Uterine tone at different stages of pregnancy: how to avoid serious complications. Uterine tone during pregnancy - causes, symptoms and treatment Causes of uterine tone in early pregnancy

Uterine tone, uterine hypertonicity, increased uterine tone or toned uterus are synonyms for one symptom, which is characterized by tension in the muscular layer of the organ. According to statistics, every second pregnant woman experiences uterine tone during pregnancy. In some cases, this condition may be a physiological manifestation and does not pose a threat to the health of the expectant mother and child. In others, uterine hypertonicity is a pathological symptom, leading to disruption of the course of pregnancy and intrauterine fetal death. In order to promptly respond to increased uterine tone, pregnant women need to know the clinical manifestations of this condition and ways to eliminate increased muscle tone.

What is uterine tone?

The uterus is a hollow muscular organ that has the shape of an inverted pear, located in the pelvic cavity in women. The uterus has 3 layers: external serous (perimetry), internal muscular (myometrium), internal mucous (endometrium). After conception occurs, the tone of the uterus is in a calm state - the muscle fibers grow and thicken, but do not tense and rarely contract. This is a prerequisite for the normal course of pregnancy. Myometrial tone is regulated by the pregnancy hormone. Myometrial tension in the form of regular contractions is observed during labor. The birth of a healthy child depends on the strength and duration of muscle contractions.

Under the influence of unfavorable factors of the external and internal environment, the normal tone of the uterus can change upward - hypertonicity. If contractions of muscle fibers are short-term, of low intensity, and do not have a cyclical pattern, then such hypertonicity does not cause harm to the intrauterine system. With strong cramping contractions of the muscular layer of the uterus, which are accompanied by bloody discharge from the vagina or leakage of amniotic fluid, there is a threat of miscarriage or premature birth. Such hypertonicity is pathological and requires emergency medical care.

Why is uterine tone dangerous?

Uterine tone can be a physiological and pathological symptom. The danger is posed by hypertonicity of the organ, which negatively affects the health of the pregnant woman and the fetus. It is necessary to be able to distinguish which tone of the uterus bothers a woman. Treatment tactics and prognosis for pregnancy development depend on the condition of the myometrium.

Types of uterine tone.

Conditionally safe tone. Appears throughout the entire period of gestation. Normal frequency is no more than 5-6 times a day. It does not cause intense pain, is not periodic (occurring at regular intervals), and is not accompanied by bleeding or leakage of amniotic fluid. In the 1st trimester, there is a feeling of heaviness in the stomach. In the 2nd and 3rd trimester, a woman can feel the tension of the uterus through the abdominal wall - the organ becomes “stony”. If there is already fetal movement, the baby’s movements usually intensify. Conditionally safe tone does not disrupt the normal development of pregnancy and represents irregular contractions of the myometrium under the influence of irritating factors of the internal and external environment.
Uterine tone associated with training contractions. In the period from 24 to 30 weeks, training contractions occur, which prepare the woman and the unborn child for the process of labor. They are felt as weak cramps in the lumbar region, pass quickly and independently, and do not bring significant discomfort.
Hypertonicity of the uterus with the threat of spontaneous abortion or premature birth. Prolonged, increasing cramping pain of high intensity in the lumbar region and lower abdomen that does not go away on its own. At the height of the pain syndrome may appear bloody issues or bleeding from the vagina, passage of the cervical mucous plug, leakage of amniotic fluid. These are ominous signs that indicate in favor of termination of pregnancy.

Consequences of pathological tone of the uterus during gestation:

disruption of blood flow in the vessels of the placenta, development of placental insufficiency, delays in intrauterine development of the child;
frozen pregnancy (intrauterine fetal death);
premature placental abruption, massive uterine bleeding, threat to a woman's life;
threat of spontaneous abortion (before);
threat of premature birth (from 22 to ).

If there is pathological tone of the uterus, you must immediately seek medical attention. medical care in order to maintain pregnancy and normal intrauterine conditions.

Causes of increased uterine tone

Hypertonicity of the uterus during pregnancy occurs against the background of the adverse effects of internal and external environmental factors.

Structural anomalies and congenital malformations of the uterus, genital infantilism (underdevelopment of the genital organs).
Hormonal disorders. Insufficient synthesis of the pregnancy hormone. High levels of androgens (male hormones) in a woman’s body. Hyperprolactinemia (high concentration of the hormone prolactin).
Chronic inflammatory diseases of the genital organs (,).
Sexual infections (chlamydia, ureaplasmosis, gonorrhea).
Uterine neoplasms (fibroids, fibroids).
Rhesus conflict. It develops when the woman has Rh-negative blood and the fetus has Rh-positive blood.
Toxicosis in the 1st trimester of pregnancy, gestosis in the second half of gestation.
Polyhydramnios, multiple pregnancies, large fetal weight.
Exacerbation of chronic somatic diseases of the kidneys, liver, digestive tract, heart, lungs.
Unfavorable obstetric history (medical and spontaneous abortions, frozen pregnancy, premature birth).
The age of the pregnant woman is up to 18 years and after 35 years.
Heavy physical activity, carrying heavy objects.
Unstable emotional background, psychological trauma, chronic stress.
A profession with harmful working conditions.
Living in environmentally hazardous areas.
Bad habits (drug, nicotine, alcohol addiction).

An increase in uterine tone can occur against the background of salty foods, spices, and herbal teas. To reduce the risk of hypertension, you should consult your doctor about which foods to exclude from your daily diet.

Symptoms: how to determine that the uterus is toned

Increased uterine tone is most dangerous when there is a high probability of spontaneous abortion. In the 2nd and 3rd trimester, the risk of miscarriage or premature birth due to hypertension decreases.

Symptoms of uterine hypertonicity in:

a feeling of tension and hardening of the walls of the uterus, which can be felt through the abdominal wall;
cramping pain in the lower abdomen, pulling;
increased motor activity of the fetus or cessation of movement of the child during the day.

Symptoms of uterine hypertonicity in:

abdominal cramp;
cramping pain in the lower abdomen;
tension in the muscular layer of the uterus (the walls of the organ become like stone);
uterine tension can be felt through the anterior abdominal wall;
bleeding from the vagina;
leakage of amniotic fluid;
removal of the mucus plug from the cervical canal.

At the first signs of pathological hypertonicity of the uterus, you should consult a gynecologist or call an ambulance.

Diagnosis of uterine tone

Increased uterine tone is diagnosed by a gynecologist during a scheduled or unscheduled visit to a pregnant woman. The doctor feels the uterus in the position of the woman on the back and side, as well as on the gynecological chair. During a vaginal examination, a specialist assesses the condition of the cervix. Shortening, softening of the cervix and opening of the cervical canal, leakage of amniotic fluid, bloody discharge from the uterine cavity are dangerous symptoms that indicate the threat of spontaneous abortion or premature birth.

To confirm increased uterine tone and determine the condition of the fetus and placenta, the doctor prescribes an ultrasound examination. After interviewing and examining the pregnant woman and using instrumental diagnostic methods, the doctor prescribes treatment appropriate to the woman’s condition on an outpatient or inpatient basis.

Treatment of uterine hypertonicity

If there is a pathological increase in uterine tone, therapy is usually recommended in a gynecological hospital. Conditionally safe tone, which occurs less than 5 times a day, according to the doctor’s decision, can be treated on an outpatient basis (at home).

Therapy for uterine hypertonicity:

bed rest;
limiting physical activity and emotional stress;
exclusion of sexual contacts;
sedatives of herbal and non-natural origin (tincture, vitamin K);
drugs (, duphoston);
multivitamins.

To improve efficiency drug treatment Physiotherapy, acupuncture, and psychotherapy are prescribed.

Relaxation techniques for uterine hypertonicity

If increased uterine tone occurs, you need to take a sitting, or better yet, lying position, and calm down. Physical activity and negative emotions aggravate the situation. To relax the muscles of the uterus, you can put a warm towel ironed on your stomach, a bottle of water heated to 60 degrees, or a heating pad. Abdominal discomfort should go away within 10-15 minutes. Otherwise, you should seek medical help. If the crisis has passed, it is necessary to report the occurrence of uterine tone to the gynecologist when visiting the antenatal clinic. The specialist will conduct an additional examination and prescribe treatment and preventive measures according to the severity of the health condition of the woman and fetus.

Prevention of uterine hypertonicity

Uterine tone occurs in almost every woman during pregnancy. To prevent myometrial contractions and prevent the occurrence of pathological hypertonicity, it is recommended to follow preventive measures.

Hypertonicity of the uterus does not always lead to intrauterine dysfunction. In some cases, this is an ordinary situation that should not cause concern. To correctly interpret increased uterine tone, you need to contact a gynecologist. The specialist will conduct the necessary examinations and give recommendations for maintaining a normal pregnancy.

During pregnancy, women often hear the diagnosis “the uterus is toned.” A phrase that is common in auditory perception can become threatening and lead to irreversible consequences. You should carefully consider the medical verdict and ask the gynecologist an important question: what does this phenomenon mean and whether it is necessary to fight it.

What is uterine tone during pregnancy?

The uterus is a hollow muscle, contracting is its natural state. The organ consists of layers:

external – perimetry;
middle (muscular) – myometrium;
internal - endometrium.

When sneezing, coughing, during a medical gynecological examination or ultrasound, the uterus contracts and becomes toned for a short time. Prolonged contraction of the muscle layer is called “hypertonicity”. This is a dangerous condition for pregnancy. It is necessary to recognize the symptoms in time and eliminate the causes.

Symptoms

The growing fetus stretches the tissues, during this period the muscles relax. The tone of the uterus can be determined by a number of symptoms and during an instrumental examination by a doctor. At each stage of gestation, contractions occur with to varying degrees intensity, have their own characteristics and consequences. Contractions can be local (tone along the posterior wall of the uterus) or general. A woman can understand that the uterus is in good shape by internal sensations and some external signs.

In the early stages

At this stage, cases of tone are observed frequently. Main features:

Aching pain in the lower abdomen.
Pulling sensations.
Cramps similar to contractions, or like menstruation.
Discomfort, pain in the lumbar region.

Sometimes increased tone does not manifest itself, so doctors recommend undergoing an ultrasound. This procedure accurately determines the condition of the muscles.

Signs of uterine tone in the second trimester

At this stage (from 8 to 16 weeks), cases of hypertonicity are detected much less frequently. They are no less dangerous than in the first and third trimester of fetal formation. You should immediately contact a gynecologist if you feel the following:

Pain in the lower abdomen.
Tactile sensations of “fossilization” of the entire abdomen.
Bloody discharge.

The diagnosis is confirmed by a medical examination. If the uterus is toned during pregnancy in the second trimester, this threatens abnormal development of the fetus or premature birth.

In the 3rd trimester

The most responsible and difficult stage. The body prepares for childbirth, muscle contractions become more frequent. It is difficult to independently determine whether it is a manifestation of habitual spasms or tone. Only a doctor can diagnose a deviation from the norm. If, during an examination at the 32nd week, the uterus is dilated and the ECG of the baby inside the womb is unstable, the specialist will immediately understand the presence of increased tone. To prevent the risk of miscarriage, you need to visit your gynecologist more often. In all cases, if there is bloody discharge, you should urgently call a doctor.

Causes

The following reasons can cause a state of increased tone:

fatigue/slight malaise;
stress/depression;
physical pathologies (underdevelopment of the reproductive organ);
lack of the hormone progesterone;
Rh conflict between mother and child support systems;
severe toxicosis with vomiting;
infectious diseases;
age characteristics woman's body;
chronic or acquired diseases;
general psychological mood;
the physical condition of the woman;
loads;
V special cases– sex with uterine tone.

When the uterus is toned, what does this mean for a woman looking forward to having a baby? An experienced specialist can describe the clinical consequences and dangers for the mother and baby. Improper lifestyle and behavior of a pregnant woman can leave an indelible mark.

Why is increased uterine tone dangerous?

Increased tone negatively affects the child and mother. During the period of bearing a child, hypertonicity means the risk of miscarriage: early stages miscarriage, and later – premature birth. In the second trimester, prolonged muscle contraction leads to deterioration of blood circulation to the placenta; insufficient oxygen reaches the fetus, which causes hypoxia. Placental abruption occurs as a result of the fact that it does not contract along with the myometrial layer.

Treat with medication when the uterus is hypertonic, what does this mean? The condition requires a mandatory visit to a doctor, who will correctly diagnose and prescribe the necessary medications. On initial stages these can be antispasmodics: “No-shpa”, “Papaverine”, motherwort, valerian. For prevention, pregnant women are prescribed vitamins A and E, and light breathing exercises, more walks in the fresh air.

How to relieve uterine tone at home

You can remove the tone of the uterus by resorting to simple methods:

Take a shower. After standing for 10 minutes under warm water, lie on your back and relax all your muscles.
Take magnesium with food. Oatmeal or buckwheat porridge, almonds, greens, beans, and hazelnuts are rich in minerals.
Make it easy external massage stomach and back. To reduce muscle tension, ask your family to rub your back until it burns, massage your head and neck area.
Wear a bandage. It is used to reduce stress on the lower uterine wall. The bandage should not cause discomfort or feel like something foreign. You can find out how to wear it correctly by looking at the corresponding photos.

Every woman has to be nervous before giving birth, the main thing is not to experience constant stress. Low mood negatively affects the entire course of pregnancy. Remember: the well-being of childbirth and the health of the baby depend entirely on the mother. Ideally, medical intervention in the natural process of pregnancy and birth should be minimal.

Video about uterine hypertonicity during pregnancy

The uterus is an organ made up of muscles. In a calm, balanced state, the muscles are relaxed, the uterus is not tense. Muscle tension can often be observed during pregnancy, but especially during childbirth. This tense state is called tone. Can there be uterine tone without pregnancy? Of course, yes, because muscle contraction can occur in any condition.

The uterus is a hollow organ riddled with muscles. It consists of three parts: the outer serous membrane (perimetry), the inner mucous layer (endometrium) and the muscular layer (myometrium). The muscle fibers in the last layer are unequally distributed. In the outer part - the arrangement is vertical, in the middle part - in a spiral. Interior characterized by a circular arrangement of muscle fibers. Muscles are subordinate to the autonomic, nervous system, and hormonal fluctuations. Muscles tend to contract and be in constant motion - tone.

In pregnant women, the tone of the female organ is a fairly common phenomenon, but if there is no pregnancy, and the uterus is toned, this is a reason to visit a doctor.

Symptoms

When the uterus is in a balanced state, its abdominal wall is soft and the muscles are relaxed. This can be felt by pressing on the lower third of the abdomen. If the tone is increased, the abdominal wall is hard and the muscles are tense.

Muscle contractions are accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen, which radiates to the lower back. The pain is aching and pulling. They can be felt when bending, walking, or squatting. Sometimes there may be bloody discharge.

Diagnosis methods

The tonic (excited) state of the reproductive organ can be determined in three ways:

By feeling with your fingers - palpation. The doctor makes a diagnosis by independently feeling the woman’s abdomen and conducting a vaginal examination;
Ultrasound examination method;
Tonuometry, using a special device.

Causes

A number of reasons that a woman is not even aware of can affect the tone of the uterus without pregnancy:

Cervical surgeries

One of good reasons the occurrence of tone are operations on the cervix. The cervix is a dense frame with numerous muscle fibers. The cervix is connected to the uterus through the cervical canal, which prevents infection from entering the reproductive organ itself. Sometimes surgery is required to treat certain conditions.

There may be several indications for operations: removal of polyps, amputation, treatment of erosion, prolapse and prolapse of the uterus, accompanied by elongation of the cervix, background and precancerous conditions.

Operations can be plastic - when the organ is preserved, or radical (the neck is removed). In some cases - cervical biopsies accompanied by bleeding - stitches are not required. The bleeding is stopped with a tight gauze swab moistened with a solution of hydrogen peroxide.

For suturing the cervix, use catgut or semi-synthetic threads. The suture area is lubricated with iodine and a cotton swab is inserted into the vagina for a while. In the first one or two days after suturing, the woman experiences nagging pain in the lower abdomen. They may be accompanied by bloody discharge, which indicates that the uterus is in good shape. The woman is given drugs that relax the reproductive organ and relieve tone. For pain relief, you can take anti-inflammatory drugs such as diclofenac, ibuprofen. The discharge can last up to 20 days.

During childbirth, the cervix may rupture, which will also require stitches to be placed at the rupture sites. The process is painless, since the uterus loses sensitivity after childbirth. The seams are applied either separately, when each thread is fixed with a separate knot, or continuously, when the seam is tied at the beginning and end of the row. Such seams do not require special care and do not cause any particular inconvenience. But painful sensations, accompanying the tone of the female organ, will persist for some time.

If the increased tone is short-term, there is nothing to worry about. It is enough to lie on your side, drink warm tea, take a warm bath, watch a pleasant movie. In this case, the symptoms go away very quickly. If they go into a pathological stage, it is impossible to do without the intervention of a doctor. When the diagnosis is established, the doctor decides to hospitalize the woman in a hospital. This is how, under the supervision of specialists, treatment proceeds faster and more correctly.

During pregnancy, amazing metamorphoses occur in a woman's body. The body is rebuilt, creating optimal conditions for the development of a new life. The size of the uterus increases every day. The expectant mother is faced with specific sensations, which are important not to be confused with pathological conditions.

During the gestational period, many patients are diagnosed with increased uterine tone. Why are her muscles becoming toned, and what does this mean? What methods of relieving uterine tension exist?

The concept of uterine tone and its danger during pregnancy

The main reproductive female organ has a muscular structure with a cavity inside. The uterine walls consist of several layers: perimetry, myometrium and endometrium. The middle muscular layer tends to contract, which is extremely necessary during childbirth.

Normally, the uterine muscles are relaxed. When they contract before labor begins, we may be talking about increased uterine tone. In practice, such a diagnosis is made only if the natural physiological process is associated with discomfort.

When sneezing, coughing or laughing, almost all muscles in the human body contract simultaneously, and the uterus in this case is no exception. Tension of the uterine walls can be observed during examination by a gynecologist. This condition is short-term and usually painless.

Constant tone of the uterus during the gestational period sometimes causes serious complications. If a woman with signs of uterine tension does not visit an antenatal clinic on time, such carelessness can lead to serious pathology of fetal development or miscarriage.

Causes of uterine tone in different trimesters of pregnancy

Increased uterine tone for a pregnant woman can be a dangerous symptom of a developing pathology. If the diagnosis is confirmed, you should try to eliminate the causes of this condition as soon as possible. The uterine walls may begin to contract under the influence of external and internal factors. Possible reasons hypertonicity of the uterus:

anatomical features of the female reproductive organs;
disruptions in the functioning of the endocrine system (low levels of progesterone, high levels of prolactin and male hormones);
chronic inflammatory gynecological diseases;
sexually transmitted infections;
benign tumors in the muscular layer of the uterus;
immunological incompatibility regarding the Rh factor of the blood of the mother and fetus;
early (in the first trimester of pregnancy) and late toxicosis;
polyhydramnios, large baby, or pregnancy with more than one fetus;
exacerbation of chronic diseases of the heart, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, etc.;
abortions, miscarriages, non-developing pregnancy in the anamnesis;
age of the expectant mother (under 18 and over 35 years);
physical and psycho-emotional overload;
bad ecology;
harmful working conditions;
smoking, alcohol addiction, drug addiction.

Degrees of uterine tone and accompanying symptoms in early and late stages

In gynecology, it is not customary to focus solely on subjective signs of hypertonicity of the uterine muscles, therefore experts distinguish several degrees of tension, measured in mm Hg. Art.:

Hypotonia of the uterine muscles. The muscle wall is in an overly relaxed state.
The uterus is in normal tone. Physiological state of the uterus at rest. It happens to expectant mothers and women without pregnancy.
Increased uterine tone. The uterine muscles are tense, and the tone can be local or cover all its parts. A woman may feel tension constantly, or local hypertonicity will periodically occur during contractions during childbirth.
Uterine hypertonicity is a condition that occurs exclusively during labor. In such patients, more than 4 contractions occur in 10 minutes.

Symptoms of frequent uterine tone at each stage of the gestational period differ in many ways. Characteristic signs of increased tension in the uterine wall in the first trimester of pregnancy are:

elastic and hard abdomen in the iliac region upon palpation;
minor pain, heaviness in the lower abdomen;
sensations of muscle contractions;
mild vaginal discharge of uncharacteristic color and consistency.

In the 2nd trimester, symptoms of severe uterine tension become more pronounced. Pain that occurs in the abdominal cavity can radiate to the back. You can see streaks of blood in the discharge. Women often complain of lower back pain.

In the third trimester, it is important for the expectant mother to understand when her condition is due to the body’s natural preparation for childbirth, and when we're talking about about pathology. At the end of 7-8 months, many women experience training contractions. The uterine muscles contract, but this condition does not last long. If uterine tension manifests itself as severe discomfort, bleeding and nagging pain, the expectant mother should contact a medical facility for qualified help.

How to diagnose uterine tone, can you do it yourself?

A woman can independently determine whether her uterus is in good shape or whether there is nothing to worry about. In the early stages, in order to feel the condition of the uterine muscles, a woman should lie on her back or turn on her left side. After which you need to relax as much as possible. By carefully palpating the lower abdomen, you can independently make a preliminary diagnosis. If tension is felt or a lump is felt, this may indicate the development of pathology. If the belly is soft, it means there is nothing to worry about.

At an appointment with a gynecologist, diagnosis begins with taking an anamnesis. The doctor will ask the patient to describe her feelings and talk about events that could affect her condition. The gynecologist will then conduct a superficial visual examination of the abdomen. If necessary, the pregnant woman will be asked to undergo a gynecological examination.

An ultrasound will help make an accurate diagnosis. The specialist will assess the degree of muscle tension and the condition of the myometrium. Tonuometry helps determine the contractile activity of the uterus. During this procedure, a special sensor is applied to the patient’s abdomen, which determines the elasticity of the muscle by the tension during its contraction.

Ways to relieve uterine tone at home

Uterine tone during pregnancy occurs in every expectant mother. These sensations are difficult to confuse with anything else. Knowing about possible consequences hypertonicity, a woman must understand well what to do in a particular situation. To prevent the development of complications and relieve uterine tension, you first need to relax.

Quite often when changing position unpleasant symptoms disappear. Get rid of frequent uterine tone by inhaling aromatic oils, pleasant relaxing music. Some experts recommend removing the tone of the uterus during pregnancy using products traditional medicine. To prevent the development of hypertension, it is necessary to limit physical activity, refuse sex and normalize nutrition.

Medicines

If the gynecologist determines that the uterine wall is in good shape, then to treat this pathology he can prescribe the following medications:

antispasmodics;
magnesium preparations with vitamin B6 (prescribed in courses);
sedatives (extract of valerian, motherwort, etc.);
hormonal agents to increase the level of missing hormones (usually progesterone).

Further treatment will be aimed at eliminating provoking factors. If a woman is under constant stress, she will be prescribed sedatives (more details in the article:). If uterine hypertonicity during pregnancy is caused by intestinal disorders, medications will be prescribed to normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. In case of Rh conflict, immunoglobulins are administered to prevent the formation of antibodies.

Elimination of foods that increase tone

Many pregnant women know about the benefits of magnesium. This element helps relax the uterine muscles and reduces increased nervous excitability. Doctors recommend that their patients who have uterine tone in the second trimester consume foods rich in magnesium. This includes:

fresh herbs;
all types of cabbage;
cereals (buckwheat, barley, oats, etc.).

Many dairy products contain not only calcium, but also magnesium and B vitamins. The most optimal ratio of magnesium to calcium is 0.6 to 1. If the human body lacks magnesium, then calcium will be washed out of the bones and excreted in the urine. On the other hand, with excess calcium there is a deficiency of magnesium.

If a pregnant woman does not eat properly, serious complications may occur. The tone of the uterus in the third trimester can be reduced if you exclude it from your menu in advance. following products power supply:

legumes (cause increased gas formation);
blue cheese (may contain mushrooms that are dangerous for pregnant women);
coffee (has a laxative effect, removes fluid from the body);
black tea (excessive caffeine content);
raw eggs, fish, poorly fried meat (high risk of developing salmonellosis and other intestinal infections).

Many medicinal plants and spices can cause increased tone, so experts strongly do not recommend that expectant mothers eat dishes seasoned with basil, nutmeg, cumin, cinnamon, and fennel. You need to be careful when choosing herbal teas.

Special exercises and other methods

If you have a strong tone at home, you can relieve tension in the uterine muscles with the help of simple exercises. Effective techniques for relieving tension in the uterine walls:

Cat pose. The exercise begins with taking a standing position on all fours. Take a deep breath – your back is arched. Hold your breath for 3 seconds. Exhalation. Deep breath - arching your back. Hold your breath for 3 seconds. Repeat the exercise.
" Focus on your elbows and bent knees. You need to stay in this position for several minutes.
Relaxation of the muscles of the face and neck. Take a supine position. Even out your breathing. Try to relax your facial muscles.

In addition to special exercises, you can relieve back tension with the help of a bandage. Corsets not only treat the tone of the uterus, they are also worn for preventive purposes, starting from the age of 17-18 obstetric weeks. As soon as the fetus gains the required weight and the volume of the abdomen increases (at approximately 30-32 weeks), the bandage should be discarded.

Prevention of uterine tone

It is easier to prevent a disease than to treat it later and eliminate unpleasant consequences. It is necessary to diagnose the body in a timely manner and eliminate all health problems even before pregnancy. It is necessary to treat all existing infectious diseases. It is also necessary to correct hormonal levels.

In the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, you need to try to protect yourself from all negative situations and stress. If the expectant mother enjoys every day of her upcoming motherhood, this will have the most favorable effect on the health of her baby.

If you experience initial symptoms of uterine hypertonicity, you should immediately consult a doctor. In the hospital, uterine hypertonicity will be treated, and the woman will have the opportunity to take a short break from household chores.

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 could be diseases digestive system, acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections, and sore teeth can also 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 (infertility also occurs in this case), increased level 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.