Abdominal...hardening?

[sarapod.livejournal.com]

Hello all.

I'm a little over fifteen weeks pregnant (So, about four and a half months). I'm not showing a lot yet, but you can tell that my abdomen is taking somewhat of a more "roundish" shape. This is kind of a weird question, but...When I lay on my back and prod around where my uterus should be by now, I don't feel anything firm (You know, like a pregnant belly, it's firm?). I'm sure this is somewhat normal - I had both a doctor checkup and ultrasound this last week and the doc seemed to find it just fine. I'm assuming the issue is because the fetus is still too small, and all the amniotic fluid provides cushion, so it feels soft when I prod at it. When should things start to "harden" up?

Thanks in advance! :)

Comments

[sarapod.livejournal.com]

Ahh, I see. I was a little overweight beforehand, and therefore had a bit of a belly (Not like a pot belly, just not a flat stomach obviously). We had actually been taking steps to not get pregnant when this happened, so the original plan included me having some time (Try a few years) to drop the excess baggage before a child came into the picture.

Thanks!

[storychick.livejournal.com]

Are you poking low enough? Your fundus (top of the uterus) will be around 4-5 fingerwidths below your belly button at 15 weeks. Lower than you'd think. :)

I found it really difficult to feel my fundus in my first pregnancy especially. It is easier later, once its higher. I dont remember exactly when I could pinpoint it -- around 20 weeks maybe? It got easier with each pregnancy, especially once my midwife showed me how to do it. Can you ask your care provider to show you?

[sarapod.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was feeling pretty low...Then again, I'm not sure what I'm feeling for. :) It is my first pregnancy - I should've asked the doctor at my appointment, but spaced it. Next time I go in I will be sure to mention it. Thanks!

[stellamaris.livejournal.com]

Every woman is different so there are no hard and fast answers for this. My abdomen felt hard within weeks of getting a positive pregnancy test but I'm sure it was mostly gas :/

[geminigirl]

Your abdomen may be rounding out and firming up in part because your uterus is starting to squish everything upwards. The part of your abdomen with the baby is still very close to your pelvic cavity...probably still a few inches below your navel. So if you're poking too high, you're probably still just feeling internal organs like your intestines, rather than your uterus. Go ahead and ask your health care provider to show you how to find the top of your fundus (the baby bump) at your next appointment...I know mine became easy to feel at around 17 or 18 weeks and in the last two weeks or so (somewhere around 36 weeks-I'm almost 39 weeks now) has dropped lower.

[superrose.livejournal.com]

I'm just over 15 weeks myself, and I'm pretty sure the babies (twins) shift. I can feel firmness best right before bed or right when I wake up, lying on my back; but some nights it's less than others.

[onehundredmoons.livejournal.com]

I never got overly firm below the navel, even at 41 weeks with my first pregnancy, I think due to my lovely belly flab. However, at 31 weeks in my second pregnancy now that the fundus is quite a bit higher (where I don't have the flab to begin with), it's firm there.

You sound totally normal. :)

[sarapod.livejournal.com]

So, while it will get to the point where I'm obviously pregnant, it might still be squishy? Hahaha, that makes sense I suppose. Thanks!

[onehundredmoons.livejournal.com]

Well, let me put it this way: I think it's hard to have a super-cute and perky pregnant belly like Gwen Stefani did unless you looked her her *before* you got pregnant, too! (Which I didn't!) :P