Stretching during pregnancy is a good way of relieving any aches and pains that you might be suffering from. Doing stretching exercises during pregnancy also helps your body to remain flexible and strong. This strength and flexibility will help in your delivery. Stretching during pregnancy is also good for your body as it releases any muscle tension. Do, however, check with your doctor before trying any stretching exercises. During pregnancy, a hormone called relaxin is responsible for the loosening your joints and ligaments. This hormone can lead to injuries if stretching exercises are not performed correctly. Keep the following points in mind while stretching during pregnancy. Warm up before the stretching session, hold the stretch for only 15-20 seconds, breathe throughout the stretch, and ensure that the stretches are gentle. Some stretches that you can try are the neck, hip flexor, inner thigh, calf, back and shoulder stretch.
It is normal for a woman's uterus to stretch during pregnancy. The uterus must stretch and remain relaxed throughout one's pregnancy so that it can accommodate the placenta and the fetus. Uterus stretching during pregnancy occurs when the muscles and ligaments round the uterus stretch. This happens in the second trimester. Symptoms of this are a dull ache across the belly or even a sharp pain on one side. Contractions or a tightening of the uterus muscles in the second and third trimesters also signify uterus stretching. These are Braxton-Hicks contractions or false labor. Ligament stretching during pregnancy occurs because the ligaments that are supporting the uterus stretch and become longer and thinner. The tugging and pulling of these ligaments result in a either a brief stabbing sort of pain or a dull ache that lasts for a long time. This usually begins in the second trimester and is referred to as round ligament pain. This kind of pain disappears once you have had your baby. Contact your doctor if the pain is accompanied by bleeding, fever, pain while urinating and so on.
If you have a tattoo near your stomach area, it will definitely stretch when you are pregnant. It may not return to its original shape even after pregnancy. Intricate designs could change their shape altogether. If necessary, you may have to consult your tattoo artist for a touch up once your baby is born. Stomach stretching occurs during pregnancy as your skin is stretching in order to accommodate your expanding uterus. This abdominal stretching during pregnancy results in the skin tissue tearing which results in stretch marks. Staying well hydrated, eating a balanced diet, moisturizing your skin are just some of the best stretch mark prevention methods during pregnancy.
answered by G M