Bump feels like it's about to burst at the top

[namechanger2222]

Sorry to post here for traffic..

I'm 24 weeks pregnant and my bump feels like it's about to burst at the top. It's better when I sit down.

It's almost like my stomach muscles are just stretching so much and it's very uncomfortable.

I can't say that it comes in waves or anything. It's more apparent when I stand up. It's a weird tension in my upper bump... like when you're really really full.

Has anyone had this ? I've had a physically demanding day today. Perhaps that's what's caused it. I'll call the midwife tomorrow but im sure it's just one of these pregnancy things. I didn't have this in my last pregnancy. Maybe it's Braxton hicks ? I never had them in my last pregnancy, so I have no idea what they feel like.

@namechanger2222. I’m 28 weeks with my second baby and have had the exact same sensation during both pregnancies. I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. I put it down to the fact that there’s less room in there for baby to move around so everything feels a bit tighter! It’s worse when I eat something. Sometimes I still feel hungry but my tummy feels as if it’s fit to burst and couldn’t possibly fit in any more!

I've never had this but could it be that baby is very high up?

I really don't know. Usually when the baby is moving, I'm feeling it low down.

Is baby head down?

I have no idea if he's down. But I'm starting to feel it high up. Maybe the previous poster is right and the baby has moved higher up !

I had the same thing during my first pregnancy. In my case it was diastasis recti, separating abdominal muscles. Painful at the time and physio to help fix afterwards.

Yes I had this around the same time. Felt like my belly button might split open! Just think that everything had not had time to stretch enough yet as it eased off a couple of weeks later and felt “looser” again.

Ah the joys of pregnancy !! Can you actually fix diastisis ?

@namechanger2222

Ah the joys of pregnancy !! Can you actually fix diastisis ?

It depends on the severity of it really. Mine will never be as it was, but physio has helped lessen the gap significantly.

I had the same ting during my pregnancy. It was apparent for me if I had been sitting bent over for a long time, been physically active ord talking/laughing a lot. Coughing and sneezing could also cause soreness and tension. Sometimes it was there for no apparent reason (I chalked it up to baby having a growth spurt). It sounds very much like the same you're experiencing, and I always figured it was just the muscles and tissue stretching and getting sore from the pressure as the baby grew.

I gave birth to a healthy baby at 40+4 with no complications.

I had this with both of my pregnancies. I remember full well trying to explain to people (including the midwife) that I genuinely believed my tummy was going to burst open and all of them looked at me like I was crazy. The good news is, my tummy didn’t burst open! I don’t know what caused it, I was thinking diastisis too but didn’t pursue it because of the weird looks I got. I think for me, because I had my gall bladder removed and had a colonoscopy (both involving putting enough air in your belly to inflate a tyre lol) it weakened my muscles putting them under extra pressure if that makes sense, it could simply be your first pregnancy that had the same effect for you. You will get through it, I forget about it until I see a post like yours and I almost feel nostalgic 😉