What do clicks in the stomach mean?
Hearing strange sounds in the form of clicks, a pregnant woman begins to worry and worry that something is wrong with the baby. However, there is no reason to worry at all. This is the safest symptom accompanying a woman’s pregnancy. It usually does not portend any threats to the baby’s health and the course of pregnancy.
A woman may begin to feel clicking in her stomach from the 31st week of pregnancy. In the third trimester, the fetus becomes quite large and takes up more and more space in the mother’s belly. At this time, this already relatively independent little man can make all kinds of sounds.
Usually, in addition to clicks, the expectant mother can hear other sounds. For example, gurgling, rumbling, popping and other sounds. They are produced by the body of mother and child and are a normal physiological process.
Possible causes of clicking
There is still no consensus on the causes of clicking in the abdomen during pregnancy. Experts agree on only one thing: it is not dangerous.
It is likely that these sounds occur due to the fact that the baby is simply releasing gas, burping or hiccupping. If you observe such sounds quite rarely, this may mean that your child, for example, is biting his fist or sucking his finger.
Fetal movement may cause gurgling in the abdomen. When the baby is active, the amniotic fluid bubbles burst. This is what causes these sound effects.
Some pregnant women experience a kind of cracking sound in their stomach. These could be the child's joints. But don’t panic, this is also a normal process. After all, the baby’s skeletal system has not yet strengthened. By the way, you can hear such a crash until the child is one year old.
It also happens that all these sounds have nothing to do with the child. They are produced by the mother's body, for example, accompanying the digestion process. This may also be due to divergence of the pelvic bones. In this case, clicks in the abdomen at the 39th week of pregnancy may already indicate an approaching birth. And if they are accompanied by leakage of water or the release of a mucus plug, then you need to urgently go to the maternity hospital.
Pathological causes of clicking and symptoms
If a woman feels crunching and clicking in her stomach in late pregnancy, this may indicate negative processes:
- persistent digestive problems;
- severe bloating;
- chronic constipation;
- increased gas formation.
You should consult a doctor if the symptoms are unbearable, cause severe discomfort, are accompanied by pain, nausea and vomiting, as well as a general deterioration in the pregnant woman’s well-being.
Premature discharge of amniotic fluid
The water bladder is necessary to support the fetus, provide it with nutrients and protect it from all negative environmental influences. However, in a small percentage of pregnant women, the water bladder bursts several weeks before labor and contractions begin. Such a process can lead to complications that only doctors can eliminate:
- child infection;
- hypoxia;
- rapid or prolonged labor;
- placental abruption.
Symptoms in case of early discharge of amniotic fluid will be noticeable and unpleasant. The click is one-time in nature and may sound like a sharp pop or crack.
After the pop, a large volume of clear or pink fluid comes out of the body. The abdomen decreases significantly in size, and slow discharge persists. After these symptoms appear, you should immediately call an ambulance or go to the maternity hospital. The doctor must determine whether the pregnancy needs to be prolonged or early labor can be induced.
Umbilical hernia
Some pregnant women are faced with such an unpleasant disease as an umbilical hernia. It develops against the background of enormous pressure in the abdominal cavity. Risk factors are a weak muscle corset and umbilical ring. Other causes of pathology include:
- obesity or overweight;
- large pregnancy;
- polyhydramnios;
- 2 or more embryos.
The first sign of a hernia is a visual protrusion, which may be accompanied by pain in the navel, clicking, discomfort in the lower back and sides. However, general health does not deteriorate significantly.
An umbilical hernia falls into the category of diseases that women attribute to a “temporary side effect” of pregnancy. However, if nothing is done, after childbirth the pathology may become permanent.
Separation of the pubic bones (symphysiopathy)
The pathology is observed mainly in the later stages and is associated with the body’s preparation for childbirth. Normally, there is a slight discrepancy of the symphysis pubis - up to 5 mm. If the bones continue to expand, a diagnosis of symphysiopathy is made. The violation is accompanied by certain signs:
- due to pain, a woman’s gait changes greatly - her steps become small, like a duck’s;
- pain persists in any position, intensifies while walking and bending;
- if you press on the symphysis area, a noticeable crunch occurs;
- A woman feels maximum relief if she lies with her knees bent and her hips apart.
Symphysiopathy is provoked by multiple pregnancies, the large weight of the child, and the discrepancy between its size and the circumference of the pelvis. This pathology can lead to rupture of the symphysis pubis, which causes temporary disability and inability to move for 5-6 months. There are medical methods for correcting this condition (including a bandage).
Polyhydramnios
One of the reasons for sounds similar to bursting bubbles is the abundance of amniotic fluid. The girl feels like her stomach is gurgling. Polyhydramnios complicates the course of pregnancy and is accompanied by specific symptoms:
- shortness of breath;
- severe swelling of the legs;
- heaviness and pain in the abdomen;
- large circle.
An ultrasound is required to diagnose polyhydramnios. In pathological processes, the fluid can reach 12 liters, whereas normally it should not be more than 2 liters. The cause of this pathology may be other diseases: kidney problems, diabetes, disorders in the cardiovascular system.
If your stomach clicks or crunches, you should not immediately run to the doctor and worry. These are signs of natural physiological processes, but only on condition that there are no additional sensations in the form of pain, discomfort and heaviness. If other symptoms appear that indicate the development of the disease, you should contact a gynecologist and undergo the prescribed diagnostics.
What are these strange clicks in the stomach during pregnancy? Even doctors are not able to give an exact answer to this question.
A pregnant woman is the keeper of a real small world, with its own needs, structure and tasks. She does not have the slightest idea of what and how is happening in this world, even if high modern technologies make it possible to count the heartbeat and you can see his “father’s” or “mother’s” nose. The number of mysteries that lie in this extraordinary process is impossible to count. For example, these strange clicks in the stomach during pregnancy.
Somewhere from the third trimester of pregnancy, when the fetus is formed and is now simply growing in the womb, the expectant mother begins to hear sounds in her stomach that resemble clicks. These clear sounds come directly from the depths of the abdomen. Naturally, clicks in the stomach during pregnancy can be attributed to the consequences of nervousness and impressionability, which are characteristic of all pregnant women. For example, chalk it up to auditory hallucinations at night, but when everyone around you hears it, it’s worth thinking about.
What does a woman usually do when she hears clicking sounds in her stomach during pregnancy? The young mother has long been accustomed to her baby and has learned to identify all his turns, movements and other somersaults, and realizes when he suddenly begins to hiccup. And suddenly a new action happens - clicks. Mom is in a panic (any pregnant woman just needs a reason for new worries), and first of all begins to call her best friend, who is happy to report that she had the same problem during pregnancy, but cannot give any advice on how to do it.
One thing will definitely make mom happy - she is not alone in this. However, at the next appointment with the gynecologist, the young mother will almost certainly ask this exciting question. In addition, my stomach continues to click from time to time. The doctor, of course, will be surprised by this and make his own assumption that the normal functioning of the intestines may be to blame and there is no point in paying attention to this, arguing that all the tests are in perfect order.
The answer to the question about clicks in the stomach during pregnancy can be found on the Internet. Of course, there is a lot of information here, but these are just guesses, there is not a single exact statement here, but there are plenty of various assumptions about the origin of these sounds.
For example, some believe that it is just a child smacking his lips when he clicks his tongue or sucks his fist. Many mothers will claim that after birth the baby made exactly these sounds. Others say it's the baby's joints cracking. Indeed, newborns have rather weak joints that crack from time to time, and this goes away by the first year of the baby’s life. Still others claim that it is simply the mother’s bones clicking when the baby is overly active in the womb. There is a theory that the amniotic fluid simply makes a “clicking bubble” sound as the baby presses against the belly and then pushes away. There is even a version that the baby blows gas like that.
After reading this information and thinking about it, you need to calm down and understand that if your strange clicks are not accompanied by unpleasant sensations and pain, then you should not worry. During normal tests, you should not pay attention to these clicks. However, it is important to remember that a loud pop usually accompanies the breaking of water, as well as rupture of the amniotic membrane, which is very important not to miss. Otherwise, there is nothing to worry about. Naturally, it is very strange that experts still do not know the answer to the question of what exactly is clicking there. For now, they just stare with their eyes wide open and don't know what to say.
Expecting a child is a period of change and new discoveries for a pregnant woman. The development of a baby sometimes brings unexpected surprises: both pleasant and not so pleasant. The sensation of the first movement or heartbeat of the fetus certainly becomes a joyful moment during this difficult period. But there are also not entirely clear signs that can be alarming and sometimes become a cause for concern. We are talking about such a phenomenon as clicks in the stomach during pregnancy.
Is it worth doing anything?
If you heard clicks in your stomach at 35 weeks of pregnancy, then this is not yet a reason to worry. Initially, it is recommended to calm down so as not to cause other unwanted symptoms, which may already have negative consequences. Once again, let us draw your attention to the fact that this is an absolutely normal phenomenon that every pregnant woman experiences.
However, if you are very concerned about these symptoms and are worried about the health of your baby, you may want to make an unscheduled visit to your gynecologist. He will examine you and find out what is causing these sounds and sensations. You can also undergo additional testing to make sure everything is fine with your baby.
Gurgling or clicking noises?
These two sensations must be clearly separated. If the clicks do not pose a threat, then gurgling may just mean pathology.
At the 8th week of pregnancy, clicks in the abdomen can easily be confused with gurgling. This happens because the embryo at this stage is still very tiny and cannot make such sounds.
At the beginning of pregnancy, a woman’s body changes dramatically. This may cause the following conditions to occur:
- digestive disorders;
- constipation;
- bloating;
- rumbling or gurgling;
- increased gas formation.
Such symptoms can appear in any person, and to get rid of them, you just need to reconsider your diet.
Often, gurgling in the stomach means a violation of the intestinal microflora. In this case, pain in the navel area is also observed. Here it is recommended to contact your gynecologist and, if necessary, visit a gastroenterologist.
What is gurgling?
It is worth distinguishing gurgling in the stomach from clicks. Basically, these symptoms appear due to the same reasons. However, gurgling may be associated with negative processes. Due to the fact that at the beginning of pregnancy a woman’s body changes dramatically, she may experience the following symptoms:
- Digestive dysfunction.
- Constipation.
- Bloating.
- Rumbling.
- Gurgling stomach.
- Increased gas formation.
These are completely normal reasons that can be observed in a healthy person. The symptoms described above do not always appear in the early stages of pregnancy; sometimes they make themselves felt in the last months. If a pregnant woman does not eat properly, these symptoms can only intensify.
To get rid of these symptoms, you need to give up harmful foods, monitor your health and do gymnastics as prescribed by your doctor.
A gurgling stomach may be a harbinger of a disturbance in the intestinal microflora. In such cases, there will be not only gurgling in the abdomen, but also pain in the navel area. Then you need to go to a gastroenterologist, who will select treatment according to the patient’s condition.
Premature rupture of amniotic fluid
This means that the amniotic sac has burst before labor begins. In such a situation, you should immediately call an ambulance. Usually a woman experiences a sharp click, pop or crack at this moment, which indicates rupture of the amniotic sac. There is also a sudden outpouring of a large amount of transparent or pink liquid. Or, on the contrary, slow leakage, which intensifies while lying down or when changing body position. In addition, the stomach decreases in size.
Symphysiopathy
This is an increase in the distance between the pubic bones. Normally, in the third trimester there is a slight divergence of the symphysis pubis. This indicates the body is preparing for childbirth. However, if this process becomes pathological, then the woman experiences pain in the pubic area while sitting, walking or bending. Her gait may also change. It becomes like a duck - with small step-by-step steps. In addition, a crunching or crepitation is observed when the symphysis is impacted.
The situation may be complicated by the large weight of the child or multiple pregnancies. Symphysiopathy is a fairly serious pathology that can lead to disability due to rupture of the symphysis pubis during childbirth. However, if it is detected in a timely manner, the situation can still be corrected.
Symptoms
Each process occurring in a woman’s body has certain manifestations: clinical or laboratory. But it is precisely those symptoms that can be recorded with the help of the senses that acquire the main significance. Not only subjective sensations (complaints), but also those signs that are identified directly by the doctor are subject to evaluation. This also includes sound phenomena that reflect the course of pregnancy. Like other symptoms, they also have certain characteristics:
- Frequency of occurrence: occasionally or constantly.
- Intensity: pronounced or barely audible.
- Communication with external or internal factors: fetal movement, woman’s movements.
- Combination with other symptoms.
It should be noted that most women experience clicking in the abdomen in late pregnancy - in the third trimester. Previously, this was practically not observed. And you can understand what caused these sounds based on a comprehensive assessment of possible symptoms.
Physiological changes
In most cases, clicking in the abdomen is a consequence of normal processes that occur during pregnancy. Some of them are related to the functioning of the female body, while others come from the fetus. The following conditions are considered the most justified from a medical point of view:
- Sprained ligaments and muscles.
- Rumbling intestines.
- Hiccups in a child.
It is known that in the third trimester the uterus and fetus reach their maximum size. This is accompanied by stretching of the internal ligaments of the pelvis and the muscles of the anterior abdominal wall. This is observed gradually and should not cause trouble. But sometimes it can be accompanied by some discomfort and pulling sensations in the stomach. There are also sound phenomena in the form of crunching, crackling or clicking, which are related to the motor activity of the fetus.
The growth of the uterus and hormonal changes (high concentrations of progesterone) during pregnancy affect the function of surrounding organs, including the intestines. Its function may undergo some changes associated with increased relaxation and external compression. In this case, the woman often feels rumbling in her stomach, which can sometimes be mistaken for clicks. And in most cases it is combined with constipation.
There are frequent cases when a child begins to hiccup in utero. This is observed in the case of swallowing amniotic fluid and is explained by a reflex contraction of the diaphragm. A woman feels this through rhythmic and short tremors, which can take the form of clicks in the abdomen.
Among expectant mothers, there are other explanations for this phenomenon. Some say that the clicks appear due to the fact that the baby smacks his lips while sucking his finger. Others insist on the idea that the child’s joints are crunching, and some even begin to assume that this is how he releases gases from the intestines. But all such versions, even upon superficial examination, do not stand up to criticism. Therefore, they should not be taken into account.
If you suddenly start hearing clicks in your stomach, then you shouldn’t worry right away - in most cases this is a normal phenomenon in late pregnancy.
Premature rupture of amniotic fluid
It happens that the amniotic sac bursts before labor begins. This cannot be called the norm, since it occurs before the onset of contractions and is associated with a number of complications. Among them are infectious processes, fetal hypoxia, prolonged or rapid labor, and placental abruption. A woman may experience the following signs:
- A sharp click, pop or crack, indicating rupture of the amniotic sac.
- Simultaneous outpouring of a large volume of liquid (clear or pink).
- Slow discharge (“leaking”), worsening while lying down or changing position.
- Reducing the size of the abdomen.
This suggests that you need to see a doctor immediately. After the examination, he will determine how to manage the pregnancy in the future - prolong it or go for delivery.
Symphysiopathy
Normally, a woman’s body prepares for childbirth at the end of the third trimester of pregnancy. And in this aspect, there will certainly be a slight divergence of the symphysis pubis - up to 0.5 cm. But the distance between the pubic bones may increase, which indicates symphysiopathy. Then the following symptoms appear:
- Pain in the pubic area when sitting, bending and walking.
- Change in gait - small step-by-step steps (“duck-like”).
- Lying down, your hips are spread apart and your knees are bent.
- Crunching or crepitation when pressing on the symphysis.
The load on the joint increases with the large weight of the child, as well as multiple pregnancies. Symphysiopathy can cause rupture of the symphysis pubis during childbirth and even disability.
If you hear a crunch in the lower abdomen when pressing on the symphysis, this is a sure sign of divergence of the symphysis pubis, which requires timely identification and correction.
Polyhydramnios
With an increase in the amount of amniotic fluid, a gurgling sensation in the abdomen may occur, which is sometimes mistaken for clicks. This is a pathological condition that complicates the course of pregnancy and childbirth. The following signs can help identify it:
- Feeling of heaviness and pain in the abdomen.
- Dyspnea.
- Edema of the lower extremities.
- Discrepancy between abdominal circumference and gestational age.
The last symptom is decisive in the clinical diagnosis of polyhydramnios. But it can only be confirmed with the help of additional methods (ultrasound).
Umbilical hernia
During pregnancy, pressure in the abdominal cavity increases. And if a woman has weakness in the tissues of the umbilical ring, then there is a high risk of a hernia. This is also facilitated by a large fetus, polyhydramnios, and excess weight in the woman herself. The hernia can be noticed visually - a protrusion appears in the umbilical region. It is painless, and when pressed, a characteristic clicking sound appears or a cavity is simply felt. The general condition of the woman is not affected, and strangulation during pregnancy is extremely rare.
Many women feel clicks in the stomach while carrying a child. As a rule, this is a consequence of physiological processes occurring in the third trimester and should not cause concern. But we should not forget about pathological conditions that can complicate the course of pregnancy. Therefore, a specialist will help a woman find out the cause of the clicks.
At different stages of pregnancy, a woman may experience new sensations. They are not always pleasant. Sometimes it’s just not clear, is this normal? This causes even more discomfort for a woman in the position. Many people feel clicking in their stomach during pregnancy. In this article we will try to understand the reasons for this phenomenon and find out whether this is normal or pathological.
High water
This pathological condition can significantly complicate the course of pregnancy and the birth process. In the presence of an increased amount of amniotic fluid, gurgling is observed, which is often confused with clicks. Associated symptoms are heaviness and pain in the abdomen, shortness of breath, swelling of the lower extremities and discrepancy between the abdominal circumference and gestational age. However, a diagnosis of polyhydramnios is made only after an ultrasound scan.
Expert opinion
Almost all doctors consider the presence of clicks in the abdomen during pregnancy to be absolutely normal. Pregnant women themselves say that in this way the baby supposedly communicates with them. In fact, “stomach sounds” are provoked by the sounds produced by the ligaments, joints of the pelvic bones and muscles. This happens because the growing uterus constantly puts pressure on the bones and ligaments, which leads to their stretching. It is precisely the process of spraining the ligaments that is accompanied by characteristic clicks.
In addition, such sounds can cause movement of amniotic fluid when the baby is active. As a rule, “pregnancy sounds” appear in the third trimester, closer to childbirth. In the absence of accompanying symptoms, there is no cause for concern. Therefore, clicks that appear in the abdomen at the 37th week of pregnancy can be considered normal. In this way, your body prepares for the upcoming birth. This is inherent in nature, and there is no need to panic. On the contrary, it is recommended to communicate more with your baby, to prepare him for the moment of meeting you. Tactile contact is also important. If you hear that the clicks have become frequent and are accompanied by movements on the part of the child, then stroke the belly, thereby calming your Nutcracker.
Source
Causes
Even doctors cannot answer for sure why the stomach clicks while carrying a baby. And the versions of what is happening that appear among women are sometimes completely untenable from the standpoint of modern medicine. There are two points of view on this process. One reassures women by saying that clicks in the stomach are evidence of normal processes. And the other warns against the possible danger that may be hidden behind a certain pathology. So, the probable causes of sound phenomena are:
- Physiological changes.
- Premature rupture of amniotic fluid.
- Symphysiopathy.
- Polyhydramnios.
- Umbilical hernia.
Considering all the conditions that can cause clicking in the stomach, you still need to ask your doctor about it. If there is no reason to worry, then you should not pay attention to such sounds. Otherwise, a specialist will advise how to avoid trouble.
The causes of clicks in the abdomen that occur during pregnancy can be various phenomena: both normal and pathological. A doctor will help determine the origin of such a symptom.
Gurgling and clicking in the stomach during pregnancy
What are clicks in the abdomen during pregnancy, how to distinguish this symptom and how does it manifest itself?
Basically, many expectant mothers, when something clicks in their stomach, begin to worry and worry that something is wrong with their child. But in fact, this is a completely harmless symptom during pregnancy, which is observed in every woman.
Approximately these sounds begin to appear in the third trimester of pregnancy, when the fetus is already large. Statistics show that these symptoms appear after the 30th week of pregnancy.
In addition, in addition to clicks in the stomach, gurgling, rumbling, popping and various sounds may be heard. In fact, these are physiological sounds that are made by the baby and the mother’s body. There is no need to worry about this.
There is still controversy surrounding the question: why do clicks appear in the stomach? To this day, no answer has been given to the question of what these clicking and gurgling sounds are from the abdomen. Doctors can say one thing for sure: it is not dangerous for a pregnant woman. There are several possible reasons for the appearance of these sounds. In any case, when sounds appear, you need to understand the reason for their occurrence.
If we talk about a rumbling stomach, it may indicate a pregnant woman’s hunger or the peculiar behavior of her unborn child.
Why do strange sensations occur in the stomach during pregnancy (rumbling, gurgling, bubbling)?
Gurgling and rumbling in the stomach of the expectant mother often occurs after a heavy meal or drink. This can also be caused by taking certain foods that cause flatulence (soda, legumes, sweets, onions, fresh baked goods). There are other, more serious reasons for this phenomenon:
- infectious diseases (dysentery, salmonellosis);
- pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract;
- physiological changes;
- polyhydramnios.
Sign of polyhydramnios
Polyhydramnios is a sign of a pathological pregnancy, when the volume of amniotic fluid exceeds normal levels. If the seething is caused by this particular condition, at the same time the expectant mother feels heaviness and pain in the abdomen, general malaise and weakness in the body. Experts call gurgling in this case fluctuation.
What are the main causes of gurgling and clicking noises?
There are many possible reasons for the appearance of sounds.
Perhaps the child lets out gas, burps or hiccups. Sounds can also occur due to the child biting his fist or sucking his finger. Then you will rarely hear such sounds. Gurgling of the abdomen can be observed due to the fact that the fetus is very mobile. Therefore, bubbles with amino acid liquid begin to burst, which provokes such an unpleasant sound. Many pregnant women hear how the joints of the fetus begin to “crack” when moving and, of course, worry about this. But even in this case, there is no reason to be upset, because the child’s joints are not yet strong, so they can make such sounds. This crunch can last until the child is one year old.
Also, all these sounds may not be related to the baby and indicate the functioning of the digestive system of the pregnant woman herself.
But if clicking sounds occur later in pregnancy, then you need to worry: perhaps these are harbingers of labor.
Before the onset of labor, the pelvic bones begin to separate, which can cause clicking.
What accompanying symptoms may there be?
Rumbling and gurgling cause disturbances in intestinal motility or excessive gas formation. Based on this, you can independently make an assumption about the possible causes of this condition. Concomitant manifestations can be intense or practically unnoticeable. Gurgling and rumbling during pregnancy may be accompanied by:
- nausea up to vomiting;
- soreness, bloating;
- bowel dysfunction;
- excessive gas formation;
- heartburn, belching.
What to do in such situations?
If you hear some strange sounds like clicking sounds coming from your abdomen, there is no need to worry, you should calm down.
This is a normal phenomenon that occurs in every pregnant woman. If you are very concerned about this symptom, then you can come to the doctor so that he can examine you and reassure you that everything is fine with the fetus and you. If desired, you can undergo additional examination to make sure that the pregnancy is progressing well. Remember, the main thing is not to panic.
Basically, clicking can manifest itself in different ways, but they are best heard in the navel area, since the skin is the thinnest there. Very often the sounds are accompanied by the baby kicking. The baby is constantly moving in the womb. The sound of the click depends on what position the fetus takes. It can also be distinct or distant.
For some, these strange sounds are heard in the chest area, for some they come from the navel, for others - from the uterus.