As a parent, few things can be as alarming as witnessing your child kick or hit something they shouldn’t. Especially so when the object of their violence is the pregnant belly of someone you know, especially when they are in the second trimester. Even if the child is too young to understand the gravity of their actions, the repercussions can be serious and long-lasting. In this blog post, we will explore what to do if your toddler kicks or hits a pregnant belly in the second trimester and how to navigate this serious and delicate situation. We will cover topics such as why toddlers might be inclined to do this, how to handle the situation with the pregnant woman, and the best strategies for teaching your child the importance of respecting pregnant women.
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After 14 weeks, it takes a lot of force to hurt an unborn child in the womb. The majority of fetal injury cases result from either car accidents or domestic violence (stab wounds or gunshot wounds).
Being pregnant with number two (or three. ) can be an entirely new ballgame. Because every pregnancy is unique, you might be exhibiting sporadic new symptoms that weren’t present before. Since you are chasing around a toddler instead of occasionally taking a nap, it is likely that you are also feeling much more exhausted than when you had your first baby. You are also learning to play defense with your pregnant belly, attempting to keep baby #1 from clobbering it on a regular basis. You will occasionally be bumped, pulled on, and possibly even body slammed so hard it takes your breath away despite your best efforts. Although the mother may experience pain and fear, it is highly unlikely that the baby will be harmed.
An ultrasound, lab tests to check for bleeding, and monitoring of contractions and the baby’s heart rate are all used to test for an abruption. After an accident, we frequently keep an eye on women for up to 8 hours to make sure there are no signs of an abruption.
Shearing forces, particularly in the third trimester, can be concerning. Although the placenta is designed to separate from the uterus after delivery, strong shearing forces can cause it to do so before that time. A condition known as an abruption can cause the placenta to become detached from the uterus after falls onto the abdomen or buttocks, car accidents, or severe trauma. An abruption may appear immediately following trauma or it may take up to 24 hours following an accident to manifest. Symptoms of an abruption include: contractions, bleeding, and abdominal pain. Call your provider if you fall during pregnancy after 14 weeks and it is difficult enough to stop your breath. Even if you don’t land on your stomach directly, it’s crucial to be watched for abruption symptoms.
The uterus is still deeply buried in the pelvis during the first trimester (less than 14 weeks), so the baby is shielded from any belly bumps by the pelvic bones.
Is it OK if my toddler kicked my pregnant belly?
Toddlers have loads of energy, as you’ve likely noticed. As such, they’re always jumping, bouncing, kicking, and swinging things. You can absolutely anticipate being hit in this manner at least once.
However, as your child (and any heavy pets) grows and your belly expands, especially in the final trimester, you should exercise extra caution. It’s extremely unlikely that something like an unintentional kick or jumping on your belly would seriously interfere with your life. However, you want to prevent things from even reaching that extreme.
But how much pressure can a pregnant belly withstand? Find out here.
I’ll give you some advice on how to encourage your toddler to exercise more caution around you and your growing baby belly a little later on. For the time being, everything should be fine if your toddler has touched your baby bump and you feel normal, have no strange symptoms, and can still feel the baby moving frequently. It never hurts to call your doctor and inquire as to whether you are overreacting.