A pregnant woman is concerned by the recent onset of a midline swelling. It is soft and nontender. What does this represent?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In advanced pregnancy, muscle tone diminishes, which may aid in the separation of the rectus abdominis muscles. This is a benign finding and does not usually cause other symptoms. You may palpate the fetus well through this opening. Linea nigra is a hyperpigmentation along the midline. Chadwick's sign is the bluish tinge to the cervix and vaginal walls seen early in pregnancy, and round ligament pain occurs as the uterus enlarges. This discomfort is usually found in the right more often than the left.

A Pregnant Woman Is Concerned by the Recent Onset of a Midline