“The stomach seems to turn to stone” - this is how women who are faced with uterine tone during pregnancy describe their condition. Why does hypertonicity occur, and how to distinguish it from natural uterine contractions?
The walls of the uterus are muscular tissue, which, like the rest of the muscles of the body, can be in a state of tension or be relaxed. But even at complete rest, any muscle retains some tone, which increases during exercise, and then decreases again.
If you hear the diagnosis "uterine tone" - this means that we are talking about a condition in which the muscle tissue of the organ is excessively tense. This is clearly reflected in the well-being of the woman and the development of the fetus. The condition persists for a long time and is observed more often than natural uterine contractions. Its other name is hypertonicity.
How to suspect uterine tone
You should be alerted by pulling or sharp pains in the lower abdomen, especially if they are accompanied by vaginal discharge mixed with blood. Signs of hypertonicity may differ slightly depending on the gestational age.
Uterine tone: symptoms in early pregnancy
Hypertonicity in the 1st trimester is rare. It usually accompanies severe disorders in the development of pregnancy: miscarriage or threatened miscarriage, improper implantation of the fetal egg, fetal fading. With timely treatment in a hospital, pregnancy can be saved.
Symptoms of uterine tone during pregnancy in the 2nd and 3rd trimester
If there is a tone on the back wall of the uterus during pregnancy, then in addition to the signs already listed, there is also a violation of the stool, frequent defecation, a feeling of fullness in the perineum. With the tone of the anterior wall of the uterus, a pregnant woman may be disturbed by frequent urination.
How to determine the tone and distinguish it from natural contractions
In the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy, pain in the lower abdomen may not be associated with pathology. This is the time of active growth of the uterus, when a significant load is placed on its ligamentous apparatus. The ligaments are stretched, which causes discomfort in the pregnant woman. In the 3rd trimester, discomfort is associated with training contractions.
But unlike physiological, uterine contractions with increased tone last longer, the pain is brighter and more intense. The pregnant woman experiences severe heaviness and a feeling as if the stomach were turning to stone. It does feel really hard to the touch. This condition does not go away on its own and causes increased anxiety in the expectant mother. Often she intuitively understands that "something is wrong." And, of course, neither training contractions nor stretching of the ligamentous apparatus of the uterus can provoke bleeding.
How is uterine tone diagnosed?
When making a diagnosis, the gynecologist is based on the collected history of the patient and on the examination data. In the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy, when the uterus rises above the navel, the gynecologist can detect the tone with "hands" through the anterior abdominal wall.
The pregnant woman is located on the couch, lying on her back and bending her knees. This position maximally relaxes the abdominal press and allows for diagnostics. Normally, the abdomen should be soft, the gynecologist will be able to feel the body parts of the fetus. With an increased tone, the uterus is very tense, up to the feeling of a stone at hand.
With the help of ultrasound, it is possible to determine local or total thickening and swelling of the muscular layer of the uterus. An ultrasound will also allow you to assess the condition of the fetus by measuring its heartbeat. In the later stages, fetal CTG data help to indirectly confirm the tone of the uterus.
Why does hypertension occur?
Causes of uterine tone during pregnancy can be:
Pathological tension of the uterus occurs due to stress and prolonged emotional stress, increased anxiety and depression. In this case, the concentration of adrenaline and cortisol increases - hormones that affect the state of the smooth muscles of the walls of the uterus. That is why it is so important for a future mother to be in a good mood, not to worry and sleep at least 8 hours a day. Sleep deprivation also contributes to the production of stress hormones and affects tone.
Harmful factors include working conditions. Long stay in a static position, excessive physical activity and heavy lifting, shift or daily work, interaction with chemicals, long business trips and trips - all this pathologically affects the health of a woman and fetus.
Among the reasons that indirectly affect the appearance of uterine tone, we note:
Bad habits.
The condition is more common in women who smoke.
Intestinal work.
Due to its proximity to the uterus, increased peristalsis provokes uterine contractions. Therefore, it is so important to eat right and eliminate constipation in time during pregnancy.
Age of the future mother.
Uterine tone occurs more often in pregnant women under 18 and over 35 years of age.
- History of abortions and miscarriages.
What are the consequences of tone
With hypertonicity, the pressure inside the uterus increases, as a result of which the blood supply worsens, and the child begins to experience oxygen starvation.
Without timely medical attention, high uterine tone leads to:
Therefore, with an increased tone of the uterus during pregnancy, special therapy is necessary.
How to help yourself with tone
If you experience symptoms of uterine tone, you should immediately call an ambulance or go to the hospital yourself. While you wait for the doctor, lie on your side or get on all fours with support on your forearms. This is the so-called cat pose, which allows you to relax your muscles.
Breathing exercises will also help with tone: breathe counting so that the exhalation is twice as long as the inhalation. For example, inhale for 3 counts, exhale for 6. Drug therapy is selected by a specialist. Sedatives, anti-spasm drugs, and B vitamins and magnesium are commonly used.
Depending on the condition of the patient with increased tone, hospitalization may be prescribed, the advantages of which are:
How to prevent increased tone
The health of a woman and fetus depends on many conditions. Therefore, there is no universal way to prevent increased tone. However, by following a number of recommendations, you can significantly reduce the risk of developing such a complication and make the course of pregnancy more enjoyable:
- Try to sleep at least 8 hours, eat well and avoid stressful situations.
- Be moderate in physical activity and do not allow overwork.
- Monitor the level of magnesium in the blood, discuss with a specialist the need for taking vitamin complexes.
- Do not forget to visit the gynecologist who is leading your pregnancy in a timely manner, especially if it is complicated by chronic diseases.
Entrusting the management of pregnancy to the specialists of the Medical Women's Center means making a valuable contribution to the health of the unborn child. We are very attentive to each of our patients and do our best to prevent the development of complications during pregnancy
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