What should I do if my stomach is tight and hard with back pain at 40 weeks?

Tightness and firmness of the abdomen with back pain at 40 weeks can be seen to allow the doctor to determine the cervical condition and to assess the need for hospitalization.
Tightness and firmness of the abdomen with back pain in full-term pregnancy is often indicative of contractions. A vaginal examination may be performed to assess cervical accommodation and dilatation of the uterine opening, and if the cervix is ripe or dilated, hospitalization may be considered to await delivery.
When contractions occur in late pregnancy, it is necessary to be alert to some related diseases, for example, when contractions occur, the fetus is in a state of hypoxia, therefore, it is necessary to improve the fetal heart rate monitoring, to assess the intrauterine condition of the fetus, and to prevent the occurrence of fetal distress.
In addition, when there is placental abruption, there will also be uterine tension, the patient feels that the uterus is hard, so it is necessary to improve the ultrasound examination to rule out placental abruption.
If contractions occur in late pregnancy, it is recommended to seek regular medical attention to assess the progress of labor and follow the doctor’s instructions.