Constant tone of the uterus. Increased uterine tone: pathology or special condition of pregnancy

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The concept of increased uterine tone is familiar to almost all women. Some experienced this themselves during pregnancy, others learned from a pregnant friend. The uterus is toned, increased tone, local hypertonicity of the uterus - these are all names for the pathology of the female appendages, which appear in the early stages of pregnancy, sometimes during normal periods of life, for example, before menstruation, and have certain symptoms. Can this condition be considered normal? How dangerous is this? Let's figure it out.

What is uterine hypertonicity

The uterus is a female organ, which is called the reproductive organ, where the growth and development of the fetus occurs. Inside, the uterus is hollow, and the organ itself consists of three layers: the film, the myometrium (muscular layer) and the endometrium (mucous layer). The smooth muscles of the uterus have the ability to contract or, on the contrary, relax, like any muscles in the body. When the uterus is tense, obstetricians-gynecologists talk about increased tone, which is not very good during pregnancy, because in rare cases it can cause a miscarriage.

Signs of uterine tone during pregnancy

This condition can lead to miscarriage in the early stages of pregnancy or to premature birth in later stages, so the expectant mother needs to know how to recognize uterine contractions, which manifest themselves by the following signs:

unpleasant nagging pain in the lower abdomen, like menstruation;
pain in the lumbar region, sacrum;
feeling of fullness in the lower abdomen;
false contractions;
feeling of stone in the uterus.

Symptoms

During a normal period of life, a woman sometimes encounters such a concept as increased uterine tone. Symptoms during this period are similar to those during pregnancy. Very often, muscle tension occurs before menstruation and this is considered normal. However, if the feeling does not go away on other days, then you should see a gynecologist and undergo the necessary examination.

Causes

Various reasons can affect uterine tension. Gynecologists identify the following reasons for the development of this problem:

inflammatory processes;
hormonal disorders;
endometriosis, uterine fibroids and other diseases;
hard physical work that requires a lot of stress;
stress, nervousness;
fatigue, lack of sleep.

Women at risk include:

have had abortions;
with poor development of female organs;
with weak immunity;
have repeatedly suffered from inflammatory diseases of varying degrees;
having bad habits;
with problems in your personal life or at work, leading to frequent stress;
young people under 18 years of age and over 35 years of age.

In the early stages

The first weeks of bearing a baby are the most important. The tone of the uterus in early pregnancy is created by the following factors:

growth and shape change of the uterus;
a surge in the hormone progesterone or its deficiency;
inflammation during the attachment of the fertilized egg, often causing hypertonicity of the posterior wall of the uterus;
a woman’s nervous state in connection with a new situation for her.

Why is uterine hypertonicity dangerous during pregnancy?

Tension of the uterus at different stages can have its consequences. In the first trimester, this can lead to the death of the fertilized egg, termination of pregnancy and miscarriage. In the second trimester, hypertonicity can provoke spontaneous miscarriage or abortion, which also ends in termination of pregnancy. At a period later than 28 weeks, premature birth occurs, which is also not very good, especially for the child. Local myometrial tone often leads to placental abruption.

The forecasts are not the most rosy, however, there is no need to worry ahead of time. A nervous state only increases tension. Do not forget that for the fetus, hypertonicity during pregnancy is a dangerous condition; it impedes the supply of blood to the placenta, and with this, oxygen starvation (hypoxia) and a deficiency of nutrients necessary for proper development and growth occur. If you feel that the uterus is in good shape, you need to contact an obstetrician-gynecologist. Simple treatment, peace and rest will relieve tension.

How to identify uterine hypertonicity

There are several ways to identify the problem:

According to symptoms. If a pregnant woman feels heaviness in the lower abdomen, nagging pain in the lower back, or “stoniness” in the abdomen, then she needs to inform the doctor about this condition. If bleeding begins, there is no need to wait for an appointment; you must urgently call an ambulance for hospitalization.
Examination by a doctor. Hypertonicity is easily determined by a gynecologist by palpation. This method is used in the later stages of pregnancy, when the uterus is located outside the pelvis.
Ultrasonography. An ultrasound is done at certain times during pregnancy. Sometimes the doctor prescribes additional examination if a pathology is suspected. Using ultrasound, it is possible to determine not only the general, but also the local tone of the uterus, which cannot be detected by palpation or palpation of the anterior wall.
Tonuometry. For the examination, a special device is used, the sensor of which is applied to the abdomen and information about the condition is read.

How to relieve uterine hypertonicity during pregnancy

If a pregnant woman feels symptoms of hypertension, then the first thing she needs to do is lie down and calm down. This is enough for the uterus to relax and return to normal. You need to tell your gynecologist about your condition, even if the symptoms were minor. If the tone does not go away, the doctor may hospitalize the woman in a gynecology or maternity hospital, depending on the period. For the treatment of the expectant mother, the following will be prescribed:

peace, sleep, rest;
ban on physical activity;
taking medications to relieve spasms and pain, sedatives.
complex of vitamins and minerals.

Drug treatment

Pregnancy is a special period in a woman’s life that requires her to take minimal medications. Doctors take this into account, so they prescribe safe products to the expectant mother, mainly on a natural basis. For treatment, the gynecologist will prescribe the following groups of medications to the pregnant woman:

Antispasmodic drugs. This could be No-shpa, Papaverine in injections or tablets. These products are good at relieving muscle spasms and reducing tone.
Sedatives. On a plant basis - tincture of motherwort or valerian, on a synthetic basis - Nozepam, Sibazol, Trioxazin.
Hormonal drugs. In the early stages, progesterone drugs are prescribed - Utrozhestan or Duphaston. From 16-18 weeks, Ginipral, Bricanil, Partusisten are prescribed.
Vitamins and minerals. A pregnant woman, regardless of her condition and period, needs to take vitamins and microelements, special attention should be paid to magnesium preparations.

Prevention

To avoid uterine hypertonicity in the future, obstetricians recommend that pregnant women follow simple rules:

Don't be nervous about trifles. If you can’t calm down your anxiety, then you need to see a doctor who will prescribe a sedative.
Walk more. Fresh air and walking will help you calm down and enrich the body with oxygen, which the fetus lacks when toned.
Do exercises for pregnant women. Remember that such complexes cannot be done without the permission of a gynecologist if there is a pregnancy pathology.
Avoid physical activities that are dangerous for bearing a child.
Eat right. Try to avoid harmful and allergenic foods.
No alcohol, coffee or strong tea. These drinks provoke uterine activity.

Video

Uterine tone during pregnancy is still perceived by many women as a serious pathology that must be treated. It is rare that a pregnant woman does not begin to worry and stress herself out after hearing such a diagnosis addressed to her. Is everything okay with the baby? Is this condition really dangerous? After all, in the antenatal clinic they probably managed to scare the woman with a spontaneous miscarriage or premature birth, which could be a consequence of the tone. Meanwhile, in almost 80% of cases, the notorious hypertonicity of the uterus does not pose any danger to either the mother or the child.

What is uterine tone?

There is no such diagnosis in the International Classification of Diseases.

Increased uterine tone during pregnancy is diagnosed only in the post-Soviet space.

But the uterus is a muscular organ, and muscles tend to contract. The uterus can react to external and internal stimuli. This happens before pregnancy, it’s just easier to feel the tone while carrying a baby. The uterus can contract when sneezing or coughing, walking, or sexual intercourse. Even the sensor of an ultrasound machine can provoke tone, and the mother will immediately be told that something is wrong with her.

How do doctors manage to determine the tone of the uterus during pregnancy? In addition to the most common method of palpation, they resort to ultrasound diagnostics and cardiotocography (CTG).

What does a toned uterus mean during pregnancy?

This is a condition when the muscle fibers of the main female organ are under tension. A woman is worried about a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen, pulsation and spasms; many complain that the stomach becomes stone for a while. There may be nagging or aching pain. But physiological uterine contractions should not cause concern. They are often associated with physical activity, occur irregularly and resolve with rest. As the gestational age increases, the frequency of contractions also increases. More information about tone in each trimester:

Important! If the pain in the lower abdomen becomes intense, regular, at a certain interval, radiates to the lower back, or spotting appears, this is a reason to urgently seek medical help.

Causes of uterine tone

Symptoms of uterine tone during pregnancy can cause discomfort to a woman, and in this case, consultation with a gynecologist is necessary. But it is better to identify the causes of uterine tone during pregnancy, because hypertonicity is a consequence and develops, for example, against the background of some diseases in the body of the expectant mother. The most common reasons are:

chronic foci of inflammation in the pelvic organs;
abortions;
anomalies and malformations of the uterus;
multiple pregnancy, large fetus or polyhydramnios, which provoke overstretching of the uterine muscles;
bad habits and lack of adequate sleep;
diseases of the heart, kidneys, liver and other organs;
endocrine diseases;
hormonal disorders;
depression, anxiety in women, both before pregnancy and during pregnancy.

Important! Uterine tone during a second pregnancy occurring after 30 years of age occurs several times more often. As women age, the number of gynecological and concomitant diseases and abortions usually increases, which increases the risk of hypertension.

It is especially important, starting from the 30th week of pregnancy, to prepare for childbirth. Physical and emotional. A step-by-step preparation plan awaits you in the online course Five Steps to a Successful Childbirth >>>

How to help yourself at home

Along with the question “how to independently determine the tone of the uterus during pregnancy,” expectant mothers are often interested in how to help themselves alleviate the condition? As soon as you feel signs of tension, do the following:

Forget about rush and urgent matters. Stop or sit down, depending on the situation. Rest will help you get rid of unpleasant feelings.
Try to relax, breathe deeply, listening to yourself and your inner sensations. Try to imagine that as you exhale, the pain leaves your body.
Relieve emotional tension by relaxing the muscles of your face and neck. Try to relax your mouth and throat (they are believed to be energetically connected to the uterus). You should breathe through your mouth.
If you don’t know how to remove uterine tone during pregnancy, use aromatherapy. Essential oils of bergamot, sage, vanilla and lavender will help you relax. Choose the scent that suits you. Let it always be at your fingertips. A mixture of oils can be worn around the neck in an aroma medallion (more about aromatherapy during pregnancy >>>).
If possible, take a warm bath, make yourself herbal tea from lemon balm and motherwort with honey. Such procedures are very relaxing.
You can stroke your belly and still communicate with your baby. He feels your tension, calm him down!
If the uterus is toned during pregnancy and you don’t know what to do, do the “Cat” exercise. Standing on all fours, lift your chin high, arching your back, and remain in this position for a short time. Relax and repeat a few more times. You can simply kneel down, lean on your elbows and stand there for a while. After doing the exercises, it is better to lie down and relax.

How else can you relieve the tone of the uterus during pregnancy?

The best remedy for tone is to lie down. It would be best to watch a pleasant movie or listen to music at this moment.

Uterine tone is a temporary condition.

One wise doctor told me that he does not understand why a woman is given leave after the 30th week of pregnancy, because the first trimester is also a very exciting period in a woman’s life. It is ideal if during this period the expectant mother is surrounded with care, attention and protected from additional worries.

And this will be the best prevention of uterine tone in the first trimester.

In the third trimester, tone is confused with training contractions. In the West, it is customary to talk about “Braxton-Hicks contractions” when we are talking about painless uterine contractions throughout the entire gestation period. There is even a joke in the obstetric community about this, that “the uterus, like a good athlete, should warm up before a race.” It is meant that such “false contractions” are training of the uterus before childbirth.

For more information about preparing for childbirth, see the online course Easy Childbirth - how to give birth without ruptures and protect the baby from birth injuries.

To reduce the risk of hypertension, follow a few basic recommendations:

Drink at least 2.5 liters of clean drinking water.
Don't take long breaks between meals.
Seek help from osteopaths. A good specialist will not only relieve the pregnant woman of unpleasant sensations, but will also help her avoid hypertension in the early stages.
Increase magnesium-rich foods in your diet. It prevents muscle contractions. Eat greens, bananas, green vegetables, make smoothies and fresh juices from them. Oatmeal and buckwheat porridge, beans, and almonds are also useful. See the book Secrets of proper nutrition for an expectant mother >>>
Maintain sexual rest while you are unwell.
Remember: if the mother is worried and worried, the released hormone adrenaline affects the contraction of the uterus, the tone increases. So don't be nervous!
Try to create. Anti-stress coloring books, including those specifically for pregnant women, are now at the peak of popularity. They have been proven to reduce anxiety and help expectant mothers relax.
Try to move, because physical inactivity negatively affects intestinal motility and constipation becomes more frequent. The result is bloating and pain in the abdomen, which is mistaken for tone or a threat of miscarriage. Read more about bloating during pregnancy >>>
Be wary of doctors' prescriptions. For example, droppers with magnesium and ginipral, which are usually prescribed to women with tone, can further lead to the fact that the uterus cannot contract itself and the woman in labor is diagnosed with weakness of labor. No-spa and suppositories with papaverine also cannot be called harmless antispasmodics, because they have quite a lot of side effects. And if there is no real threat of miscarriage, think about whether you need to use all these drugs to be on the safe side?

Pregnancy is a wonderful time. Surround yourself with pleasant people, provide yourself with pleasant impressions, pamper yourself, and then nothing will overshadow all 9 months of joyful anticipation of the baby.

Uterine tone is a characteristic of the state of the uterine muscles, which describes the degree of its tension and is measured in millimeters of mercury.

The following variants of the state of the uterine muscles are distinguished:

- The uterus is hypotonic- this is a pathological condition of the uterus, in which its muscles are excessively relaxed, it is a complication of the early postpartum period, the cause of hypotonic uterine bleeding.
- The uterus is in normal tone- this is a physiological state of both the pregnant and non-pregnant uterus, in which the muscles are at rest.
- The uterus is in increased tone- a state of tension in the uterine muscles, which can be either permanent or temporary (contractions during childbirth). An increase in uterine tone can be either in one specific place (local) or involve all parts of the uterus (total).
- Hypertonicity of the uterus– an anomaly of labor, in which the number of contractions in 10 minutes is more than four, i.e. this pathology occurs only during childbirth.

It should be noted that the expression “hypertonicity of the uterus,” which is mistakenly used by some specialists and their patients, implying an increase in uterine tone during pregnancy, is incorrect, because this term describes one of the types of labor anomalies.

Uterine tone in normal and pathological conditions

Normally, the tone of the uterus during pregnancy ranges from 8 to 12 mm Hg. Exceeding these values during pregnancy can be both physiological in nature, for example, when it occurs in response to fetal movement, and pathological, when such uterine activity is constant and/or accompanied by painful sensations, and in this case is a symptom of impending premature labor or threatened spontaneous abortion. If such uterine activity becomes periodic and contractions are repeated after a certain time interval, leading to the opening of the cervix, then we speak of labor activity, i.e. the onset of premature labor (if the period is 22-37 weeks) or the onset of spontaneous abortion (up to 22 weeks).

Causes of increased uterine tone

There are many reasons for increased uterine tone. Among them, the main role is played by infections that exist in the mother’s body, such as: infections of the oral cavity, genitourinary system, gastrointestinal tract, and skin infections. In second place in importance are socio-economic factors: age (less than 18 and more than 35 years), the presence of serious underlying diseases (diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, obesity), the presence of bad habits (alcohol abuse, smoking, drug use), low level of education, poor living conditions, the presence of psycho-emotional overload, poor working conditions, non-compliance with work and rest schedules - all these factors, both individually and taken together, have a very strong influence on the course of pregnancy.

In addition, the reasons for the increased tone of the uterus may be complications of this pregnancy: incorrect position of the fetus (breech presentation, transverse position of the fetus), pathologies of the placenta (placental insufficiency, placenta previa), developmental anomalies and diseases of the uterus (bicornuate uterus, doubling of the uterus, the presence of septum in the uterus, uterine fibroids, uterine scar after a previous cesarean section or removal of a myomatous node), complications of this pregnancy (moderate and severe nephropathy), a history of premature birth, abortion (both spontaneous and artificial), the presence of miscarriage in blood relatives in the family, the presence of congenital malformations of the fetus (especially those incompatible with life).

Symptoms of increased uterine tone during pregnancy

An increase in the tone of the uterus is manifested by pain in the abdomen, especially in the lower parts, of a pulling nature, periodic “hardening of the abdomen,” a feeling of tension in the abdomen, sometimes increased urination and sometimes increased motor activity of the fetus.

Diagnostics

Increased uterine tone in itself is not a diagnosis; it is the main symptom of threatened miscarriage. In order to diagnose increased uterine tone, sometimes simple palpation is sufficient, but it should be remembered that it is not always objective, unlike cardiotocography (simultaneous recording of uterine contractions and fetal heartbeat), which objectively assesses the situation and allows for comparison between earlier indicators and later ones, i.e. evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment and the dynamics of uterine activity.

Treatment of increased uterine tone during pregnancy

To avoid spontaneous abortion in the early stages and premature birth in the later stages, the increased tone of the uterus must be reduced. Most often, if there is a threat of miscarriage, the pregnant woman is recommended to go to the hospital and undergo treatment. With increased uterine tone, the supply of oxygen and nutrition to the fetus deteriorates, so treatment is necessary. To reduce uterine activity, special drugs called tocolytics are used.
These are drugs belonging to different pharmacological groups, having different mechanisms of action, but one effect: they reduce increased uterine activity. Help relieve increased uterine tone:

Ginipral, partusisten, salbutamol, terbutaline. Currently, the most effective safe drug from this group is ginipral. In emergency cases, it is prescribed in the form of droppers, after which it is switched to tablet form.

Nifedipine, this drug exists only in tablet form.

Magnesium sulfate/magnesium sulfate, only in the form of a solution for intravenous administration, to reduce increased uterine tone, it is currently used only when other drugs are contraindicated for one reason or another

Indomethacin is prescribed as a rectal suppository.

Forecast

A favorable outcome depends on many factors: the condition of the birth canal, the duration of pregnancy, the condition of the fetus, including its position in the uterus, the integrity of the membranes (rupture of amniotic fluid), the presence of pregnancy complications, the presence of concomitant diseases, and also on the timeliness of contacting a doctor . Of course, the patient’s positive attitude is very important.

Prevention of increased uterine tone

First of all, it should be noted the importance of preparing for pregnancy, timely treatment of infections of the genitourinary system, sanitation (improvement) of the oral cavity, then you should pay attention to the work and rest schedule, and then take into account the need to strictly follow all the recommendations of the attending physician.

Obstetrician-gynecologist Kondrashova D.V.

Any muscle has tone, including the smooth muscles of the uterus. During the development of the fetus, the uterus is always tense to a certain extent in order to support the fetus in the correct position and then ensure a normal birth. This state of the uterus is called normotonus, and means that the uterus is at rest. In the article you will learn in detail how to distinguish the concept of “toned uterus” from “hypertonicity of the uterus.”

The uterus is a hollow organ consisting of three layers. The middle, muscular layer is called the myometrium. It is he who is responsible for the contractions and tone of the uterus. Uterine tension is measured in millimeters of mercury. Normally it ranges from 8 to 12 mmHg. Art.

Normally, the uterus can sometimes become more tense, but the pregnant woman does not experience any unpleasant sensations. The tone of the uterus during pregnancy can be influenced by many reasons, including psychological state and physical stress. Often the tone of the uterus during pregnancy increases during a gynecological examination.

However, sometimes the tone of the uterus during pregnancy remains elevated for some time. This condition is called “increased uterine tone”, or simply “uterine tone”, or “toned uterus”. This is not a disease, but a symptom of some abnormalities in a woman’s health. It cannot be ignored: a toned uterus poses a danger to pregnancy and fetal development.

It is worth noting that using the term “hypertonicity” as a synonym for uterine tone is not entirely correct. Hypertonicity is a pathology during childbirth when contractions occur too often. To determine the tension of the uterus that occurs during pregnancy, it would be more correct to use the term “uterus in tone” or “uterine tone.”

Another pathological condition is hypotonicity of the uterus, when, on the contrary, it is too relaxed. Decreased uterine tone during pregnancy can lead to hypotonic uterine bleeding.

Physiological increase in uterine tone

Even during a normal pregnancy, the tone of the uterus may briefly increase, which is not a pathology. The reasons for the physiological increase in tone include:

nervous tension, anxiety, for example, at a doctor’s appointment;
physical exercise;
sex and orgasm;
fetal movement;
laughing, coughing, sneezing.

After these factors cease to act, the tone of the uterus during pregnancy returns to normal. If it remains elevated, increased tone, or uterine tone, can be diagnosed.

After 35 weeks, a periodic increase in tone is the norm - these are the so-called training contractions, during which the uterus prepares for childbirth.

How is uterine tone diagnosed?

How to determine that the uterus is in good shape?

What matters is the duration and frequency of the increase in tone, the presence or absence of discharge.
To diagnose the tone of the uterus, an ultrasound is performed, which reveals total (when the entire uterus is tense) or local (when a certain area is tense) tone. The tense area appears on ultrasound as a thickening of the myometrium.
Also during pregnancy, when the uterus has already left the pelvic area, the doctor may notice its tension during palpation. Depending on the degree of tone, the uterus may feel hardened to the point of feeling like a “stone”. Sometimes the pregnant woman herself feels that the uterus is “turning to stone.” If the tone is local, then there may not be any unpleasant sensations. Palpation determines the tension of the uterus, its size, presentation of the fetus and its position in the uterus.
Also, to determine whether the uterus is in good shape, cardiotocography is used - recording of uterine contractions and fetal heartbeat.
Another way to diagnose uterine tone is tonusometry. For this purpose, there is a special device with a sensor that is applied to the stomach.
Be sure to check the condition of the cervix; it should not dilate.
To determine the cause of the tone more precisely, and it may consist in increased or decreased levels of certain hormones, additional blood tests are prescribed.

Symptoms of uterine tone

Usually, a slight increase in uterine tone does not manifest itself in any way. It is detected during routine gynecological examinations. Most often, tone develops in the first trimester of pregnancy.

The woman begins to feel only a strong tone, and the following symptoms arise:

What to do if you have symptoms of uterine tone?

With such symptoms, you need to give yourself first aid. You need to lie down, take a painkiller that relaxes the muscles (antispasmodic): Drotaverine, Papaverine (in tablets or in the form of suppositories), Baralgin, No-Shpa, Papazol, relax completely, including relaxing the facial muscles - their tension also affects muscle tension uterus.

Also, the “Cat” exercise can help with tone: get on all fours, arch your back, raising your head, then slowly return to the starting position. The exercise must be repeated two or three times, then lie down. To relieve the unpleasant sensations from increased tone, you can get on all fours, leaning on your elbows - this way the uterus will be in a “suspended” position.

Video: How to do the “Cat” exercise correctly

Breathing exercises aimed at relaxation and calm also help. You can sit or lie down in a comfortable position and breathe deeply, slowly and imagine how all the tension goes away as you exhale.

If such measures do not help, discomfort persists for several hours, bleeding appears, you need to call an ambulance. But even if the condition has improved, it is necessary to contact a gynecologist as soon as possible, who will prescribe treatment. Remember, uterine tone during pregnancy is a symptom of threatened miscarriage.

Treatment of increased uterine tone

Typically, antispasmodic drugs are prescribed in the first trimester, as well as magnesium and vitamin B6. To relieve increased anxiety and improve the psychological state of the expectant mother, sedatives containing motherwort, lemon balm, chamomile, and valerian are always prescribed. Medicines are also prescribed to reduce the activity of the uterus.
If uterine tone during pregnancy is caused by stress, anxiety, or an unfavorable environment at home or at work, psychotherapy is indicated. If sedative herbal remedies do not help, stronger drugs are prescribed: Nozepam, Trioxazine and others.
If a low level of progesterone is established, drugs based on it are prescribed.
If the cause of uterine tone is some kind of disease, then first of all it is treated.
To eliminate the threat of miscarriage, hormonal drugs are prescribed (progesterone and its analogues, such as Duphaston, Oxyprogesterone, folliculin), Carotene, Tocopherol Acetate, nicotinic acid, Papaverine as an antispasmodic. In the second trimester, when the uterus is toned, diathermy is prescribed - electrotherapy aimed at warming the tissues.
To reduce the tone of the uterus, drugs such as Salbutamol, Partusisten, and magnesium sulfate are effective. Ginipral is considered the safest drug. In emergency cases, these drugs are administered intravenously, then orally in the form of tablets. Magnesium sulfate is prescribed in cases where other drugs are contraindicated. Also, for increased tone, Nifidepine is prescribed in the form of tablets, Indomethacin in the form of suppositories. All of these drugs prevent the contraction of the smooth muscles of the uterus, but can only be prescribed by the attending physician.

With uterine tone, a woman needs rest; in many cases, bed rest is recommended. If outpatient treatment does not help, bloody discharge appears, or pain is present in the lower abdomen or back, then the expectant mother is placed in “conservation” so that measures can be taken in the hospital to maintain the pregnancy and prevent premature birth.

Why does uterine tone occur during pregnancy?

The tone of the uterus during pregnancy is influenced by both physical and psychological factors. Uterine tone during pregnancy can develop as a result of some pathologies not related to the reproductive system, for example:

endocrine diseases, including diabetes mellitus, thyroid diseases;
infectious diseases;
other diseases not directly related to the reproductive system (cardiovascular, renal, in particular glomerulonephritis);
depression, increased anxiety.

Infectious diseases, not necessarily related to the genital area, are the most common cause of uterine tone, especially if the temperature is elevated. These can be diseases of the digestive system, acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections, and sore teeth can act as a source of infection.

Naturally, pathologies or features of the uterus and genital organs, features and complications of pregnancy, and surgical interventions in the reproductive system have a great influence:

Pathologies of uterine development (septum in the uterus, bicornuate uterus, duplication of the uterus).
Tumors in the uterus.
Endometriosis.
Inflammation in the uterus and appendages.
Underdevelopment of the genital organs.
Diagnosis of infertility in the past.
mother and fetus.
Polyhydramnios.
Abortions and other uterine surgeries in the past, including caesarean section.
Genetic factors, for example, miscarriage in blood relatives.
Complications of pregnancy: placental insufficiency, placenta previa, premature placental abruption.
Fetal malformations.
Malposition.
Severe toxicosis - when vomiting, the abdominal muscles contract, which directly affects the uterus.
A large number of pregnancies.
Past miscarriage.
Reduced levels of progesterone or prolactin (in this case, infertility also occurs), increased levels of male sex hormones.
Multiple pregnancy.
Large fruit size.

A woman's age also affects the likelihood of tone occurring. If the expectant mother is under 18 or over 35 years old, then this probability increases.

The lifestyle of a pregnant woman also matters. Increased tone is caused by:

lack of sleep;
bad habits;
poor living conditions;
poor nutrition;
physical work;
nervous tension, anxiety, stress, unfavorable family environment;
working hours: business trips, daily work, harmful production factors.

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How to relieve increased uterine tone during pregnancy. Causes and symptoms in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester. Sensations of pregnant women with tone. What to do and how to treat at home (reviews from mothers).

From a medical point of view, the uterus is a hollow internal organ. It consists of two mucous membranes (external and internal) and a muscular “layer”. In a normal state, the uterus is relaxed (the so-called normal uterine tone).

During pregnancy, the muscles of the uterus contract, in medicine this phenomenon is called tone. Muscles can contract due to laughter, coughing, sneezing, and a woman’s psychological state can affect them.

A slight tension in the muscles of the uterus is considered normal if it is short-term and does not cause inconvenience to the expectant mother.

Prolonged and painful contraction of the uterine muscles is called hypertonicity. This condition threatens the fetus and pregnancy. In the 1st-2nd trimester, tone can cause miscarriage, and in later stages (3rd trimester) it can provoke premature birth.

Reasons for appearance

Prolonged, painful tension in the muscles of the uterus (hypertonicity) occurs from:

nervous overload, stress;
unhealthy lifestyle (bad habits);
muscle strain during significant physical exertion;
improper production of hormones at the initial stage of pregnancy (the body does not produce enough progesterone, which relaxes muscles);
structural and inflammatory changes in the body (fibroids, endometriosis);
significant stretching of the uterine muscles (the uterus can stretch due to a large fetus, multiple pregnancy, polyhydramnios);
illnesses suffered by the mother (sore throat, pyelonephritis, influenza);
previous abortions;
severe toxicosis;
Rh - conflict between mother and child (the body of a Rh - negative mother can reject a Rh - positive child as a foreign body, which results in increased tone).

Feelings in the first trimester

Uterine tone at the beginning of pregnancy can lead to embryo death and miscarriage. The danger of hypertonicity in the short term is that it is almost impossible to “feel” it yourself (the uterus is still small).

You should be alert to severe and prolonged pain in the lower abdomen (the pain is stronger than what happens during menstruation).

A pregnant woman needs to visit a doctor to find out exactly the cause of the pain, since there are often cases when an ectopic pregnancy “manifests itself” in this way. In addition to frequent and prolonged pain in the lower abdomen, you should also consult a doctor if there is bloody discharge from the vagina, or the sudden disappearance of signs of pregnancy (breasts have stopped swelling, basal temperature has decreased).

Tone in the second trimester

In the 2nd trimester, a small belly appears, but increased uterine tone still poses a danger to pregnancy. Tension of the uterine muscles negatively affects the development of the child. The baby does not receive enough nutrients (tense muscles can “block” blood vessels, causing the development of hypoxia). In especially severe cases, this leads to miscarriage or miscarriage.

Determining uterine tone even in the second trimester is quite difficult for most women, since again the main sign of “problems” is characteristic pain in the lower abdomen, while the uterus “turns to stone” and shrinks (at the end of the second trimester, the expectant mother can already visually notice signs of tone when the uterus tenses, contracts).

Tone in the third trimester symptoms

The tone of the uterus in the third trimester is most often periodic. The uterus may contract and then relax after a few seconds. This situation is considered quite normal, since the woman’s body is preparing for childbirth; such “changes” are called training contractions.

However, not all cramping pains in the third trimester should be attributed to training contractions. You can do a simple test. You need to take paper and a stopwatch and note the frequency of pain. If the stomach tenses once every 5-10 minutes, this is “training” the body before childbirth (the test is informative after 30 weeks).

If you have severe and prolonged pain that does not go away for a long time, you should consult a doctor. Hypertonicity of the uterus in the third trimester is fraught with premature birth. The baby may not be ready to be born yet (28-30 weeks), then the baby will require long-term rehabilitation and nursing.

What to do, how to treat correctly

The answer is simple - see a doctor. Moreover, it is best to do this at the first suspicion of increased tone. The specialist will determine the severity of the tone and possible risks.

If there is no threat of miscarriage, treatment is possible at home. The woman is prescribed bed rest, prescribed drugs that relieve spasms (no-spa, papaverine), drugs containing magnesium and sedatives (sedatives).

In difficult cases, the expectant mother requires hospitalization. In the hospital there is constant monitoring by doctors, there are fewer “temptations” to break the regime (complete lack of physical activity, whereas at home it can be problematic to ensure peace).

Exercises to relieve tone

You can get rid of increased uterine tone at home, but this does not mean that you need to forget about the medications prescribed by your doctor. You can use relaxation exercises.