookmarks of the limbs become visible. By the end of the period, the length of the embryo increases (from 5 millimeters to 25-30 millimeters). On the arms and legs there are fingers that are already ready to move; however, these movements are not yet felt by mom. A sufficiently elongated tail eventually transforms into a slight tubercle. The neck appears. It is worth noting that the brain ceases to be visible through the skin. The rudiments of the senses arise from the protrusions and depressions of the brain, while the eyes are almost completely formed. The head is huge (approximately fifty percent of the length of the entire embryo). There is a further formation of the main structures of the face (except for the auricles - they are still very low).
The fetal body begins to function: the brain sends impulses that coordinate the functions of other organs. The rapid growth of the intestinal tract that arose during the sixth and seventh weeks leads to the fact that a certain number of intestinal loops ceases to fit in the small abdominal cavity of the embryo and crawls beyond its borders - a so-called physical umbilical hernia appears. By the end of the second month, it receives absolute development, and by the tenth week it completely disappears. At the end of the second month, the body is formed, the rudiments of the extremities exist, the imperfect eyes, nose, mouth are still visible in the head, the genital organs of the unborn child are developing.
Third month
Full length - 7 cm, weight - 20 g. During the third month, the child grows very quickly and almost doubles its own length. The head still remains relatively huge and by the end of the month is approximately a third of the parietal-coccygeal length. The anterior lobe is very small compared with the cerebral part of the skull. There is a very rapid growth of the eyelids, the edges of which at this time are fused together (the eyes open only at the seventh month of pregnancy). The initial beginnings of hair appear. The arms and legs make movements, the fingers of the arms and legs are clearly visible, in the cartilaginous anlage of the skeleton, the initial ossification points arise. During this period, rudiments of nails appear on the fingers and toes.
Fourth month
The head begins to lag a little behind in growth, the proportions of the fetus gradually take on the usual form. Fluffy hair appears on the body. The arms and legs are approximately equal in length. The face begins to loom, the ossification of the skull occurs, basically the development of the muscular system is completed, the movements of the limbs become more active, however, the mother has not yet felt, the baby’s gender is clearly different. The child moves a lot, is able to suck his own fingers. The skin has two layers.
The functions of various body systems are improved. Using electron microscopy, it was determined that the structure of cells located in the brain is almost the same as that of newly born ones. Using a special tube, a heartbeat is heard, the frequency of which reaches one hundred and fifty beats per minute. By the end of the 15th week of pregnancy, the size of the abdomen increases, and it already becomes noticeable to others.
Fifth month
The most rapid growth of the body occurs, by the end of the fifth month of intrauterine formation, the head is no more than a third of the entire body length. The skin has a dark red color. The formation of a hidden fat layer occurs. The skin is intensely overgrown with fluffy hair. At the 18th week of pregnancy, the size of the abdomen increases sharply, due to the intensive growth of the baby.
The sebaceous glands of the fetus begin to secrete a fatty substance. This lubricant protects the future baby from the continuous influence of amniotic fluid, and further simplifies its passage through the birth canal. In the intestinal tract, meconium is formed. Significantly extended lower limbs. A baby can be born alive, makes breathing movements, but at this stage of pregnancy, as a rule, he is not viable.
Sixth month
The skin becomes very wrinkled. This is due to the mismatch of the growth rate of the baby and his skin. Eyebrows and eyelashes become visible. Skin patterns appear on the fingertips. Each one has its own pattern - unique and unique.
In this period, the formation of cells of the cerebral cortex basically ends. Their loss under the influence of any harmful conditions is not compensated. Further life, a person lives with the number of cells that has formed in the cerebral cortex at the moment. The movements of the fetus in the amniotic fluid become more differentiated.
Seventh month
The length of the future baby is about 40 cm, weight - 1200-1700 g. The subcutaneous fat layer grows, as a result of which the skin becomes denser and smoother. On the seventh month, the eyelids open. The kid can open and cover his eyes. His entire body for this period is covered with soft cannon hairs.
All major body systems are sufficiently formed. It is possible, albeit with great difficulty, with special care in a specialized center for premature babies, to save the life of the child outside the mother's body.
Eighth month
By about seven and a half months, the child is able to be born and survive. Babies born during the third trimester are usually fully ripe. As the full-term gestational age approaches, the possibility of the birth of a full-fledged and fully viable, healthy baby increases significantly.
By the end of pregnancy, antibodies from the mother pass through the placenta to the fetus, forming a temporary resistance to diseases to which the child has immunity from birth. Premature babies receive this protection to a lesser extent than full-term babies, so the first are most exposed to infections.
Ninth month
The approximate growth of the embryo is 45-50 cm. Due to the intensive formation of adipose tissue in the subcutaneous layer, the shape of its body becomes rounded. The nails on the hands reach the edges of the fingers. The hair on the head becomes thicker and longer. A child who appeared during this period is viable, cries loudly, opens his eyes, and a congenital sucking reflex immediately appears.
Tenth month
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