Why Is My Pregnant Belly Sometimes Hard And Sometimes Soft?

If this is your first time being pregnant, then you may have a lot of questions. After all, a lot is happening to your body during pregnancy.

In the short nine months of being pregnant, you might experience changes to your body that you didn\’t even think was possible. On top of these changes, there are a whole bunch of hormones making you feel different.

So yes, having questions about what you are experiencing is completely natural.

The most common questions are usually to do with the baby bumps of expectant mothers. We want to make sure that your bump is growing at the right pace, the feelings that you experience are normal, and that you are having a healthy pregnancy.

One of the most common questions asked by new moms is \”why does my belly get hard and sometimes soft?\” This is something that many women ask themselves when they start feeling their pregnancy symptoms.

Well, if that is the question you need answering, you have come to the right place. This guide will give you the possible reasons your pregnant belly gets hard at times and soft at other times.

Below are some of the reasons your pregnant belly may be hard at times or softs at times.

Pregnancy Weight Gain

During your pregnancy, it is very common for women to gain a bit more fat. This is your body\’s natural way of dealing with such a dramatic change.

The gaining of more fat in your body can change the way your body feels. One of the first places you might gain fat during your pregnancy is your pregnant belly. This means that your pregnant belly might start to feel a little tight and hard.

Of course, as your bump begins to expand you might start to notice that your pregnant belly is soft again. This could just be due to fluctuating fat gain during your pregnancy.

Braxton Hicks Contractions

One of the most common causes of your pregnant belly being hard at times and soft at others is because you are experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions. These are also known as false labor pains.

They are caused by the uterus contracting. However, unlike real labor pains, Braxton Hicks tends to be a lot milder. They felt in your abdomen.

You might feel Braxton Hicks contractions in your back. Some people don\’t feel them at all, which is why you may notice your pregnant belly becoming hard and soft without feeling different.

Braxton Hicks contractions are often experienced before you go into labor. As such, they are one of the most common signs of early labor. However, some women can experience Braxton Hicks contractions from as early as 16 weeks pregnant.

When your uterus contracts during Braxton Hicks Contractions, it might feel like your pregnant belly is hard and feel your belly tightening. When your Braxton Hicks contractions stop, your belly might become soft again.

A Bouncy Baby

As you come further into your pregnancy, you might start to notice that your baby is moving a lot more. As your baby grows things can start to become quite uncomfortable in your pregnant belly.

Your baby is likely going to start kicking, moving, and bouncing all-around your belly. Pregnant women can withstand a lot when it comes to their unborn baby moving around.

What pregnant women might not notice is that as their unborn baby moves around, their pregnant belly tenses. This could feel like their belly is tightening and has gone hard. Of course, once your little one starts to relax, your belly can begin to soften.

Diet

Another thing that could be causing pregnant women\’s bellies to feel hard and then soft is their diet. If you are eating too much food, this could cause your belly to tighten up.

On the flip side, if you are eating healthy foods, your belly can get softer. It depends on what you\’re eating.

If you are overeating, this could cause your belly to feel hard. This is especially true if you have been eating large amounts of fatty foods. Fatty foods can make your belly feel hard. This is because they take longer to digest than other types of food.

So, if you are eating lots of fatty foods, your stomach will need to work harder to break down these foods. This can lead to you feeling bloated, which might make your belly feel hard.

Stage Of Pregnancy

One of the more exciting reasons as to why your pregnant belly feels hard at times and soft at others is because your baby is on the way. Yes, it really can be a sign you are nearly ready to give birth!

As you reach the end of your third trimester, your belly might go quite hard and feel tight. This is a sign that you are nearly ready to go into labor.

One thing you might note is that after your belly is hard in your third trimester it suddenly doesn\’t feel tight at all. This is a sign for some pregnant women that they are about to go into labor.

When you are in labor, your pregnant belly will become hard with each contraction and push.

Detached Placenta

Another reason your belly might harden is that the placenta has detached. During pregnancy, pregnant women will develop a placenta that is attached to the uterine wall. When you are in labor the placenta detaches itself.

However, some women experience the placenta detaching before labor and a hard pregnant belly can be a sign of this. If your pregnant belly continues to harden, then it might be a good idea to seek medical attention.

Final Thoughts

Pregnant women should never ignore any signs or symptoms that they are experiencing during pregnancy.

While there are many different reasons why your pregnant belly may feel hard or soft, most of which are harmless, if you are concerned about your belly, talk to your doctor or midwife. They can help you figure out whether your belly is hard or soft and how to deal with it.

The reasons we have listed as to why your pregnant belly might be soft at times and hard at other times are the most common causes. There are also other possible reasons why your belly might feel hard or soft.

Remember that during your pregnancy, your body goes through a lot. Your belly needs to expand to accommodate the growing baby inside of you. As such, expect your belly to change throughout your pregnancy.

Some days your belly might feel hard while other days it might feel soft. The best thing you can do is to pay attention to your belly and see if anything changes.

Hopefully, this article has answered your question \”why does my pregnant belly sometimes feel hard and sometimes soft?\”.

We hope that you found our answer helpful. If you did, please share this post with friends who might benefit from reading it.