What does an enlarged uterus feel like?

For women, the uterus is one of the most important reproductive organs. However, with the improvement of people's living standards and the gradual increase in work efficiency in recent years, people's life pressure has also increased, so the incidence rate of some female diseases has remained high. One of the most common diseases is the uterus. So let’s take a look at what it feels like to have an enlarged uterus.

1. Early pregnancy: The uterus looks like a grapefruit

4 weeks pregnant: In the first month of pregnancy, the size and shape of the expectant mother's uterus have basically not changed compared to before pregnancy. But the uterine wall begins to become soft and thickened, looking about the size of an egg. From this time on, the hormone secretion in the expectant mother's body will be unbalanced. More sensitive expectant mothers will also experience early pregnancy symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. Some expectant mothers will also experience fatigue, fever, chills, etc.

8 weeks of pregnancy: As the pregnancy progresses, the expectant mother's uterine wall gradually softens and the cervix thickens to protect the uterus. Generally, the first prenatal check-up is done between 8 and 12 weeks of pregnancy. The check-up usually includes medical questioning, weight and blood pressure measurement, fetal heart rate monitoring, urine and blood tests, and checking the size of the uterus.

12 weeks pregnant: At 3 months of pregnancy, the expectant mother's uterus looks like a grapefruit. The uterus gradually enlarges as the fetus grows. The fundus of the uterus can be touched above the pubic symphysis. The enlarged uterus begins to compress the bladder and rectum located in the front and back. The bladder capacity decreases, frequent urination occurs, and there is always a feeling of incomplete urine discharge.

Second trimester: The enlarged uterus squeezes the internal organs

16 weeks pregnant: When entering the fourth month of pregnancy, the fetus grows faster, the uterus begins to grow and grow out of the pelvis, and the ligaments around the uterus change from their original relaxed state to a tense state. Many expectant mothers will feel some abdominal pain on one or both sides of the uterus in the lower abdomen, which presents as cramps, bloating and a feeling of falling, but it generally does not pose a threat to the pregnancy.

20 weeks pregnant: After 5 months of pregnancy, the expectant mother's uterus is getting bigger and bigger, pushing the abdomen outward, causing the belly to bulge outward. The expectant mother can easily feel her uterus about 1.8 cm below the navel. By the sixth month of pregnancy, the uterus is now about 8 cm above the navel. At this time, the uterus enlarges rapidly and squeezes the internal organs upward, so almost all expectant mothers will face symptoms such as chest tightness and difficulty breathing. Therefore, expectant mothers begin to choose a side-lying sleeping position.

28 weeks of pregnancy: By the 7th month, the expectant mother's abdomen bulges significantly, the fundus of the uterus continues to rise, the height of the uterus is 24-26 cm, the body leans back slightly to maintain balance, and the waist is prone to fatigue and pain. During this period, the expectant mother's weight increases rapidly, up to 500 grams per week. At the same time, the enlarged uterus increases the pressure on the pelvic cavity, which aggravates the obstruction of venous return in the lower body. If not paid attention to, hemorrhoids may occur.

3. Late pregnancy: The abdomen becomes hard and the uterus begins to contract

In the late pregnancy, the uterus enlarges rapidly and the abdomen bulges day by day. If you gently touch the uterus, you can often feel the abdomen hardening.

32 weeks of pregnancy: By the 8th month, most pregnant women will experience symptoms of late false pregnancy contractions (such as a tight belly). At the same time, due to the needs of childbirth and postpartum breastfeeding, the expectant mother's breasts begin to secrete colostrum and her lower abdomen becomes increasingly tight. In the next few weeks, the intensity of your late pregnancy contractions will increase, and you will notice more pulling marks on your breasts, abdomen, buttocks, and thighs.

36 weeks pregnant: At 9 months of pregnancy, the uterus almost occupies the entire abdominal cavity, directly pressing on the stomach, diaphragm, heart, etc., causing palpitations, shortness of breath, bloating, loss of appetite, increased urination frequency, and gradual waves of uterine contractions.

38 weeks of pregnancy: In the last month, the expectant mother will feel her belly moving downward, her breathing will become easier, and her bloating will be relieved. This is because at this time the fetus's head has already moved down into the entrance of the pelvic cavity. When it reaches full term, accompanied by waves of abdominal pain, uterine contractions begin to occur, allowing the mature fetus to be delivered smoothly.