when can you best feel your uterus?

[brooklyn_warbler]

so the sears pregnancy books recommends emptying your bladder and laying down completely flat to find your uterus, but when i do that all i can feel are my abs, even when i try to relax them. however, when i'm standing up i really think i feel it! is that possible?

i know it's pretty high already because our baby's heartbeat was quite high up in my tummy as of a week ago, so it's annoying me that i'm not sure if i'm finding it properly.

[shelley4]

i always feel it easier if my bladder is FULL and laying down on my back as well.

[pixiesmommy]

The mistake I was making was to lift my head up and look. Your head has to be flat too.

[brooklyn_warbler]

Originally Posted by pixiesmommy

The mistake I was making was to lift my head up and look. Your head has to be flat too.

yeah, i'm very careful about this (my m/w told me the same thing) but seriously -- when i'm laying down i just can't feel it. what's up with that?

[pixiesmommy]

Hmmm... you have to press kinda hard. I'm 13 weeks and mine is almost exactly halfway between my pubic bone and my bellybutton. Press and "walk" your fingers up until you feel a ridge?

[brooklyn_warbler]

Originally Posted by pixiesmommy

Hmmm... you have to press kinda hard. I'm 13 weeks and mine is almost exactly halfway between my pubic bone and my bellybutton. Press and "walk" your fingers up until you feel a ridge?

that's where the baby's heartbeat was over a week ago so i assume that's where my uterus has to be too, lol! my m/w said the ridge was still "subtle" at 11w, but i thought i'd be able to feel it by now! :

[VeganC]

Apparently, right after an orgasm is the perfect time because your uterus is contracting, which makes it feel harder than usual. I tried it today, and I'm pretty sure I felt it.

[scheelimama]

I can't really feel mine yet. I *think* I've felt it a few times, but I'm not totally certain. I'll ask my midwife how to find it at my next appt.

[*Lindsey*]

I can find mine really easily since paying attention to when my mw and FP find it. I lay flat on my back (head flat too!) and start at my belly button and walk my fingers down. I'm 14 and a half weeks and mine is more than halfway to my belly button.

Empty or full bladder hasn't made much of a difference.

[brooklyn_warbler]

ooo ooo! i think i found it!

i think my problem before was i was just sort of pressing down with my hands with no rhyme or reason. the walking down with my fingertips definiely helped me locate a ridge, i think...it is subtle still though. i was also not pressing not nearly hard enough! thanks ladies.

[Monkeybutt]

I feel mine best when I'm laying down, empty bladder. Its right where my pubic hair would end if I didn't shave. (cant wear low jeans and have pubs sticking out! haha!) So like an inch or so above my public bone. Im 11w 5 days.

[goodgolly13]

I'll have to give it a try.

[Undercover Hippie]

Originally Posted by VeganC

Apparently, right after an orgasm is the perfect time because your uterus is contracting, which makes it feel harder than usual. I tried it today, and I'm pretty sure I felt it.

That's what I was going to say. That's when mine is most obvious, though I can feel it most of the time anyway. I'm 13.5 weeks and I'd say it's further than halfway between pubic bone and belly button... maybe 2 inches below belly button?

[tiffanymm]

I can only feel it when I am laying down on my stomach.

Tiffany
mommy to Logan 9/17/02
EDD #2 11/18

[Isaac'sMa]

Originally Posted by VeganC

Apparently, right after an orgasm is the perfect time because your uterus is contracting, which makes it feel harder than usual.

Right after orgasm is the easiest time to feel it! Not that I know from personal experience or anything! :

[sandiegokristi]

I have never been sure if I have felt it before or not, but I always lift my head. I will have to try the orgasm route! Thanks for the tip and hubby will be happy to hear about it!

[melissakc]

I can feel it easily this time but last time I don't remember finding it and marvelling at how the m/w can feel anything at all! I start at the pubic bone and go up, since it's still so low. It's so cool when you can feel it!

[maisiedotes]

I am so afraid to press hard. I may try to build up my courage because I would like to feel, too....

[welldone]

I am 14 weeks. I can feel my uterus really, really well first thing in the morning. It's unmistakeable. My bladder is incredibly full, and my uterus is up above my belly button. It's hard, round, and full. After I pee, is it sinks down and back. Then, I can feel it three fingers under my belly button.

I point my first two fingers together and use them to feel from my belly button down. I press gently, but firm enough to sense a change in texture. As soon as I feel something firm, I look for the curvy edge. That's my uterus.

For what it's worth, I couldn't feel it really well until a few weeks ago (except in the morning, when it's just so obvious).