During my first pregnancy, I remember getting so excited at the thought of having a baby bump and being able to wear so many flattering outfits to proudly show off my growing bundle of joy. I soon realized that my baby bump was not going to be as obvious as I thought and this led me to wonder- why is my pregnant belly soft when I lay down? Here’s everything you need to know about your stomach during pregnancy and what to expect.
Why Is my Pregnant Belly Soft When I Lay Down – Shouldn’t it be Hard?
From the very start right up until their due date, many women find their belly varies in firmness dramatically. So why is my pregnant belly soft when I lay down? Around 20 weeks into pregnancy your uterus will get higher to accommodate your growing baby which can cause your belly to feel harder than normal and your belly will start to extend upwards. Your pregnant belly will feel softer and smaller when you lay down as your baby moves around in different positions around your womb.
Why Does My Pregnant Belly Get Smaller When I Lay Down? Should I Worry?
From the moment you find out you’re pregnant, it’s hard to stop your mind from racing and thinking about every little detail that is to come, but if you’re still waiting for a bump to appear or think your stomach has gone soft then you might find yourself worrying about how your little one is doing in there.
You may think that a pregnant belly would feel hard at all times but a soft belly is normal too and shouldn’t create any concerns. Every pregnancy is different and each woman has a different body size and shape which will affect the way their stomach looks and feels.
Aspects that can influence how hard, soft, small, or big your bump is include:
- Baby’s position
- Amount of fluid
- Your body type
- Uterus shape
- Number of previous pregnancies
To be honest the firmness of your stomach can change throughout the day. You may find that your belly is softer and much smaller in the morning compared to the evening. The position that your baby is lying in will also hugely affect the shape and firmness of your bump.
Subsequent pregnancies will show much sooner than a first one. Having a higher fat percentage can also mean you will have a softer belly for longer as the womb has more space to grow.
Your doctor will tell you if you have any reason to be concerned during your pregnancy and help you choose the best course of action to keep you and your baby safe. High blood pressure can cause your baby to have low birth weight as well as create problems during your delivery which could be another reason for a smaller baby bump.
If you are worried at any point in your pregnancy about the health and wellbeing of you or your baby then you should always contact your healthcare provider and attend your regular prenatal appointments to ensure you have a healthy pregnancy and alleviate any worries you might be having.
When Will My Stomach Get Hard During Pregnancy?
At some point in your pregnancy, you will notice that your stomach starts to feel firmer and as your stomach grows upwards this will create more pressure. You may find your lower abdomen feels harder, or even much higher up but this is all perfectly normal and there is a good reason behind it.
Of course, the growing human inside your belly will create an obvious firmness in your stomach, but the time your stomach gets harder will vary through every pregnancy. You may find that during your first trimester you feel anything but “normal”, but your exterior will be no different. Usually anywhere between 16-20 weeks your body will begin to show the growth of your little one in the form of a baby bump!
The second trimester starts during the fourth month of pregnancy and this is usually the period where most women start to look and feel more pregnant. Tiny flutters in your belly that will soon turn into noticeable kicks begin to be felt and your belly starts to grow to accommodate your baby.
If this is your second pregnancy then this may cause your bump to show much quicker and even feel your baby move very early on. This is because your body has already experienced pregnancy and labor so it can adjust accordingly to give your baby the space it needs. Your abdominal muscles will be able to stretch easily making your bump show from as early as your first trimester, but this can also occur if you have weak core muscles or a flat stomach.
You might even find the time of day has an impact on how soft or hard your belly feels with many women reporting they feel smaller and softer in the morning compared to the evening time. This could be related to anything from loosened muscles to gas, or even just the position your baby is laying in throughout the day.
Why Does My Pregnant Stomach Feel Harder Than Normal?
As your uterus expands during the first trimester your stomach is going to feel a lot firmer and although many women don’t look pregnant until the second or third trimester, a harder belly can appear from very early on.
During your second trimester, the uterus will be around the size of a papaya which will cause stretching and create the hard and tight feeling that is so common, but there are other reasons you may find your pregnant belly becomes harder than normal right up until your due date.
- Increased progesterone levels can be a common cause of a harder belly as it uncomfortably affects your digestive system. Slower moving bowels and an accumulation of gas are common side effects that come with pregnancy progesterone levels and this can make your stomach feel harder.
- Contractions can be known to start from 28 weeks and are commonly known as Braxton hicks, although they aren’t felt by everyone. This doesn’t mean you’re going into labor any time soon and could have been caused by anything from a full bladder to having intercourse, but the tightening feeling could just be related to these practice contractions.
- Stretching muscles can create a swollen and firmer feeling to your stomach between weeks 7 and 8 as your abdominal muscles stretch to accommodate all the changes that are coming which is also known as round ligament pain.
- Your baby’s position will change as they grow and develop even when you can’t feel it yet, so the hardness (or softness) you feel could just mean your growing baby is on the move and you can feel it externally. Towards the last few weeks of your pregnancy, you may also find your baby has “dropped” lower into your pelvis ready for birth and this can create a heavier and tighter belly towards the bottom as well as a new feeling of pressure and back pain.
Pregnancy Belly FAQs
Is it normal to have a soft belly during pregnancy?
It’s very common to have a soft belly during the first trimester of your pregnancy and even up to 17 weeks in. All women have different body shapes and sizes which means the size and position of your fetus can mean your belly doesn’t show or get firmer until further along in your pregnancy.
Why does my pregnant belly feel soft when I sit down?
It is completely normal for your pregnant belly to feel harder or softer throughout certain points in your pregnancy. The ligaments in your uterus will stretch to accommodate your growing baby and this can cause your stomach to feel harder. As your uterus gets more relaxed and used to the stretch this can make your belly feel much softer too.
Why is my pregnant belly bigger at night?
Many women find their pregnancy belly appears to have grown by the time the evening comes but there is an explanation. Your abdominal muscles relax and loosen more towards the end of the day after carrying the weight of your baby bump all day and by the evening this means your bump will appear more prominent and stick out more.
Does a small belly mean a small baby?
You can’t judge the size of your baby externally and whether your belly is larger or smaller, this doesn’t mean your baby will be too. Your body can change dramatically at any stage in your pregnancy and you can’t compare your own body to another woman’s as everyone will carry their pregnancy differently.
Conclusion
So, why is my pregnant belly soft when I lay down? If you are worried about having a softer or smaller baby belly when you lay down then it is completely normal as the muscles in your stomach relax and your baby changes position throughout the day.
The size and shape of your growing bump should not be used as a way to measure the growth or progress your baby is making.
If you are worried or have any concerns about the way your belly feels then your healthcare provider will be able to check the growth of your baby and reassure you that everything is going well.
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