The tubular shape of your uterus, or "sac," is the place where a fertilized egg (the zygote) will grow and develop into a fetus. When it's time for you to get pregnant, your sac will nourish the fetus and give it what it needs to grow healthy. If you don't have enough room in there, though, your baby may be cramped or undernourished — meaning that your baby might not be able to develop as well as it could. There are also other downsides of an overcrowded sac that can impact how easy it is for you to conceive in the future.
In Sac Health, we'll help you evaluate the health of your sac and get it ready for pregnancy. If it's not big enough, you might have trouble getting pregnant. Or your baby might be smaller than it should be because the sac isn't forming properly. The tubular shape of your uterus, or "sac," is the place where a fertilized egg (the zygote) will grow and develop into a fetus. When it's time for you to get pregnant, your sac will nourish the fetus and give it what it needs to grow healthy.
What's the difference between a c-section and vaginal delivery?
C-sections are surgical deliveries where part of your baby's head is cut to make room for another person's baby. Vaginal delivery, on the other hand, is when a doctor or nurse manually pulls your baby out of your uterus with their hands or a tool called a "sponge." In either case, you're still giving birth and becoming a mother (or auntie). But the process will be different for each type.
Why does my sac feel so tight? Is it normal?
The walls of your sac are made out of extra-firm tissue called "myometrium." This tissue is like a set of spongy, squeezable muscles that send everything inside your uterus to where it needs to go. With each day that you grow closer to giving birth, these walls should soften and relax more and more.
What health care providers will I see throughout my pregnancy?
Most women start out seeing a midwife, ob/GYN, or family doctor for their prenatal care. But you'll also see specialists like a genetic counselor, a maternal fetal medicine specialist, and an anesthesiologist — whoever can help you have the healthiest pregnancy and birth possible. If your baby has a problem or health issue such as Down syndrome, your team might change to include experts who specialize in that area of medicine. Your provider will check in with you at least once a month until you deliver. Some doctors will check on you even more often if they think there might be something going on with your baby or its sac.
Can I get an exam to see how my sac is doing?
Yes! The size of your uterus and its ability to expand will be checked with an exam called a uterine ultrasound. This procedure can tell your provider what's going on inside your uterus, like the number of babies you might be having or where they're positioned. Ultrasounds are safe, painless, and noninvasive. They use sound waves to create images of your baby and its sac without using x-rays or harmful dyes.
How does the sac start so small and grow so big?
It starts in the same place (near the opening of your vagina) as a tiny egg that has already been grown by your mother. Your body will prepare the space for that egg by creating a tiny pip or channel in the wall of your uterus — like an extra-large zippered bag. This pip is called a "uterine tube." As your baby grows, this tube grows along with it, carrying some of its nutrition and waste.
Conclusion
Your sac has the same basic structure as your uterus, but it's different on the inside and outside. If you're having a baby boy, his testicles will develop on the outside of his sac. If you're having a girl, her ovaries will develop there instead. And if you're having twins or more, there will be more than one sac in your womb. But no matter how many babies you're carrying or what they are (boy/girl or multiples), there'll be only one placenta for each baby.
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