What is the difference ordinary woman from pregnant? Most will say that the size of the abdomen. However, many are ready to object to them, and this will also be correct, since the situation is not always noticeable.

Why do some have a big and others a small belly during pregnancy?

No one will object that the body of each woman is individual, so the stomach can grow in different ways. It is very important at this moment to ensure that there are no deviations from the norm.

A small belly during pregnancy can be for many reasons, for example, with the pathological development of the fetus, or perhaps this is the norm for a particular woman, and the baby will be born completely healthy.

During the first trimester, it may or may not be noticeable. If the mother has toxicosis, the stomach will grow only from the second trimester. Sometimes it happens that others do not even suspect that a woman is pregnant.

In any case, there is no reason to panic, it is necessary to undergo regular examinations and tests to make sure that the gestation proceeds according to plan, even if the belly is small during pregnancy.

What causes the belly to grow?

Basically, nevertheless, it grows, this can be explained by the fact that the uterus grows, where the child develops. The uterus accommodates the fetus, the placenta, and for this all you need enough space so that the baby can develop properly and feel comfortable. As the fetus and waters increase, body volumes increase.

Fruit size

You can determine the size of the fetus using ultrasound. Thanks to transvaginal ultrasound, it can be detected in the second or third week of development. Pregnancy starts from the 1st day of the last menstruation and is about six to seven weeks. At this point, the diameter of the fetus is 2-4 mm.

How does the fetus develop?

• At the 10th week, it can be noted that the diameter of the fetus fluctuates at the level of 2.2 cm.
• The 12th week is characterized by a fetal length of 6-7 cm, a weight of 20-25 g.
• The 16th week corresponds to a length of 12 cm, body weight - 100 g.
• 20 weeks is characterized by a fetal length of 25-26 cm, a weight of 280-300 g.
• At the 24th week - 30 cm and 600-680 g, respectively.
• 28 weeks - size 35 cm and weight 1-1.2 kg.
• 32 weeks - 40-42 cm and 1.5-1.7 kg.
• 36 weeks - 45-48 cm and 2.4-2.5 kg.

By the end of pregnancy, the length of the fetus is 48-49 cm, and body weight is 2.6-5 kg.

in a pregnant woman

Throughout pregnancy, the uterus increases in size. In the first weeks, it has a pear-shaped shape. At the end of the second month of pregnancy, it doubles and takes on a rounded shape, and at the beginning of the 3rd trimester it becomes ovoid. If there is a small belly during pregnancy, then it means that the uterus does not increase in accordance with the norms.

The mass of the uterus before pregnancy is 50-100 g, at the end - 1 kg.

amniotic fluid

The volume of water increases unevenly. At the tenth week of gestation - 30 ml, on the 13-14th - 100 ml, on the 18th - 400 ml and so on. The maximum volume at the 37-38th week is 1-1.5 liters. At the end of the term, it can decrease to 800 ml.

Why a small belly during pregnancy?

It can grow slowly for several reasons.

The size of the uterus may be smaller than expected due to oligohydramnios. Many believe that the stomach grows only due to the fetus, but amniotic fluid plays an important role in this process. With insufficient water, it looks smaller than expected. You can determine the water using ultrasound. As the gestational age increases, so does the amount of fluid. Low water is not the norm, it occurs with pathologies, such as hypertension, infectious diseases, preeclampsia, and others. Therefore, if there is already a small belly, it may well be.

The next reason is it occurs due to a violation of placental metabolism. Maternal malnutrition can also lead to slow growth. Under such circumstances, the baby is born with a weight of 2.5 kg. However, even ultrasound cannot accurately determine the weight of a child, so it can only be known for sure at birth, it can vary by 500 g in both directions.

The constitution of a woman's body also plays a role. In petite and thin mothers, the bulge is more noticeable than in women of large build.

A fertilized egg can attach to the back wall of the uterus, in which case the child is located outside the box - across the pelvis. Under such conditions, the belly grows inward and does not stick out, then there will be a small belly during pregnancy, and it may not even be noticeable to outsiders.

Due to hereditary characteristics, it may also be smaller. If the parents are miniature, then the baby is likely to be small, so the stomach may increase slightly.

If a woman has a well-trained abdominals, then the muscles will keep their shape and tone, and the stomach will not grow much.

Signs of lagging belly enlargement

At each visit to the gynecologist, the circumference of the abdomen is measured using a centimeter tape, as well as the height of the fundus of the uterus. These measurements can tell a lot about the doctor. If the indicators have not increased or even decreased, then this is the reason for an unscheduled ultrasound. The doctor will be especially alert if this is a small stomach, combined with a decrease in indicators, may require other fetal studies.

What to do if the stomach does not grow?

The lack of volume growth is not a diagnosis, whether it is a small belly at the 30th week of pregnancy or at the 21st. There are no methods of prevention, as with diseases. It all depends on the factors that affect the increase in abdominal circumference. If oligohydramnios and malnutrition have been identified, then measures should be taken to minimize the risks. In all other cases, you do not need to worry about this if you have a small belly during pregnancy (30 weeks), because even under such conditions healthy babies grow.

The main thing is to visit the doctor regularly in order to identify any abnormalities in time or just to make sure that the pregnancy is going well.

It happens that there is a small belly during the second pregnancy. That is, during the bearing of the first-born in a woman, he met all the parameters, and there was no reason for concern. A small tummy during the second gestation may alert the mother, but each baby is individual and develops differently.

Norms and deviations

Although the body of each woman is individual, nevertheless, norms were adopted that are approximately the same for everyone, deviations from which should be a signal of problems during gestation. By the increase in the uterus, you can judge a lot.

At the 4th week, the uterus looks like a chicken egg. In the 8th week, it grows and becomes the size of a goose egg. At the 12th week - like a baby's head, during this period the gynecologist probes it, also measures the circumference of the abdomen. At the 16th week, the tummy is rounded, the uterus is located in the area between the pubis and the navel. At the 20th week, it becomes noticeable to others. 21 weeks pregnant - a small belly is not yet a cause for concern. 24th week - the uterus moves to the navel, and on the 28th is above it. At 32 weeks, the navel begins to level out, the bottom of the uterus is palpated between the xiphoid process and the navel. 38th week - the uterus is at its highest level near the ribs. At the 40th week, the navel protrudes, the bottom of the uterus descends, starting preparations for childbirth.

The circumference of the tummy is an important parameter that is measured from the lumbar deflection to the navel. The following parameters are considered normal: 32nd week - 85-90 cm, 36th - 90-95 cm, 40th - 95-100 cm. the reason is malnutrition or oligohydramnios.

The uterus begins to increase almost from the very beginning of gestation, and if this does not happen, then it may occur ectopic pregnancy. In this case, the fetus develops outside the uterus, in the tube.

With regular visits to the doctor, deviations from the norm will be instantly established. If necessary, a pregnant woman can be admitted to a hospital for treatment, in this situation, the probability of having a healthy baby increases dramatically.

Pregnancy planning

If you are planning a child in advance, you must first pass all the tests, cure all diseases before pregnancy, since any, even the most harmless infection, can cause complications. You also need to radically revise your diet, lead healthy lifestyle life, give up bad habits. Subject to all the rules, your baby will be born healthy, and in the future he will not have problems.

Don't forget to eat fresh fruits and vegetables vitamin complexes- all this will contribute to the best growth of the baby.

Every expectant mother knows: during pregnancy, the belly must grow. This is how nature intended: week after week, the baby grows in growth, the uterus stretches, the volume increases amniotic fluid. A pregnant woman can be seen from afar, and after 30 weeks, few will doubt that soon there will be one more person in the world. Unfortunately, it happens that a well-established system fails, and the tummy does not grow in deadlines. Is a small belly during pregnancy a norm or a pathology?

It should be?

Starting from the 16th week of pregnancy, at each appointment in the antenatal clinic, the doctor measures the patient's abdominal circumference and the height of the uterine fundus. These parameters are necessary in order to track the development of the baby in the womb. Normal every week tummy future mother adds 1 cm. Already from 18-20 weeks, others clearly notice that a woman is preparing to become a mother. At repeated pregnancy the stomach grows much faster, which is explained by the greater extensibility of the muscles and ligaments of the anterior abdominal wall. Why does the growth of the abdomen not always fit into the prescribed norms?

Possible Causes of a Small Belly During Pregnancy

Experts identify several reasons for this condition:

1. Hereditary predisposition

This situation is repeated from generation to generation. All women in the family note that the entire pregnancy took place with a small belly. At the same time, children are born at term without any serious deviations in the state of health. A genetically determined small belly during pregnancy is more common in short thin women.

2. Severe toxicosis of the first half of pregnancy

Nausea and vomiting that has lasted more than 12 weeks is very exhausting for a woman. She is losing weight, and it is quite natural that a rounded tummy for a period of 16-18 weeks will not yet be found. Treatment of toxicosis in this case should be carried out in a hospital with mandatory monitoring of the condition of the fetus.

3. Trained Abs

In women involved in sports, the abdominal muscles are constantly in good shape. A rounded tummy, characteristic of pregnant women, will appear much later than the due date.

4. Incorrect position of the fetus

With a transverse or oblique position of the child in the uterine cavity, the abdomen will not protrude too much forward. Outwardly, such a woman will seem slightly overweight, but not at all pregnant. Up to 32 weeks, the baby can roll over, and then the shape and size of the abdomen will return to normal.

5. Retardation of intrauterine development of the fetus

Unlike all previous causes, this situation is alarming for both the woman and her doctor. A small belly in this case indicates that the baby is not growing well and is not gaining weight. The cause of developmental delay may be the pathology of the placenta, chronic diseases and bad habits of the mother. Hypotrophy (low weight) of a child may also indicate some congenital pathologies.

6. Low water

The lack of amniotic fluid most often indicates intrauterine infection fetus. For a period after 40 weeks, this condition may be associated with true postmaturity and aging of the placenta. Both situations require the obligatory observation of an obstetrician-gynecologist.

Why doesn't the belly grow during pregnancy?

It so happens that until a certain period of pregnancy, everything was in order. The woman regularly visited the doctor, where her tummy was measured and no abnormalities were noticed. Suddenly, at the next appearance, the expectant mother notices that the abdominal circumference has not increased. In most cases, this indicates the onset of fetal hypotrophy and a possible delay in its development. The baby does not gain weight, which negatively affects his general condition. Treatment of such a pathology is carried out in a hospital. The use of drugs that activate the uteroplacental blood flow, as well as various vitamin mixtures, allows you to achieve a good result and ensure the normal development of the child in the womb.

A small belly during pregnancy is not a sentence. In many cases, women with a neat tummy give birth to healthy children without any abnormalities. At the same time, it is not necessary to refuse the examination. Regular visits to the doctor during pregnancy gives a chance to notice a dangerous pathology in time. Timely diagnosis of conditions such as fetal growth retardation and oligohydramnios will allow initiating adequate treatment and will make it possible to avoid the development of complications.

If the belly grows slowly during pregnancy, the woman begins to worry. It seems to her that future baby will be born with deviations. You can dispel fears if you know what norms exist, what alarming symptoms can suggest the onset of pathology.

Norms of the size of the abdomen during pregnancy

The norms of the height of the fundus of the uterus and the circumference of the abdomen

The waist begins to blur as the fetus grows. In the third week from the moment of conception, the size of the embryo is 3 mm. This state of his still can not affect the change in shape.

Approximately by the end of the second month, the placenta is already fully formed, the organs of all systems are laid in the fetus. The head is still tilted to the chest, but barely visible fingers are already appearing on the limbs. The outlines of the ears, nose and eyes are clearly visible. The body length is only two and a half centimeters, the embryo turns into a fetus, it occupies all the free space in the uterine cavity. Its weight is 25 grams. Outwardly existing changes are not yet visible.

By the fifteenth week, the fetus increases in size by about five times. He acquires a swallowing and sucking reflex, his eyelashes and eyebrows appear, his kidneys are already working, bladder. The eyes become sensitive to light. The growth of the baby reaches 20 cm. On the ultrasound, you can see his gender. The uterus corresponds to the parameters of a goose egg, so in some women the stomach is noticeably rounded, everyone notices changes. From this moment, the gynecologist begins to determine the circumference and record the data in the table.

At the 21st week of pregnancy, active growth of the fetus occurs. He already weighs 400 grams. Development parameters are rapidly progressing. At week 28, the fundus of the uterus is at the level of three fingers above the umbilical cavity. At week 38, it reaches its maximum threshold - costal arches.

The increase in waist size depends not only on the development of the unborn child. This indicator is affected by the increase in the amount of amniotic fluid. In the third month it is only 50 ml, by the end of the third trimester it is already more than a liter.

Causes of a small belly

In thin girls, the belly becomes noticeable earlier than in full ones.

In nulliparous girls, the first visible changes in the figure appear when the fetal movement is already clearly felt (at about the seventeenth week). For mothers expecting a second child, this happens three weeks earlier. In the first case, the muscular frame of the peritoneum has a higher tone, it is still able to resist the processes occurring inside the body, so the woman manages to hide her interesting position for a long time.

During the second pregnancy, the belly grows faster. The muscles supporting it become more extensible. The order of gestation is the next factor that can explain why different women At the same time, there are different waist sizes.

It is necessary to take into account the individual characteristics of the physique. In obese women, pregnancy is less noticeable than in thin women of short stature.

Genetic predisposition plays a big role in this issue. The belly will appear in the girl at about the same time as her mother.

Fetal presentation can also explain why some pregnant women have a small stomach, while others have a large one. In women with anterior presentation, the described parameter is more pronounced. With a transverse arrangement of the fetus, an interesting position will not be noticeable even at the beginning of the third trimester. Then the baby is able to roll over, and then the figure will change dramatically.

Severe toxicosis in the early stages is another reason for an inconspicuous pregnancy. It is very exhausting, the girls lose a lot of weight. Poor nutrition in this condition leads to the fact that all useful trace elements are taken by the fetus. The mother's body is depleted. Because of this, she becomes very petite.

A rounded belly also appears late in those who are actively involved in sports.

All of these indicators are purely individual. No need to worry in advance and compare yourself with others. The main task of the expectant mother is to focus on her body and closely monitor changes in her condition.

anxiety symptoms

Only a gynecologist is able to identify the characteristic signs of a lag in the increase in the abdomen during the examination and carrying out planned measurements of the circumference. If comparison of data reveals a lack of progress, there is cause for concern. A similar phenomenon can indicate various pathological conditions:

1. Oligohydramnios - a decrease in the volume of amniotic fluid. Diagnosed at any stage of embryogenesis by ultrasound. Associated with increased perinatal mortality. Pathology is asymptomatic, only some women note the appearance of discomfort during fetal movement. In the absence of the required amount of amniotic fluid, a delay occurs prenatal development. There are three levels of severity. Determining the type of disease allows you to establish the feasibility of maintaining pregnancy. Ignoring the problem leads to the birth of children with underdeveloped lungs, with curved legs, with a narrow chest, atresia of the digestive tract.
2. Fetal hypotrophy is a pathology in which the development of the baby occurs with a lag in the parameters that correspond to the norms of a given gestational age. If the disease occurs in the first trimester, a symmetrical form is diagnosed. With her, the organs of the unborn child are evenly reduced in size. This can happen by different reasons: chromosomal abnormality, intrauterine infection, malformations, maternal malnutrition, alcoholism, smoking. On the later dates asymmetric hypotrophy occurs. With it, the brain, the skeleton develops according to the time course, and the kidneys and liver “freeze”. A woman cannot independently determine the diagnosis: the symptoms of the disease are blurred. The condition is detected only with regular observation by an obstetrician-gynecologist and the passage of a planned ultrasound.

Timely identified pathological causes of a decrease in the abdomen during pregnancy can be corrected. Treatment is carried out in a hospital, the treatment regimen is drawn up taking into account the gestational age.

If oligohydramnios is combined with fetal hypoxia, a decision is made on an emergency caesarean section. This is a necessary measure: the child in the womb experiences great suffering.

With a pathology not associated with underdeveloped kidneys in the fetus, a woman is recommended to drink plenty of fluids. It helps increase amniotic fluid by 30%.

Hypotrophy is treated comprehensively. Be sure to correct the nutrition of a woman, she is assigned:

• vasodilators - improve placental blood flow;
• tocolytics - relax the uterus;
• drugs that help eliminate oxygen deficiency.

If a girl carefully monitors her health, and the pregnancy is proceeding normally, a small belly is not a reason to worry. It does not matter how the expectant mother looks from the outside, the main thing is that the development of her baby is in line with the deadline.

The main distinguishing feature of a woman in position is a growing tummy. Despite external attractiveness, this process has an individual character. And, although there are accepted norms, not all expectant mothers fit into them. Many are faced with such a feature as a small belly size, which does not meet the established indicators. The first reaction of a woman in this situation is anxiety. And this is not surprising, because a small belly may indicate a pathology. But is it always like this? Let's try to figure it out.

Before answering the question of why a small belly during pregnancy, you should familiarize yourself with the reasons for its growth. At first glance, this is not difficult to guess: the belly increases in size as the baby develops. But this is not the only reason. In the uterus, in addition to the placenta with the fetus, there is also amniotic fluid, the amount of which also affects the size. The uterus begins to change at the very beginning of pregnancy. It increases at an active pace, the amniotic fluid fills the space in it, and the child gradually forms and grows.
Despite such an intensive process, from the moment of conception, the stomach becomes noticeable only at the 5th month. By this time, the fetus reaches 12 cm in length, and its weight is 100 g. In the initial stages, a woman can even lose weight in the abdomen. Many expectant mothers given time suffer from toxicosis and cannot fully eat, which prevents optimal weight gain. Throughout the entire period of pregnancy, there is not only an increase in the uterus, but also a change in its shape. It may also slightly change its location. All these factors affect the size of the abdomen.

Norms of the size of the abdomen during pregnancy

At each stage of pregnancy, the abdomen must comply with certain standards, deviations from which signal existing violations. Let's get acquainted with them in more detail:

• at week 4, the uterus is the size of a chicken egg;
• at week 8, the size of the uterus is similar to the size of a goose egg;
• the uterus at week 12 corresponds to the parameters of the head of a newborn baby. On the this period the doctor will begin to determine the girth of the abdomen;
• at week 16, the uterus is located between the pubis and the navel, the abdomen acquires a rounded shape;
• at week 19, the uterine fundus can be felt at a distance of two fingers from the navel in the lower direction. If at the 19th week of pregnancy there is a small belly, then you should not worry;
• at week 24, the bottom of the uterus is located at the level of the navel;
• at week 28, the uterus is at the level of 3 fingers above the navel;
• at 32 weeks, you can notice the smoothing of the navel. The uterine fundus is located between the navel and the xiphoid process;
• at 38 weeks, the uterus reaches its highest level - costal arches;
• at 40 weeks, the uterus descends again, the navel comes forward.

Small belly during pregnancy: causes

One of the reasons is fetal hypotrophy. At the same time, the size of the child does not correspond to the gestational age. Hypotrophy occurs due to a violation of placental metabolism or malnutrition of the expectant mother. With this diagnosis, the weight of the child at birth is less than 2500 kg.

Specialists distinguish several degrees of malnutrition:

1. The easiest is the first stage, when the fetus lags behind in development by 2 weeks or less.
2. The second stage is characterized by a delay of 4 weeks. If the backlog of the baby exceeds this indicator, we can talk about the third stage of the pathology.

The first degree does not pose a danger to the fetus, the second and third can cause deviations in the physical and mental development child. There are two forms of this anomaly:

• symmetrical;
• asymmetric.

In the first case, underdevelopment is uniform. With an asymmetric form, certain organs lag behind in development.

The likelihood of malnutrition is due to several factors. Among the most common are the following:

• the presence of a woman's bad habits;
• various infections;
• preeclampsia (late toxicosis);
• chromosomal abnormalities;
• premature maturation of the placenta.

At risk are also expectant mothers whose age does not reach 17 and exceeds 35 years. When this diagnosis is confirmed, treatment consists in eliminating the cause. A woman is prescribed drugs that improve uteroplacental circulation. A serious form of malnutrition requires inpatient treatment. If therapy does not give results, then this is an indication for a caesarean section.

A small belly is also observed with oligohydramnios. Its increase depends not only on the development of the fetus, but also on the amount of amniotic fluid. With a lack of amniotic fluid, the size of the abdomen is less than the required norm. The amount of water should increase as the gestational age increases. You can follow this process by ultrasound. Low water refers to pathological conditions and results from infectious diseases, hypertension, preeclampsia, fetoplacental insufficiency.

Low water can be caused by several reasons:

1. Damage to the amniotic membranes leads to leakage of amniotic fluid. A gap is formed in the shell, through which water regularly flows out. Their loss is insignificant, therefore, if bed rest is observed, the amount of fluid is restored to the required level and the ongoing process does not affect the formation of the child.
2. Oligohydramnios can also be observed in the pathology of development or infection of the membranes. When the placenta is not able to protect the fetus from infection, viruses enter the fetal bladder. As a result, toxic substances are produced that disrupt the functioning of the membranes.

Insufficient growth of the abdomen may be a consequence of the constitutional features of the expectant mother. According to observations, pregnancy is most obvious in lean women. With a wide pelvis and a large physique, the stomach has the opportunity to hide, therefore it becomes less noticeable.

Another reason is the transverse location of the fetus in the uterus. A woman can notice this condition on her own. When the fetus occupies this position, the abdomen sinks lower and breathing becomes easier. The baby's head is not groped in the pelvic area. Up to 33 weeks, the size of the baby allows him to actively move in the uterus, and he can roll over. By week 34, the baby is growing up, and it becomes difficult to change position.
In this situation, special gymnastics can help. But you must first without fail consult a doctor, since gymnastic exercises have a number of contraindications. This may be the presence of scars on the uterus, preeclampsia, tumor formations, placenta previa. If it was not possible to change the position of the fetus on its own, this can be done in a hospital setting. During this process, specialists monitor with the help of a cardiomonitoring and ultrasound apparatus. The doctor gently moves the baby's head down. This procedure can be carried out only in the absence of contraindications, otherwise delivery is carried out by caesarean section.

Small belly during pregnancy: signs

At each appointment, the doctor measures the VSD - the height of the fundus of the uterus and the circumference of the abdomen. Based on the results obtained, the gynecologist gets an idea about the formation of the child. If there is no increase in these indicators or there is a decrease in comparison with the previous measurement, this may signal any violations. In such cases, the doctor prescribes an unscheduled ultrasound examination to determine the cause of the insufficient size of the abdomen.
Measurements are taken in the supine position. The girth is determined in the navel. To get an idea of ​​IMDD, the doctor feels the fundus of the uterus on the abdomen and measures the distance from it to the pubic joint. Further, focusing on the established norms, the gynecologist concludes whether there are deviations.

What to do if the belly becomes smaller during pregnancy

Therapeutic measures depend on the reasons due to which the abdomen in its size does not correspond to the norm. In case of fetal hypotrophy or oligohydramnios, the doctor may prescribe hospitalization, where the woman will undergo the necessary examination, receive appropriate treatment and will be under the close supervision of specialists. If the small size of the abdomen is the result of an unbalanced diet of a woman, in this case it will be enough to normalize the diet, walks on fresh air and elimination of all stress factors.
A woman can observe changes in size throughout the day. If the stomach is smaller in the morning than in the evening during pregnancy, gas formation may be taking place. During this period, the body of the expectant mother produces a significant amount of the hormone progesterone. It relaxes the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract, slows down digestion, which leads to an increase in gases.
To eliminate this problem, you need to revise the diet and exclude from it products that provoke this condition. These are legumes, cabbage, grapes, fresh pastries. It is necessary to limit the amount of dairy products consumed. This requirement is especially true for women who are lactose intolerant.
A sedentary lifestyle can also provoke gas formation. Daily walks lasting 20-30 minutes will help improve the condition. The work of the intestine is also affected by the intake of medications.
Treatment of this condition involves the stabilization of the nutrition system and the implementation of moderate exercise. A woman who is expecting a baby will benefit from swimming, aqua fitness or yoga for pregnant women. If these measures do not give results, the doctor prescribes medication. It involves taking herbal medicines - peppermint, fennel, dill, cumin. Adsorbents and drugs are also prescribed that eliminate mucus bubbles in the intestines, in which gas is located.
It should be remembered that a small belly does not always indicate abnormalities. Medicine knows many cases when healthy children with normal weight were born with a small tummy. Often there is the appearance of large babies in this situation. Therefore, if a woman regularly visits a gynecologist who observes pregnancy, and he does not find any problems, do not worry about the small size of the abdomen.

Preventive measures

Timely examination, which includes a number of tests, will help to avoid complications. Twice a month you need to take urine for a general analysis. Based on its results, the doctor will be able to get an idea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe condition genitourinary system women. General analysis blood will allow you to track the level of red blood cells, hematocrit and hemoglobin. In addition, it is necessary to donate blood for a biochemical study and for the presence of various infections. You need to undergo ultrasound diagnostics three times. This allows the doctor to monitor the course of pregnancy, the formation of fetal organs and identify developmental pathologies.

Among the main factors that ensure the full formation of the baby, one can single out the properly organized nutrition of a woman. After all, the lack of nutrients retards the development of the child, and the expectant mother may have a small belly at 30 weeks of gestation. From the amount of substances, micro- and macroelements that the baby receives in utero, his health after birth also depends. In connection with physiological changes, experts recommend that a pregnant woman change her diet. The uterus puts pressure on the stomach and intestines as it grows. Therefore, food should be taken in small portions, but more often - 4-5 times a day.

Doctors recommend eating dishes from meat, cereals, fish until 13:00, and in the afternoon give preference to fermented milk and vegetable products. A woman can purchase a scale that will help track changes in body weight on a daily basis. The most intensive growth of the fetus begins in the second trimester. The weight of the expectant mother from now on should increase by 400 g every week. During the first trimester, a woman gains about 1500 g, during the second - 5 kg, and in the third trimester, body weight increases by 4 kg. But these figures may vary depending on individual characteristics. Underweight women should gain 2400 g each in the first and second trimesters, and 2000 g in the third trimester. In total, the weight gained during pregnancy ranges from 10 to 14 kg.

In order for the placenta to function normally, and for the baby to receive all the required nutrients, the female body must receive more calories, which are a source of energy. Nutrients are also required for the normal formation of the fetus. The formation of the placenta, antibodies, blood and amniotic fluid depends on the amount of protein. The deficiency of this element prevents the full development of the child. Protein is divided into 2 types: plant and animal. It is found in dairy, fish and meat products, eggs, nuts, rice, legumes, and wheat. The daily norm of this element is 120 g.

Development nervous system fruit depends on the amount of glucose, the source of which are carbohydrates. To provide the body with this element, you need to include potatoes, cabbage, pasta, bread, grapes, apples, honey. But in the consumption of carbohydrates, it is important to observe the measure, an excessive amount of them can provoke an allergic reaction in a child. The body of the expectant mother needs vegetable and animal fats, vitamins A, B, E, C, D, folic acid.

Conclusion

An insufficient increase in the abdomen can cause anxiety in any woman who is in position. This condition cannot be ignored, a small belly may be the result of deviations in the development of the baby. But you should not worry too much either, because in most cases the cause is the individual characteristics of the expectant mother. Regular visits to the gynecologist, passing all the required examinations and following the doctor's recommendations will help to detect the violation in a timely manner, eliminate it and give birth to a healthy baby.

What is the difference between a woman who is expecting a baby and just a woman? Most will immediately answer that the size of the abdomen. But there are those who will object to them, and they will be right. Why do some women have a huge belly, while others are barely noticeable? Although most expectant mothers do not pay much attention to the size of the abdomen, there is an opinion that it is more important to monitor and control swelling, pressure, stretch marks, etc. Each belly is individual and grows according to the schedule. But it is very important that there are no deviations from generally accepted norms. There may or may not be explanations for a small belly. Maybe this is a pathology of fetal development, or maybe your norm is just like that, and at the same time a completely healthy baby will be born.

In the first trimester of pregnancy, the stomach may or may not be, if a woman suffers from toxicosis, then the stomach will disappear and begin to grow only in the second trimester. Everyone probably has a couple of girlfriends whose stomach was small during the entire pregnancy and not everyone even knew that the woman was about to give birth.

In any case, you should not panic right away, you must first go through all the examinations and tests.

Let's look at why the belly is growing?

Nevertheless, in the vast majority of cases, the stomach grows and this is explained by the fact that the uterus grows, in which the child develops and grows. The uterus during pregnancy must contain the fetus, placenta and amniotic fluid, all this must fit somewhere, in addition, the child must be comfortable and safe inside the woman, which is why the uterus grows, changes its shape and location in the abdomen.

The uterus has been changing since the very early dates pregnancy, firstly, it changes its shape from triangular to round, and secondly, it grows, and very quickly, although this will not be noticeable until a certain time, the fetus grows, amniotic fluid fills the uterus, surrounding the fetus. All changes will not be noticeable until about the 5th month, from that time the stomach begins to grow. In the fifth month, the weight of the fetus is approximately 100 grams, its length is 12 cm. By childbirth, these indicators will increase tenfold and the child can be born with a body weight of 2.5 to 5 kg, a height of 42-60 cm. All indicators will be formed by 35-36 th week of pregnancy.

At each visit to the doctor, the doctor will measure the stomach with a centimeter tape, these figures can approximately determine the duration of pregnancy and the weight of the fetus. Also, for the entire duration of pregnancy, amniotic fluid is constantly changing its volume, it can be from 1000 to 15000 ml, if the pregnancy is delayed, then the volume of amniotic fluid can be reduced to 800 ml.

Consider norms and deviations

Although all women are completely individual, there are some norms that are approximately the same for all pregnancies and deviations from them signal pregnancy problems.

Let's take a look at the description of the uterus throughout the duration of pregnancy.

At the 4th week, the uterus looks like a chicken egg, at the 8th week it looks like a goose egg, increasing in size. At the 12th week, the uterus is the size of a newborn's head; at the appointment, the doctor already probes it through the front wall of the abdomen and measures the circumference of the abdomen. At the 16th week, you can already notice a rounded tummy, if you imagine a place between the pubis and the navel, then the uterus is now located somewhere in the middle. At the 20th week, the belly is already clearly visible to others, this is exactly the middle of pregnancy. The bottom of the uterus is located two fingers below the navel. At the 24th week, the fundus of the uterus has moved to the level of the navel, and at the 28th week, the uterus is already located above the navel. At the 32nd week, the navel is aligned, the baby grows and the bottom of the uterus is felt somewhere between the navel and the xiphoid process. At the 38th week, the uterus rises to the highest level to the costal arches. At the 40th week, the navel already sticks out, and the bottom of the uterus drops again, preparing for childbirth.

During the entire pregnancy, the uterus grows about 20 times. The muscle fibers of the uterus also change. Thickening and increasing in length by 10 times. The vascular network of the uterus also increases. The circumference of the abdomen is a very important parameter during pregnancy, it is measured in the region of the lumbar deflection in the back and the navel in front. The norm is 85-90 cm at the 32nd week, 90-95 cm at the 36th, and 95-100 cm at the 40th week.

If there are nevertheless deviations from the general norms, then the reasons may be the lack of fetal growth, this is the so-called malnutrition (fetal growth retardation), or oligohydramnios. The reasons for this are infectious and inflammatory diseases of the expectant mother, placental insufficiency, hypertension in a pregnant woman. Often the reason may be wrong location fetus in the uterus, then it is necessary C-section. The uterus grows almost from the very first days of pregnancy, if the doctor notices that this is not happening, then an ectopic pregnancy can be diagnosed. This is a pathology of pregnancy, in which fertilized egg develops outside the uterus, but in its tube, for example.

Also, do not forget that each woman has her own constitution, one will have a belly before pregnancy, the other will not have it even with her. It happens that at work with a pregnant woman, no one even suspects that their colleague is pregnant until the woman goes on maternity leave.

For any suspicions, deviations from the norm, the expectant mother should always consult a doctor, only he can make the correct diagnosis and try to save the pregnancy, even with all its possible problems. If there are any problems, then you need to go to the hospital and be treated, the likelihood of recovery and the birth of a healthy child is very high. Do not delay with registration and delivery of all necessary analyzes. Ideally, all your illnesses should be cured before pregnancy, any harmless infection or bacterium can cause complications during pregnancy. It is necessary to eat right before conception and during pregnancy, lead a healthy lifestyle, it is advisable to give up all your bad habits, from smoking and alcohol, and ending with eating chocolate at night.

And of course, a woman should listen very carefully to her body, which almost always signals any problems. It is also necessary to have a positive attitude and believe that everything will definitely be fine and you will have a healthy baby!