Pregnancy brings a lot of changes to your body and lifestyle. The most prominent and crucial change is observed to the uterus, which is the epicenter for your baby’s growth. The uterus stretches from its normal size to enormous amounts in order to facilitate the space for your growing baby.
“Uterus is the little home for your baby during the nine months of pregnancy!”
Functions of Uterus during gestation
Apart from just being the home to your little one, your uterus plays an active role to coordinate the mixture of activities to form the amalgamation of pregnancy. The following are the major functions the uterus performs,
- The uterus is responsible to form the connection between the placenta and umbilical cord from mother and child. This bond helps the baby to provide food, and oxygen and remove the wastage as well.
- The mother’s brain functions accordingly with the relaxing position of the uterus! That is, based on the feedback given by the uterus, the brain regulates the hormones to prepare the body for various stages of pregnancy.
- Labor entirely depends on the retractions and contractions of the uterine walls, which helps the mother to push the baby out.
- Soon after the labor, uterus contracts back to a small ball and prepares the body to stop bleeding. It works to establish the non-pregnancy state!
Size variation during pregnancy trimesters
Here is a glimpse of the journey your uterus goes through during the gestation period. Check the size and positions of it during each trimester.
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The first trimester – During the first trimester, it is positioned within the pelvic area and does not grow out of it. The size of the uterus is normal and usually is compared to the size of grapefruit. Additionally, the positioning will make it difficult to measure the size of your uterus.
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The Second trimester – The size of the uterus is no longer small in your second trimester. As the growth of the baby is fast, the uterus expands well into almost a papaya size.
The uterus is now positioned between the naval area, and breasts by exerting some pressure on the surrounding organs. That is why the body aches are common during the second trimester. -
The third trimester – The baby begins to grow fast and spreads across the area occupying most of the arena. To accommodate the same, uterus expands up until ribs and almost takes the size of a watermelon.
Size of the uterus after labor
After the labor, the uterus starts to contract and tends to go back to its original size. The contractions are quite rapid to take it back to the original pre-pregnancy posture. The whole procedure takes 6 weeks of time and usually does the whole process on its own.
Your uterus acts like a balloon and provides a safety cocoon for your baby throughout the gestation period. Consume high protein food and omega-3 fatty acid-rich food to maintain the good condition of your uterus. After all, your baby requires a healthy and safe home even when he/she is inside you!
*Information shared here is for general purpose. Please take doctors’ advice before making any decision.
