This number usually corresponds with the number of weeks pregnant you are, give or take two centimeters. For example, if you measure 32 centimeters then you should be about 32 weeks pregnant. If this is not your first pregnancy it is normal for this measurement to be a bit bigger. If your uterus is the size it should be during your prenatal visits , this is a sign everything is progressing well with your pregnancy.
If it is measuring too big or too small, it could mean your due date is off, some kind of pregnancy complication or additional testing may be required. During your third trimester, the uterus will finish growing and be the size of a watermelon. When you reach full term your uterus will extend from the pubic area to the bottom of your rib cage.
As you get ready to give birth your baby should drop lower into your pelvis. After birth, your uterus will gradually return to its pre-pregnancy size and position. The deflation of your uterus is called involution.
It usually takes about 6 weeks for this process to be complete. Uterus Size During Pregnancy. Between the growth of your uterus and general weight gain, you may be feeling fatigued. Some women also experience heartburn as your uterus presses against your stomach.
Your breasts are also changing to get ready for breastfeeding. First colostrum and then milk are produced by the grape-like clusters of tiny sacs alveoli deep within the breast tissue.
Clusters of alveoli form lobules, which come together to form 15 to 20 lobes. Each lobe connects to a lactiferous duct for conveying milk.
As the ducts extend toward the nipple and areola darker area around the nipple , they widen into the lactiferous sinuses.
These sinuses or milk pools release the milk through 15 to 20 tiny nipple openings in each breast when the baby nurses. At week 28, the fetus is about 16 inches long and weighs two to three pounds. The skin is wrinkled but will become less so as more fat builds up under the skin in the next few weeks.
Its eyes are open, and eyebrows and eyelashes were formed in the fourth month. The fetus sucks its thumb and its taste buds have developed. Fetal organs and systems are quite well developed by the 28th week of pregnancy, but the final two months of gestation are important for further maturation of all body systems and organs. By the end of the 36th week of pregnancy, your enlarged uterus almost fills the space within your abdomen.
The fetus is inside the membrane sac within the uterus and high within the abdomen. The muscles of your abdomen support much of its weight. During this week, the top of the uterus is at the tip of the xiphoid cartilage at the lower end of the breastbone, which is pushed forward. The change in the position of the heart and the upward pressure of the diaphragm may make it hard to breathe at this point.
The crowding of your stomach and intestines may contribute to discomfort after eating. Your cervix is long, thick and filled with the mucous plug.
By the 36th week, your vagina and urethra are elongated and all the tissues in the perineum area between vaginal and anal openings are enlarged. Frequent urination is another early pregnancy symptom. Plan for plenty of bathroom breaks during your next trip to the movie theater! Your pregnancy symptoms have probably appeared in full force now: nausea, breast tenderness, fatigue, frequent urination, mood swings, bloating, etc.
Another unusual symptom is extra saliva in your mouth, which sometimes lasts until the end of the first trimester.
Some women also experience headaches from hormonal surges coupled with caffeine withdrawal, stress, and dehydration. Did you know that pregnancy does a number on your digestive system? Many women suffer from constipation and excess gas, in addition to the nausea that accompanies morning sickness. Are you glowing, mama? Your growing baby bump might cause aches and cramping around your abdomen.
This round ligament pain can be mildly uncomfortable or cringingly painful. Did you know that blood volume increases by about 50 percent during pregnancy? One side effect is visible veins on the skin, which are especially noticeable in fair-skinned women. As you near the end of the first trimester, many early pregnancy symptoms will diminish. You might notice, however, that you feel dizzy throughout the day. You can thank hormonal shifts, reduced blood flow, and lower blood pressure for these dizzy spells.
Combat them by taking deep breaths with your head between your knees. Many women report increased appetite, renewed energy, and higher sex drive during the next few weeks. The second trimester comes with a few strange symptoms. You might experience stuffy nose thanks to an increase of blood in the mucus membranes , leg cramps , and sensitive gums. As the hormone relaxin loosens your ligaments, you might also feel extra clumsy at this stage of pregnancy. About 90 percent of pregnant women experience darkening of skin around the nipples, inner thighs, armpits, and navel.
Backaches are inevitable while expecting you can thank pregnancy hormones yet again! As a plus, many moms-to-be start feeling their baby kick around weeks 16 to 25, so be on the lookout! By now, your belly looks undoubtedly pregnant—and your boobs have swelled up to prepare for breastfeeding.
Expect to gain weight regularly until delivery usually about one pound per week. A few stretch marks might appear as you quickly pack on the pounds. During the second trimester, some women experience heartburn , since pregnancy hormones relax the muscles of your lower esophageal sphincter LES. Try eating smaller meals, staying upright after eating, and avoiding anything acidic, greasy, or spicy.
Round ligament pain can begin at the end of the first trimester, but most women tend to feel this telltale tugging and aching around week This pregnancy discomfort can continue into the second trimester, but it almost always ends after you deliver.
At that point, hormone levels drop dramatically, and your uterus starts to shrink back to its normal pre-pregnancy size. Round ligament pain may be brief or last for several hours yet another mystery of pregnancy! But in general, round ligament pain is more positional in that different postures or activities make it better or worse. You can take a few steps to help manage round ligament pain and ease discomfort.
If resting in a comfortable position doesn't bring relief to your abdominal aches, or if your symptoms become severe, contact your practitioner. Make the call right away, too, if the pain is frequent and accompanied by other symptoms including fever, chills, bleeding, spotting, vaginal discharge or lightheadedness. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations.
Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy. The educational health content on What To Expect is reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts to be up-to-date and in line with the latest evidence-based medical information and accepted health guidelines, including the medically reviewed What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff. This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice.
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