At around 40 weeks of pregnancy, when the baby is about to arrive, expectant mothers and their families will always be particularly nervous and worried. If they are too nervous, they will inevitably make many jokes. So, in order to accurately distinguish, there is a very common question here. What happens when expectant mothers have a hard belly and frequent fetal movements at 40 weeks of pregnancy?
What's going on at 40 weeks of pregnancy when there's a lot of fetal movement and hardness in the belly
The occurrence of abdominal stiffness and frequent fetal movements at 40 weeks of pregnancy is generally divided into the following two types:
1. Fetal hypoxia: In the early stages of fetal hypoxia, fetal movement will be frequent. If persistent hypoxia is not relieved, fetal movement will significantly decrease in the later stages of hypoxia. At this point, it is recommended that pregnant women go to the hospital for examination in a timely manner. If there is hypoxia, oxygen therapy can be administered; At the same time, pregnant women should also undergo ultrasound examination to see if the placenta has aged, as aging can also cause fetal hypoxia.
2. Pregnant women's due date is approaching: If there is a hard belly and frequent fetal movements accompanied by a feeling of heaviness, it is likely to be in the late stage of pregnancy, which is a normal phenomenon. Occasionally, there may be pain in the stomach, which then subsides on its own, possibly due to false contractions, which is also a normal phenomenon. The closer it is to the end of pregnancy, the more false contractions will occur. Pregnant women can undergo ultrasound to understand the condition of the fetus, placenta, and amniotic fluid, and based on these results, consider whether to perform oxytocin induced abortion.
Precautions for pregnant women in the late stage of pregnancy
Late pregnancy is approaching the period of labor, so it is important to adhere to prenatal check ups. 28-36 weeks, check at least once every two weeks; After 36 weeks, weekly inspections are required. 2. Strengthen nutrition, ensure sleep, pay attention to hygiene, and engage in appropriate activities.
Control salt intake, avoid heavy or squatting labor, avoid taking baths, and prohibit sexual intercourse to prevent premature birth and premature water breakthrough.
Learn self and family monitoring, be able to listen to fetal heart rate, count fetal movements, touch fetal position, measure uterine height, etc. If the fetal movement is less than 20 times within 12 hours, the fetal heart rate is less than 120 times per minute, more than 160 times per minute, or irregular movements, immediate medical attention should be sought.
There are five situations that require immediate medical examination and treatment.
A. Vaginal redness, lower abdominal distension, frequent urination, 2-3 contractions within 10 minutes (each contraction lasting more than 30 seconds);
B. Vaginal fluid or blood;
C. Lower limb and even whole body edema, headache, blurred vision, vomiting, and elevated blood pressure;
D. Regular or irregular uterine contractions occurred 37 weeks ago;
E. The due date has exceeded 10 days.
The approaching late pregnancy means that all pregnant women should be on alert. If there are abnormalities in the fetus or abdomen, it is necessary to promptly investigate the cause, such as abdominal stiffness and frequent fetal movements at 40 weeks, which require examination. In addition, pregnant women should keep up with their nutrition, sleep, hygiene, exercise, and other aspects to ensure the smooth delivery of healthy babies.
