The size of the uterus during pregnancy
During pregnancy,
many women have questions about how their body changes. You may be interested
in knowing not only how big your baby is, but also how big your uterus is.
Before pregnancy, the uterus is the size of an orange and is located deep in
the pelvis. Your uterus grows exponentially during pregnancy. Think about
inflating a balloon and that's basically what your uterus does during
pregnancy.
First trimester
Around week 12 of
pregnancy, a grapefruit-sized uterus begins to grow and grow out of your
pelvis, but is still hanging there.
If you are carrying
twins or twins, the uterus will begin to grow and stretch earlier. Your doctor
will be able to feel your uterus by touching your abdomen.
Second trimester
In the second
trimester, your uterus will grow to the size of a papaya. Doesn't fit in the
pool. It will be located halfway between the navel and chest.
As the uterus grows,
it pushes the organs out of their normal places and places stress on the
surrounding muscles and ligaments. This will probably cause pain, but this is
completely normal. Pressure from the uterus can cause the belly button to
bulge, but the belly button should return to normal after delivery.
Between 18 and 20
weeks, the doctor will measure the distance between the pubic bone and the top
of the uterus in centimeters. The top of the uterus is called the fundus, so
the measurement is called the fundus height.
This number usually
corresponds to the number of weeks of pregnancy with an accuracy of two
centimeters. For example, if you are 32 centimeters tall, you should be around
32 weeks pregnant. If this is not your first pregnancy, it is normal for this
measurement to be slightly larger.
If your uterus is the
size it should be at your prenatal visits, this is a sign that your pregnancy
is going well. If it is too big or too small, it may mean that the due date is
not right, some pregnancy complications, or additional tests may be required.
Third trimester
In the third
trimester, the uterus will complete its growth and become the size of a
watermelon. When you reach full term, your uterus will extend from your pubis
to your lower chest. As you prepare for childbirth, your baby should drop lower
in the pelvis.
The size of the uterus after pregnancy
After childbirth, the uterus will gradually return to its size and position before pregnancy. The deflation of the uterus is called involution. This process usually takes about 6 weeks.