The diagnosis of “uterine tone” is heard by almost every pregnant woman, and it can sound throughout the entire pregnancy. Is uterine tone dangerous during pregnancy and what to do in this case?

First, let's figure out what this incomprehensible diagnosis means. Uterine tone, or “uterine hypertonicity,” can more often occur in early pregnancy. Uterine tone during pregnancy is contractions that appear before the expected due date. They are felt as pulling, aching pain in the lower abdomen (a similar condition during menstruation), sometimes pain in the lower back. It happens that a woman does not detect any foreign sensations in her body, but during an ultrasound examination she shows that she has uterine hypertonicity. The reasons that cause uterine tone can be different, ranging from underdevelopment of the genital organs to anxiety.

The uterus is a female muscular organ that reacts sensitively not only to physical stretching (it grows along with the fetus), but also to nervous impulses: excitement, joy, fear. Any reason can cause pain, but it should not be ignored. As soon as you feel pain in the lower abdomen, you should immediately consult a doctor, who, after finding out the cause, will prescribe appropriate treatment.

A woman's uterus, like any other muscle, has the ability to contract and, accordingly, has tone. The tone can be decreased, normal or increased. If we are talking about the tone of the uterus, then it means tension in the muscles of the uterus - increased tone. An increase in uterine tone during pregnancy signals a woman that a miscarriage may occur or premature labor may begin. Therefore, you should not take this problem lightly. Uterine tone is one of the main causes of premature birth. But don't be scared! If you consult a doctor in a timely manner and follow all his recommendations, the likelihood of carrying your pregnancy to term without fear is very high.

It’s not for nothing that doctors play it safe, because the tone of the uterus is really a very unpleasant and extremely dangerous thing. Complications of increased uterine tone include termination of pregnancy (possibly at any stage), oxygen starvation (hypoxia) of the fetus, and placental abruption.

Symptoms of uterine tone during pregnancy

How during pregnancy a woman herself can determine that the uterus is in good shape

Often a pregnant woman can feel this herself. The tone of the uterus during pregnancy has such manifestations as nagging pain in the lower abdomen and lower back, as before menstruation. Moreover, sometimes the pain takes on the character of contractions or the uterus feels like “stone”.

You can tactilely determine whether the uterus is in good shape as follows. Lie on your back and completely relax. Gently feel your belly; ideally it should be soft. If there is a tone of the uterus during pregnancy, then the stomach will roughly resemble the thigh in elasticity.

When examining the abdomen and vaginal examination, the tone of the uterus is easily determined, and tense muscle fibers are visible on ultrasound. There is also a special device for measuring the force of myometrial contraction during pregnancy, although it is not widely used - the symptoms of the condition are already too noticeable.

Causes of increased uterine tone during pregnancy

The tone of the uterus is especially dangerous in the first trimester of pregnancy, and very often in the early stages of pregnancy, the cause of increased tone can be a hormonal disorder - reduced production of progesterone. In this case, you will be prescribed a course of duphaston or utrozhestan. Also, the cause of tone may be contractions of the uterus in response to stretching due to fetal growth, toxicosis, premature dilatation of the cervix, functional disorder of the thyroid gland, Rh-conflicts, sexual intercourse. When you feel the abdomen, the tone may also increase, because the uterus is a muscular organ and reacts to physical irritations.

External causes that lead to tension in the muscles of the uterus include inhalation of harmful chemical fumes, acute viral diseases, and severe physical activity.

Stress and nervous tension can provoke increased uterine tone. If pain occurs rarely, during sudden movements or when changing posture, then we are talking about natural muscle tension and there is no need to worry. Often the stomach becomes hard after an ultrasound procedure, and if nothing bothers you before and after the ultrasound, then everything is fine, it’s just a reaction to the procedure. After an ultrasound, I was always told about increased tone, although I always felt good and did not experience any discomfort. Doctors like to play it safe and may refer you to a hospital; you should not neglect their advice and it is better to listen.

If you are often accompanied by states of tension, then this requires constant monitoring, timely examination and treatment.

Uterine tone in the first trimester of pregnancy

Increased uterine tone at the beginning of pregnancy almost always requires observation and treatment, since before the 12th week the tone is especially dangerous - it can cause miscarriage. It is ideal when a pregnant woman does not feel any discomfort at all from 4 to 12 weeks of pregnancy. Any pain, tone, or nagging sensations indicate that it is necessary to discuss them with a doctor.

If the doctor sees nothing serious in your situation, he will prescribe you to take no-spa. If you have hormonal problems (low progesterone levels), take a course of duphaston and utrozhestan. More serious cases will require hospitalization.

Uterine tone in the second trimester of pregnancy

The closer to childbirth, the more the body prepares for it: hormonal changes occur, the tone of the uterus becomes a fairly common occurrence. From about 20 weeks the body begins to train. From this time on, periods of tension and relaxation may be felt, but infrequently and painlessly.

If we are talking about serious uterine tone, which can cause fetal hypoxia, medical supervision is also required. Medication is usually recommended to maintain the normal state of Magne B6

Uterine tone in the third trimester of pregnancy

Starting from the 38th week, muscle tension can be quite long. In addition, the tone of the uterus is provoked by the baby himself, who pushes his mother with his arms and legs in his already cramped stomach.

At the end of pregnancy, it can be difficult to diagnose hypertonicity and distinguish it from normal tone - preparatory contractions. Doctors consciously play it safe by sending pregnant women for CTG whenever possible.

In Europe, increased tone does not cause such a violent reaction from doctors as in Russia. There, in most cases, increased uterine tone is considered a normal physiological state of a pregnant woman. Medical treatment in a hospital begins only when the increased tone causes serious concern to the mother herself or there are symptoms of pregnancy pathology.

What to do if the uterus is toned

If symptoms appear for the first time during pregnancy, you can take an antispasmodic, such as “no-shpu,” on your own. And during your scheduled appointment with the doctor, be sure to tell him about your feelings. If, before visiting a doctor, there is a repetition of uterine tone, you should definitely consult a doctor unscheduled as quickly as possible. As a rule, vitamin B-6 preparations are prescribed together with sedatives - Magne-B-6, motherwort, and sometimes calcium blockers and anti-inflammatory drugs - in this case their effect on the release of prostaglandins is important. But due to the large number of side effects of drugs such as indomethacin, Corinfar can only be prescribed by a doctor. He may also prescribe you papaverine suppositories. Self-medication and enduring pain during pregnancy are EXTREMELY undesirable.

If you feel that the uterus is a little tense, then try to relax, close your eyes, take a few deep breaths and exhalations. Imagine something that makes you feel good.

When the uterus is toned during pregnancy, it is very important to establish a normal work and rest schedule, good sleep, sufficient exposure to fresh air, and feasible physical activity. If outpatient treatment for increased uterine tone is ineffective, the woman will be offered hospitalization “for conservation” - there, under the supervision of doctors, it will be possible to study more deeply the causes of the tone and begin to eliminate them. If progesterone levels are low, it is taken in the form of medications; if androgens are high, their antagonists are administered - metipred, dexamethasone. In this case, every additional day of pregnancy is important for a woman.

A fetus is considered a “full-fledged child” from 28 weeks; after this period, survival is quite common, but this does not mean that such a baby is absolutely healthy; after all, it is advisable for it to mature in the mother’s body, and not in the most “sophisticated” incubator. From their practice, doctors conclude that babies born at 33 weeks turn out better and healthier than those born at 35 weeks - nature has its own mysteries, so doctors, with constant uterine tone, fight for literally every day of pregnancy. If premature labor occurs, tocolytic therapy is carried out, that is, relaxing the uterus - there are such schemes and such drugs. Therefore, when the uterus is in good shape, it is stupid to refuse treatment to preserve pregnancy - at home it is impossible to closely monitor the condition of the fetus and the pregnant uterus and take the necessary measures in a timely manner.

Consequences of uterine tone during pregnancy

• The most negative consequence is spontaneous miscarriage. This will not happen if the woman seeks medical help in time;
• Hypertonicity of the uterus can also have negative consequences for the unborn baby. During the disease, the blood supply to the pelvic organs is disrupted, which can lead to oxygen starvation of the fetus and negatively affect its health.

How to prevent uterine tone

Preventing tone during pregnancy - first of all, ensuring a calm state of the nervous system of the expectant mother, avoiding the use of cigarettes and alcohol, maintaining a gentle work schedule, and healthy sleep. However, we note that a pregnant woman needs all this, regardless of medical diagnoses.

As for the prevention of uterine tone during pregnancy, this includes all measures to ensure peace, rest and a normal lifestyle for a pregnant woman, timely detection and treatment of hormonal dysfunctions, inflammatory diseases of the female genital area and urogenital infections. In order to prevent uterine tone, it is important to follow all medical recommendations during an existing pregnancy, including medication, diet and regimen. The emotional state of a woman is also very important. A connection has been revealed that women who are not happy with their pregnancy have problems many times more often than absolutely calm and satisfied expectant mothers.

The more the expectant mother worries, the greater the likelihood of an increase in tone. During pregnancy, try to think only about the beautiful and good, think about that moment of happiness when you meet your baby. Take care of yourself, listen to pleasant relaxing music, get in a good mood. All these seemingly “stupid” tips can help, believe me! Of course, if the problem of a pregnant woman is only in her emotional state. But even in the case of medication or hospital treatment, adding relaxation and calmness to your anxious anticipation of the future baby, you take a big step forward from your illness.

With the onset of pregnancy, every woman may face a number of previously unknown diagnoses. One of them is the tone of the uterus in early pregnancy. Sounds terrifying, doesn't it?

What is uterine tone? Why is it rising? Should I be afraid of such a diagnosis and is it possible to cope with this condition on my own?

What kind of diagnosis is this - uterine tone?

According to statistics, 6 out of 10 pregnant women hear the phrase from their gynecologist: “You have increased uterine tone during pregnancy”! This is followed by a list of prohibitions and referral to a hospital. But doctors prefer to keep silent about what it is.

Their only explanation is that the uterus is tense at the moment, and this, in their opinion, should not be the case at all, since such a condition can provoke a miscarriage.

Of course, we are used to trusting doctors and following all their recommendations. And then your friends and acquaintances can tell you their “horror stories,” so it’s not surprising that you immediately begin to listen to your body.

And there really is something tugging, you can feel the tension.

That's all. In such a frightened state, all reason disappears somewhere, you pack your bag and go to the hospital.

What happens to the uterus during pregnancy?

In fact, the uterus is nothing more than a hollow organ consisting of muscle tissue. And any muscle in our body tends to contract. And this is normal, especially if there are extraneous factors that affect it! Therefore, you should calm down and figure everything out in order.

Know! The doctor may mistake minor inflammation of the organ wall for the tone of the uterus in the first week of pregnancy.

But it turns out that this is the body’s physiological reaction to the implantation of the fertilized egg. Moreover, if there is local inflammation at the site of its attachment, then this is a good sign that the placenta is beginning to form.

The tone of the uterus in the 1st trimester of pregnancy can also be a consequence of increased anxiety of the mother (read about this period and changes in the body of the mother and baby in the article 1st trimester of pregnancy >>>). After all, it’s not every day that you learn about such a condition.

Therefore, naturally, you worry and listen to yourself more. In response to such attention, the uterus can actually become tense.

Important! The uterus can respond with muscle contractions to the ultrasound procedure itself, in particular the pressure of the sensor on the abdominal wall. However, doctors prefer to make a “terrible” diagnosis and prescribe therapy to the woman.

How can you feel the tension of maca?

Often, women whose doctor has detected increased uterine tone are at a loss. After all, they don’t experience much pain. So how does uterine tone manifest during pregnancy?

A symptom of uterine tone during pregnancy in the 1st trimester is a pulling sensation in the lower abdomen. Women often compare these sensations to those they experienced during their periods;

In the last trimester, this can even be determined visually - the stomach becomes hard and may change its shape somewhat. In this case, you may not feel anything.

• To determine if your uterus is tense, lie on your back with your knees bent;
• In this position, the anterior abdominal wall relaxes as much as possible and you can feel the location of the uterus above the pelvis;
• If the abdomen is “stone-like” in this place, then the walls of the organ are probably tense at the moment;
• It is worth noting that during the second pregnancy, the tone of the uterus is felt less frequently.

Separately, only the posterior or, conversely, only the anterior wall of the uterus can tense. This is due to the fact that discomfort often occurs only in a specific place in the abdomen. And on an ultrasound, the doctor will detect a deflection of one of the walls of the organ.

Why do you feel the uterus?

If you notice any unusual sensations in the uterine area, this does not mean that it is in good shape. There can be many reasons for this condition. Among them it is worth highlighting:

1. Growth of the uterus. Starting from week 5, it begins to grow rapidly. As a result, the ligaments that support the organ are stretched, which leads to tingling sensations. They may get worse when you sneeze, move quickly, or turn your body sharply;
2. Abdominal muscle adaptation. Gradually, the abs lose their shape, and the abdominal muscles stretch, adapting to the growing uterus. As a result, discomfort may occur at the moment of sudden movement, but it quickly passes;
3. In the second trimester, the uterus already reaches a certain size and can put pressure on neighboring organs. The gastrointestinal tract is especially affected. In this case, the unpleasant sensations are physiological and this condition does not require treatment;
4. After 35 weeks, the uterus begins to gradually prepare for the upcoming birth. Therefore, now it can periodically tense, and the cervix smoothes and softens. This results in a tingling sensation in the lower abdomen.

After the 30th week of pregnancy, it is worth starting preparations for childbirth, which will include both working through fears and preparing the body for the upcoming birth.

For a detailed plan for preparing for natural childbirth, you will receive the Five Steps to a Successful Childbirth course >>>

Most often, such sensations are short-lived and quickly pass if you rest and lie down for a while. However, when the pain continues for more than 1 hour, it is better to consult a doctor.

You should also visit your gynecologist if the pain is accompanied by:

• bloody discharge;
• disturbance of general well-being;
• increased body temperature;
• vomiting or upset stool.

What increases the tone of the uterus during pregnancy? Her condition can be affected by:

1. psychological problems and stress;
2. physical activity and sports;
3. long trips;
4. lack of sleep;
5. poor nutrition (read the current article: Nutrition in early pregnancy >>>);
6. fetal position;
7. multiple pregnancy;
8. large fruit size.

What to do at home?

Every woman expecting a baby can experience unpleasant sensations. At the same time, it is important to know how to relieve uterine tone during pregnancy at home?

Having studied the reasons for this condition, it becomes clear that, first of all, you should calm down and relax:

• To do this, you need to lie down and close your eyes;
• You can turn on calm music or use aromatherapy (articles

Even those who have never carried a child under their hearts have heard it. This condition, unfortunately, occurs so often that it would not hurt both pregnant women and those planning to conceive to know about it.

What is increased uterine tone?

To answer this question, let's first figure out what kind of organ it is. The uterus is a hollow, contractile, muscular organ, the basis of which is the myometrium. Naturally, it increases during pregnancy. At the same time, each muscle fiber lengthens 10-12 times and thickens 4-5 times. Nature has arranged it so that normally, for 9 months, the muscles of the uterus are in a calm (relaxed) state. This allows you to carry the child to term. Also, normally, the uterus contracts slightly at times; this happens closer to the expected date of birth. Such contractions are called training contractions. This is like a dress rehearsal before the main event - the birth of a baby. But it happens that during a large period of pregnancy (in some cases, throughout the entire gestation period), the muscles of the uterus are in an excited, contracted state. The muscle layer of this organ contracts (its tone increases) - the pressure in the uterine cavity increases. Unfortunately, this is a pathological condition that requires appropriate and timely treatment, since it is a symptom of a threat or

Causes of increased uterine tone during pregnancy

As a rule, the occurrence of increased tone (hypertonicity) of the uterus is facilitated by fear, overexcitation or overstrain of muscle fibers caused by excessive physical activity.

If tone occurs in the early stages of pregnancy, the cause may be hormonal disorders, in particular, decreased production of progesterone. As a rule, increased uterine tone in the second trimester usually appears due to overload at work or poor lifestyle. In addition, hypertonicity can occur due to inflammatory and structural changes (uterine fibroids, endometriosis). Increased tone can be caused by overstretching of the uterine muscles, which occurs due to multiple pregnancies or a large fetus. Moreover, increased uterine tone can occur as a result of a history of acute respiratory infections or other diseases (influenza, sore throat, pyelonephritis), previous abortions, bad habits (smoking, etc.). In the third trimester of pregnancy, increased uterine tone can lead to premature birth.

How does a woman feel in this state?

• unpleasant squeezing or aching pain in the lower abdomen (can be either barely noticeable or severe); often they are similar to those experienced by a woman before or during menstruation;
• abdominal tension (it becomes hard, as if made of stone);
• often - unpleasant or lower back pain;

In some cases, pain may be accompanied by bleeding. If this happens, go to the doctor immediately. Also, urgent medical attention is required when a woman experiences cramping pain at intervals of several minutes.

What if you don’t see a doctor? What could be the consequences?

Unfortunately, not the best. Increased tone can lead to spontaneous abortion at any stage. If this happens in the first trimester, they will talk about a miscarriage, in the later trimester - about premature birth. In addition, increased uterine tone threatens with another complication: the risk of pregnancy fading.

Even if the tone is not so significant as to lead to such sad consequences, it will not have the best effect on the baby’s health. The fact is that a frequent increase in the tone of the uterus provokes oxygen starvation, since the blood supply is disrupted.

Treatment of increased uterine tone during pregnancy

You should inform your obstetrician-gynecologist about the occurrence of this condition as soon as possible. He will tell you how to behave in order to reduce the risk of complications, and, if necessary, prescribe medication.

Fortunately, increased uterine tone is highly treatable. The first thing the doctor will require is to ensure a calm regime and normalization of the patient’s psycho-emotional state. Now, more than ever, it is very important for a pregnant woman to establish a normal work and rest schedule, proper sleep, sufficient time in the fresh air, and feasible physical activity. With increased uterine tone, bed rest is often prescribed and sexual activity is completely prohibited. If necessary, the woman is hospitalized and treated in a hospital setting. Drug treatment is also used for this condition. To relieve stress and provide psychological comfort, sedatives (tincture of motherwort and valerian) are prescribed. If these drugs are not effective in a particular case, Sibazol, Nozepam, Trioxazine, etc. are prescribed. To relax the uterine muscles, antispasmodics (No-shpu, Papaverine) are used. Magne-B6 is often used. If the reason for the increase in tone is insufficient progesterone, use the drugs Duphaston and Utrozhestan (up to 16 weeks). Drugs that relax the muscles of the uterus (for example, Ginipral) and calcium channel blockers (Nifedipine, Corinfar) have proven themselves to be effective. To stop bleeding, hemostatic drugs (Dicinone, Sodium Etamsylate) are prescribed. In addition, if increased uterine tone is diagnosed in the late stages of pregnancy, the woman is prescribed IVs. Intravenous administration of a 25% solution of sulfuric acid and 10% alcohol can alleviate the situation. In addition to the above treatment options for increased tone, a fortified diet is used, as well as physiotherapy, acupuncture and psychotherapy.

If the spasms began suddenly and are very severe, then you can take 2 tablets of No-Shpa or put a suppository with Papaverine. The next step in this case is to immediately consult a doctor. Even if the pain has passed, do not ignore this issue and do not ignore a visit to the antenatal clinic.

Remember: how you behave in this or that case depends not only on the health of your unborn baby, but even his life.

Especially for- Elena Kichak

From Guest

The tone was strong from the 26th week, it was kept in storage until the 38th week, then they had a cesarean procedure. The tone was so frequent, literally within 5-10-15 minutes. Mostly I lay down, injected ginepral, magnesia, drank B6 and motherwort, of course. Tone is no joke, while I was in the maternity hospital I heard a lot of scary stories from girls whose tone led to premature birth. So, take care of your children, and if something happens, call an ambulance and go to the emergency room!!! I wish everyone the birth of healthy children!!!

Every representative of the fairer sex has at least once found herself in a situation where every woman needs to know what to do in this situation. This condition can occur both in the early stages of pregnancy and just before childbirth. It is also possible to have increased tension in the uterine muscle even without pregnancy.

The uterus is toned

What to do in this case depends on the woman’s immediate health condition. There are several main degrees of uterine muscle condition:

1. Hypotonicity. In this case, the uterus is in an overly relaxed state, which is also not the norm.
2. Normatonus. The muscle in this case is in its normal state.
3. Increased tone. Occurs during pregnancy and can cause spontaneous abortion.
4. Hypertonicity. A condition that occurs at the onset of labor and persists throughout.

Quite often, doctors diagnose a pregnant woman with uterine hypertonicity, but this is not entirely true. The expectant mother may have increased tone, but with hypertonicity, labor or miscarriage has already begun.

Symptoms

When increased uterine tone occurs, a pregnant woman experiences the following manifestations:

Mix the resulting mixture and apply it to your palms. Take a horizontal position and gently massage your lower abdomen. Thanks to light stroking, your body will relax, and the smell of oils will help you calm down and set yourself in a positive mood.

Medicines

If a relaxed state and peace do not help and factors such as developing pregnancy and uterine tone are present. What to do in this case?

Take one No-Spa tablet. This drug will help relieve spasms and relax the uterine walls. You can also use Papaverine. This medicine is available in injections and suppositories. For independent use, give preference to the latter. Insert one suppository into the rectum and lie down.

Usually these actions help when the pregnant uterus is in good shape. What to do if this doesn’t help and spotting begins?

Lack of progesterone

Sometimes in the early stages of pregnancy, the expectant mother experiences a lack of progesterone. It is this hormone that helps the uterine muscle to remain in normal tone. It promotes the progression of pregnancy. If there is not enough hormone, the walls of the uterus begin to tighten and become toned. In this case, there is only one way out - to obtain progesterone artificially.

Usually the doctor prescribes the drug to the expectant mother. The dosage of the drugs should be selected individually, which is why it is worth visiting a doctor and not self-medicating.

Tonus in late pregnancy

If the expectant mother’s uterus is in good shape, what should she do? 30 weeks is usually considered a cut-off point. It is from this moment that a child born prematurely can already survive with the qualified help of neonatologists.

But, despite this, treatment for the occurrence of increased tone is carried out right up to childbirth. At this time, the patient is usually placed in a hospital for more careful monitoring of her condition, where the necessary medical correction is carried out for her.

At home, it is possible to prescribe the drug "Genipral". It cannot be taken in the early stages, but it is indispensable for increased tone after 30 weeks.

Warm bath or shower

Quite often, before giving birth, women’s uterus is toned. What to do in this case?

Experienced obstetrician-gynecologists recommend that the expectant mother take a warm bath or shower. Of course, this can only be done if there are no contraindications. Fill the bathtub with water with your favorite foam and soak in it for a while. Warm water will relieve muscle tension and help you relax.

If it is not possible to take a bath, you can replace it with a warm shower. Stand under the running water and relax. Think positive thoughts, stroke your belly, talk to your baby.

Always be careful not to slip when leaving the bath.

Hypertonicity of the uterus

This phenomenon usually occurs at the onset of prenatal contractions. It is useless to fight it at home and it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance. Especially if muscle tension is accompanied by bleeding. In this case, your life may be at risk.

Hypertonicity is a normal condition if it appears after 38 weeks of gestation. At this time, the unborn child is already considered full-term and may well be born. Tune in to a positive outcome and go to the long-awaited meeting.

Uterine tone and absence of pregnancy

If conception is impossible, but a woman’s uterus is in good shape, what should she do? Without pregnancy, this condition is much easier to deal with, due to the fact that expectant mothers cannot take most medications.

If you are not pregnant, but there is tension in the uterine muscle, then this may be the beginning of your next period. If there is severe discomfort, you can take any antispasmodic and rest a little. Surely this method will relieve stress.

Many women faced with a similar problem panic and exclaim: “The uterus is toned! What to do? Not pregnant, that’s for sure!” Doctors’ answer to this question is the same: “Nothing needs to be done if it does not cause pain or discomfort.”

Conclusion

To summarize, we can conclude: any woman can experience uterine tone, at any stage of pregnancy or without it at all. Don't panic or be nervous, this can only make the situation worse.

There are many different methods for treating tone, but the best of them is prevention. If you are pregnant, monitor your well-being and do not overexert yourself. Take the necessary vitamins and minerals prescribed by your doctor. An excellent way to prevent tone is to take B6 vitamins. Contact your doctor to find out how you can prevent tone.

Only a specialist can accurately determine the presence or absence of increased tone of the uterine muscle using an ultrasound machine. Therefore, to make a correct diagnosis, you should consult a doctor and not decide on treatment on your own.