So, you’ve taken a tumble and unfortunately, your unborn baby went along with you.
First of all, don’t panic. Any added stress or anxiety can be harmful for yourself and your growing baby.
Though it is definitely scary to fall while carrying your precious bundle of joy, it is expected, normal, and usually not something that should cause great concern.
If you have fallen while pregnant and you’re reading this article to figure out whether you should call your doctor, go ahead and do that. You and your little one may be okay, but please note:
Always notify your OB/GYN if you have taken a spill. It is always better to be safe than sorry! In the meantime, I would like to offer some things to consider in regards to your recent accident.
Why did I fall?
Let’s face it: in the third trimester, our beautiful bodies as baby growing machines are larger and continuing to grow. We just take up a lot more space.
But among the many reasons you may have lost your footing in the latter stages of your pregnancy includes the shift in your center of gravity caused by your growing belly. Uneven surfaces, such as sidewalks or stairs may have become increasingly difficult to walk upon.
In addition to your lack of balance, the nearer you are to meeting your baby on D-Day, the looser and more lax your joints have become due to the hormone in our bodies called relaxin.
Though this hormone is particularly helpful during delivery, allowing for your pelvic and cervix muscles to stretch enough to push your precious baby out, it can make you particularly clumsy.
Here are some more physical changes that could have also contributed to your fall:
- Over-exhaustion.
- General discomfort.
- Pregnancy brain or preoccupied mind.
- Feeling fatigued or overwhelmed.
If you’re anything like me, these things may not seem significant enough to contribute to a fall of any kind, but they can certainly be related.
Be sure to get your rest and remember that slowing down is best for both you and your precious baby. Yes, mom, even us supermoms need to get our rest and rejuvenation. Our bodies and babies will thank us!
Is my baby hurt?
First and foremost, you should definitely call your doctor if you’ve taken a fall.
However, I can speak from experience and expansive research that it is very unlikely that your fall has hurt your baby.
I personally have taken a couple of spills during my last trimester, both minor and severe. Regardless of how “fine” I did feel, I did go to the hospital just to be certain.
Sometimes doctors like to check your and your baby’s vitals to make sure stress levels are not too high. In other more severe cases , doctors may check to see if there is any rupturing or separation of the placenta from the uterine lining.
In very severe accidents or falls, this may occur, so doctors will always err on the side of caution and check. The likelihood, however, is that your baby is safe and sound.
We do have bellies of steel.
Our wombs, by design, are the safest place for our babies before they are born. The baby is surrounded by amniotic fluid, which contains shock-absorbing properties, as well as by durable membranes and the muscle and bones of our uterus and abdominal cavity.
An extreme amount of force and penetration through all those protective layers would have to occur for your baby to be affected. My hope is that this will help to alleviate some of the stress and worry you might be experiencing regarding baby’s safety.
It would take a severe accident for any blow to penetrate beyond those protective layers and affect your baby. So, while you may feel clumsy try not to stress out about your baby’s safety.
Some parting advice.
Though your precious bundle of joy may very well be okay, here are some things to watch for after taking a spill:
- Your baby’s movement has suddenly slowed down or reduced
- You experience vaginal bleeding
- You experience an increase in intense contractions
If you experience any of these things call your doctor right away. They will order an ultrasound just to make sure everything is okay.
In the meantime, Mom, don’t hesitate to reach out for help reaching that cup in the cabinet, stepping into the tub, or even tying your shoe laces. Be sure to slow down, stay away from the heels (yes, even wedges), and keep calm (deep breaths are good here) as you patiently await your little one’s arrival.
And remember, your baby is more protected than you think!
3 comments
Thank you, my daughter fell at five months pregnant and your words are very comforting and informative. Bless you.
I am 7 months preggo and had a fall, your advice brought relief to me. Thank you.
I almost fell down some stairs yesterday, I missed a step and just twisted my ankle but my belly has developed new pain in my abdomen. What should I do?