Even earlier in pregnancy you may occasionally experience “hard bellies,” also called Braxton-Hicks contractions or exercise contractions. These can occur spontaneously, but can also be triggered by exertion, stress or as a result of the descent of the baby’s head. The uterus is preparing for labor. Characteristically, this often subsides (after a few minutes or hours) with rest and warmth. There is no rhythmic pattern to it yet. We do not see the transformation phase as part of childbirth. Sometimes it can gradually blend into this.
Pregnant women often experience a hard abdomen as a cramp and the abdomen feels tight and tense. A hard abdomen lasts an average of thirty to sixty seconds. A hard abdomen is not supposed to hurt like ligament pain, but it is experienced as annoying.