One of the miracles of life is childbirth, but being pregnant does cause some physical changes that some people may not like.
How much their bellies expand during pregnancy is one of the main worries mothers have. They know that having a big stomach is a normal part of being pregnant, but they still wish they could wear their old jeans. To simply suck in their stomach would be the classic move. Can they suck in their stomach, though? What’s more, is it secure?
Don’t worry, this article will specifically address this query and provide an explanation.
When You’re Pregnant, Can You Suck Your Stomach?
The quick answer is that you can and it won’t hurt your child, but you probably shouldn’t. The uterine muscles can withstand the pressure and won’t easily contract unless you exert a lot of pressure to pull them in.
Even though you are free to suck it in, it isn’t advised to do so repeatedly because doing so causes the abdominal muscles’ core to extend too far, which can cause problems.
If the abdominal muscles are pulled too hard, they may split down the middle, leaving one half below the belly button and the other above it. This would be more analogous to how a zip would open to separate two pieces of fabric. Diastasis Recti is the term for this separation.
Even though tucking in your stomach while pregnant is safe for the unborn child, you can only do it for a brief period of time because, starting at 8 weeks of pregnancy, the uterus and the developing baby start to grow larger and your stomach begins to harden, making it more difficult to suck in.
So, as your pregnancy progresses, it’s possible that you won’t be able to suck in your stomach, even if you wanted to, because the harder your stomach feels, the harder it is to do.
Why You Shouldn’t Suck Your Stomach In When You Are Pregnant?
As previously stated, it is not advised to tuck in your stomach while pregnant. Complications may arise if you continue doing it for an extended period of time. Because you overextend your abdominal muscles when you suck your stomach in, complications result.
Your tummy expands naturally during pregnancy to make room for the growing baby. Your abdominal muscles are strained by this natural expansion of your stomach. Consequently, your muscles will stretch even more quickly when you tuck your stomach in.
Imagine how a zip opens in the middle to divide a piece of clothing into two distinct parts. If the muscles continue to pull, they may separate down the middle, leaving one part above the belly button and the other below. Diastasis recti are the medical term for this division.
Why Is Diastasis Recti Bad During Pregnancy?
Weakening of the connective tissues and core muscles is a result of diastasis recti. The baby won’t have much support once the connective tissues deteriorate. Without assistance, your baby will fall incorrectly and won’t be properly aligned to the cervix.
It will ultimately make labor and delivery more difficult for you. Furthermore, it might have an impact on future pregnancies.
Therefore, the bottom line is that you shouldn’t push your stomach in while you’re pregnant because there’s a chance it might affect fetal alignment and cause problems with labor. Pelvic floor pain is yet another adverse effect of overworking your core while pregnant by sucking your stomach.
What Causes Pain In The Pelvic Floor?
Well, when your pelvic floor muscles move unevenly or your pelvic joints are stiff, you are said to have pelvic floor pain.
Although it doesn’t harm your baby, it can still be extremely painful. You find it challenging to stand, walk, or sit because of the pain. One of the core muscles, the transversus abdominis, is also strained when you suck in your growing baby bump. The muscle that supports your entire body, the transversus abdominis, is the deepest of your core muscles.
The transversus abdominis will be held in a single position as you pull in your stomach. It can’t contract or expand, so it doesn’t work well with the other muscles, which causes back pain and interferes with labor.
Can Hitting My Stomach Harm My Unborn Child?
Thankfully, you won’t have to worry every time your stomach bumps into one of the many countertops or elbows because mother nature has created a safe and secure space for the fetus to float in: the uterus, which is filled with amniotic fluid.
Additionally, two bony barriers that protect the baby from most accidents are formed the rib cage in the front and the spine in the back.
While some abdominal contact is unavoidable and usually safe during pregnancy, unless you press very hard, there is virtually no risk of them coming into contact with any trauma unless it’s a serious accident thanks to these protective barriers.
Is Pregnancy Belly Pumping Bad?
Belly pumping is extremely safe as long as you do it properly, despite the fact that it might seem like it could be harmful to your baby.
Belly-pumping pregnant women don’t always suck in their baby or stomach. Instead, they are breathing and moving their core muscles in unison to lift through their diaphragm and pelvic floor.
A woman’s muscles are used to squeeze the baby during belly pumping. Gynecologists agree that belly pumping shouldn’t harm the majority of pregnant women after seeing videos of women who use this exercise. Performing the exercise correctly is the key in this situation.
Can My Baby Feel The Pressure I Apply To My Belly?
All pregnant women share the same trait: they can’t stop touching their growing babies. While the constant rubbing, touching, and patting may be soothing for some mothers, for others, it is a way to feel connected to their child.
No matter the reason, massaging your tummy while pregnant feels good, and when your developing child responds with those tiny kicks, it means they are also happy.
Keep on massaging that lovely bump because it’s a great way to get them moving by providing touching stimulation, especially after 28 weeks when you can start counting kicks.
Reasons To Use Stomach Muscles During Pregnancy
When you are pregnant, exercise probably ranks low on your list of priorities. But generally speaking, getting regular exercise while pregnant is still advised.
Preventing diastasis recti is just one of the reasons pregnant women should pay special attention to their abdominal and stomach muscles.
Your pregnancy experience is improved by exercise as well. This can help you get a better night’s sleep, ease back pain, gain the right amount of weight, and have more energy.
Last but not least, practicing your muscles can help your labor go more smoothly, just like it is simpler to run a marathon when you are training for one. In fact, even mild forms of exercise during pregnancy are linked to quicker labor.
Conclusion
Do not panic if you are growing too quickly or too slowly. Bellies can differ from mother to mother and from pregnancy to pregnancy.
But don’t worry about endangering your unborn child if you want to suck in your stomach while pregnant. This is secure because your baby is shielded in the womb.
However, mothers shouldn’t feel pressured to suck in if they find it uncomfortable. Everything that matters is that your baby is doing well, regardless of how your belly looks.
The best news a future mother can hear is that you’re close to meeting your unborn child, which is why pregnancy is only a temporary condition.
