Newborns are typically 20 inches long upon birth, while they typically weigh nearly 3.62 kilograms. While this may seem small, there's actually very little room inside the body for the developing baby as all internal organs are closely packed with each other.
How Organ Displacement During Pregnancy Works
The female human body is designed to stretch, move, and welcome various life changes, including those brought about by pregnancy. During pregnancy, the organs move to make room for the extra space necessary for a growing baby.
When a woman is pregnant, the baby grows inside the uterus, which is a typically hollow reproductive organ that has muscle and tissue rich in nutrients. When the uterine wall is implanted with a fertilized egg, the lining aids with the support of fetal growth across pregnancy.
The uterus is typically 2 inches wide and 3 inches long. When a woman is not pregnant, her uterus can be compared to the size of a lemon.
During pregnancy, the uterus is the most affected organ in terms of movement, shape, and size. When the baby grows, the size of the uterus also expands. While the uterus typically sits below the belly button before a woman gets pregnant, it can stretch up to the rib cage when the baby is due to be delivered. By this time, the uterus would have grown to be watermelon-sized.
With baby growth and uterus expansion, space becomes smaller. The area of the body that the uterus ends up taking as it expands is usually home to several organs, such as the bladder, large and small intestines, liver, and stomach.
Organ Displacement By the Stage
During the first trimester, the body already experiences changes, though these may still not be as physically evident. While the uterus starts bulging and stretching to the pelvis top, it is still situated in its normal location.
In the second trimester, development continues. By this time, the baby starts growing bigger, moving, and hearing. The uterus will end up stretching beyond the pelvis and reaching an area between the breast and belly buttons.
By this time, organ displacement is not as drastic. However, these organs do end up compressing with each other. Because of this, bladder pressure goes up and so pregnant women may feel the urge to urinate more frequently. Ligaments also start softening to prepare for the growth and delivery of the baby. This may lead to tenderness or soreness around the back and hips. Cases of indigestion and heartburn are also quite common.
During the third trimester, the uterus would have grown to become watermelon-sized and stretched up until the rib cage. By this time, several organs in the abdomen would shift upward to accommodate the growth of the baby. When this upward shifting takes place, more pressure can be added to thoracic cavity organs, such as the heart and lungs. Because of this, one may notice that it is harder to take deeper breaths during this stage and that one may be unable to consume too much at a single sitting.
When the baby is delivered, some bodily changes take place immediately. However, it will still take some time, up to six weeks, for the uterus to go back to its usual size. This process is known as involution.
As the uterus goes back to its normal pelvic position, the affected abdominal organs will slowly return to their usual locations.
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