At different stages of pregnancy, pregnant women may face significantly different issues. For instance, uterine contractions are a common problem encountered by many pregnant women during the middle to late stages of pregnancy. However, the symptoms and feelings experienced by each individual woman during contractions may vary. Typically, pregnant women may feel a urge to defecate during contractions, which is a normal phenomenon primarily caused by the pressure of contractions on the pelvic floor.

Are Uterine Contractions Associated with a Feeling of Wanting to Defecate?

During the middle trimester of pregnancy, uterine contractions may cause the abdomen to feel hard. The pressure of contractions on the pelvic floor can create a sensation of wanting to defecate, which is considered normal. In such cases, it is advisable to rest and resume normal activities once the symptoms have eased.

Precautions for Pregnant Women

1. Bleeding and Embryonic Atrophy in Early Pregnancy: During the early stages of pregnancy, blood-like vaginal discharge or vaginal bleeding may occur, sometimes accompanied by mild lower abdominal pain. This is known as "threatened abortion". Clinically, approximately one-quarter of early pregnancies may experience bleeding, which can be caused by physiological implantation bleeding or pathological cervical lesions. Bleeding after sexual activity should particularly prompt a diagnosis of cervical polyps or cervical bleeding. Most bleeding lasts for several days to weeks, and doctors may advise patients to rest in bed, avoid sexual activity, and prescribe progesterone or other treatments for cervical lesions as necessary.

2. Incomplete Cervical Closure: This condition often occurs during the second trimester of pregnancy and is primarily caused by congenital abnormalities in cervical development or acquired cervical trauma. Congenital factors account for approximately 30%-50% of cases, including mothers who took certain medications such as DES during pregnancy. Acquired factors are mostly associated with surgical procedures such as artificial abortion or cone biopsies performed during the early stages of cervical cancer. The primary treatment for incomplete cervical closure is the McDonald cervical cerclage procedure performed during weeks 14 to 16 of pregnancy. However, potential side effects of the procedure include rupture of membranes, bleeding, or infection.