The pregnancy period, according to my observations, is one of the most mysterious moments in a woman’s life. It is at this moment that you can feel on the physical level how it is arising and developing within you. new life, experience the incomparable feeling of the baby moving, gurgling, hear the baby’s heartbeat, discover new, unknown sides of such a phenomenon as pregnancy. For example, intrauterine hiccups in the baby, a tickling sensation or unusual clicking sounds in the stomach during pregnancy.

What do clicks in the abdomen mean during pregnancy? Are intrauterine “sounds” the norm or is this sign an indicator of abnormalities in pregnancy?

Why does the stomach click during pregnancy?

Clicks in the abdomen during pregnancy are not considered in medicine and obstetrics as one of the signs indicating the pathology of pregnancy. Medical books do not write about this phenomenon, professors do not give lectures on this topic. Nevertheless, pregnant women on various Internet forums raise the issue of unusual, mysterious sounds inside the abdomen. So why does the stomach click during pregnancy?

Experts identify several reasons that presumably explain this phenomenon:

It should be noted: unusual sounds are more often observed in the last trimester, less often in the early stages. According to the observations of pregnant women and the assessment of doctors, clicking sounds in the stomach can be:
  • temporary, permanent – ​​according to the cyclical nature of the phenomenon;
  • quiet, pronounced - according to the intensity of manifestation;
  • happen due to a woman’s life,
  • due to intrauterine activity of the fetus.
As the fetus grows, the uterus increases in volume, which leads to stretching of the walls of the organ and the muscles of the abdominal cavity as a whole. With a maximum increase in the size of the uterus, indicators such as nagging, bursting pain in the belly are expressed, from time to time the condition is accompanied by some crunching, clicking in the abdomen. Doctors attribute these “acoustic effects” to the child’s intrauterine activity and active movements.

In the last trimester, the level of progesterone in a woman’s body rapidly increases, which cannot but affect the functioning of internal organs and the functionality of the gastrointestinal tract. Due to the weakening of the intestinal walls, its external compression, the functional abilities of the organ operate intermittently. Often, pregnant women experience flatulence, bloating, and rumbling, which are sometimes perceived by women as clicks in the abdomen during pregnancy.

Doctors call one scientific hypothesis for clicks in the abdomen during pregnancy premature rupture of the membranes (rupture of amniotic fluid). In such circumstances, a woman may feel certain cracking sounds inside the abdomen, a clear pop, or a click. In case of rupture of the fetal bladder, complete release of fluid or a slight leakage of intrauterine water is observed. In any case, at the slightest hint of excessive discharge of amniotic fluid, you need to seek help from doctors and undergo additional diagnostics. While in hospital conditions, decide the further course of pregnancy.

Gurgling in the abdomen is characteristic of an increased level of water in the amniotic sac - with polyhydramnios. Therefore, many girls mistake the gurgling, rumbling sound for clicking sounds in the stomach during pregnancy. It is important to note that an increased amount of water is equated to a pathology of pregnancy, and requires increased monitoring by medical staff, the pregnant woman in particular. Polyhydramnios can be determined by the following signs:

  • gurgling, quiet clicking in the stomach;
  • swelling of the limbs, face;
  • bursting, nagging pain below;
  • excess abdominal volume norms.
If something constantly clicks in the abdomen during pregnancy, doctors can diagnose symphysitis - inflammation of the pubic joint. Such a disease is indeed accompanied by crackling, crunching, clicking sounds while walking or sudden movements. Normally, the symphysis (joint) is motionless, but under certain circumstances, it becomes mobile, becomes inflamed, and sometimes swells. This is noticed during pregnancy, especially in the last weeks, after a complicated birth process.

If you are pregnant with more than one child, have polyhydramnios, have a large fetus, or if a woman has gained extra pounds while carrying a baby, a hernia may form in the umbilical area. Visually it is noticeable and is characterized by an overly protruded navel, which, when pressed, produces clicking sounds. This condition is not considered critical and after the birth of the child, it requires some correction.

Sometimes girls attribute the baby's hiccups to strange internal clicks, think that the baby smacks his lips while sucking his fist or passes gas. In fact, these are not conditional speculations that have not been confirmed by medicine.

As the belly grows, girls encounter different new sensations. Some of them are pleasant, others make you wary: clicks in the stomach during pregnancy can belong to different groups. There are symptoms that can be used to distinguish pathology from the usual process.

Clicking as a normal manifestation of physiology

Doctors recommend that patients not worry if the movements in the abdomen and clicks are not accompanied by painful sensations. If a woman has undergone an ultrasound, CTG and other examinations, and they have not revealed any abnormalities, there is no cause for concern. The only thing you need to remember is the sound of a sharp and loud pop, which occurs once and indicates rupture of the amniotic membranes.

Cracking, as if there is a divergence of bones in the body, small clicks and other uncharacteristic sounds can appear for various reasons throughout pregnancy:

  • Sprained ligaments and muscles of the pelvis and abdominal wall. This process intensifies after 3-5 months and reaches its climax by the middle of the third trimester. An enlarged uterus puts pressure not only on organs, but also on bone structures, causing a change in their position. Crunching in the later stages may be accompanied by a pulling sensation and discomfort. Symptoms often worsen if the child begins to move.
  • Rumbling intestines due to changes in position and production of progesterone. In this case, the sound of bursting bubbles appears in the stomach early stages and indicates a change in physiological processes in the body. At the same time, the girl may suffer from flatulence, gas formation, and constipation.
  • Hiccups and other child actions. Hiccups in babies begin when they swallow amniotic fluid. The clicks are more like jolts and go away quickly. Some women are sure that cod appears due to the child sucking his finger. However, a more accurate reason from a medical point of view is high fetal activity. It excites the amino acid liquid, and bubbles begin to burst in it.

Failure of the musculoskeletal system of the fetus leads to the appearance of a slight crunching of the joints. This is also a normal phenomenon that goes away a year after birth.

These conditions are not life-threatening for the child and mother and do not require the use of medications or any kind of monitoring. But only until there are no additional symptoms of the disease.

Pathological causes of clicking and symptoms

If a woman feels in her stomach later pregnancy crunching and clicking, 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 and provide it with useful substances and protection from everyone negative impacts environment. 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.

Umbilical hernia belongs to the category of diseases that women attribute to “temporary by-effect» 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 crunching 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.

Some symptoms during pregnancy are puzzling. Such unusual symptoms include all sorts of sounds inside the abdomen - from rhythmic hiccups to clicking sounds. However, are clicks in the abdomen during pregnancy manifestations a consequence of the unusual condition of the woman herself or her baby, how to react to them, and is it worth worrying about?

As a rule, in antenatal clinic women ask about anxiety symptoms during pregnancy. Concerns arise from both discharge and painful manifestations. But what to do and how to delicately ask that a woman feels a click in her stomach? Why does the clicking in the stomach during pregnancy constantly or periodically? Is it worth taking any medications in this case, and why does this happen?

First of all, it is worth deciding whether the manifestations really have the character of a click, and how often this happens. Such observations will help determine not only the cause, but also the likely factors provoking certain changes in the body of a pregnant woman. To create a correct picture of what is happening, it is worth conducting a mini survey of yourself and describing the nature of the manifestations on a piece of paper. To determine the history of clicking, it is important to pay attention to the following features:

  • Click intensity.

    There is quite a lot of noise in the abdomen during pregnancy. At the same time, both the child and the mother hear. Describe on a 10-point scale how strongly and under what circumstances such manifestations in the form of clicking are most noticeable: at night, while the child is awake or asleep. Where 10 is often and clearly heard, 1 is heard not often, or once.

  • Feel

    The painfulness of the manifested symptoms for a woman. Does the woman experience any painful sensations at the moment when the clicks are felt or not? How severe is the pain and how does it manifest itself?

  • Periodicity.

    How often and with what frequency do such symptomatic manifestations occur? Describe how often clicks are observed and how many times per day.

  • Time

    Time of click – in the afternoon or in the morning, in the evening or before bed, after physical activity or after eating, sweet water?

  • How can you characterize

    How can a woman describe a click, what does it look like? Normally, such manifestations are similar to bones grinding against each other, while the woman herself does not feel any painful manifestations, and the click is clearly noticeable once.

  • Child behavior.

    No changes in the child's behavior should be noted with any peculiarities and crunches, clicks or gurgles. At the same time, the baby feels and behaves as usual, without showing excessive activity or, on the contrary, uncharacteristic drowsiness.

It is also worth noting that such manifestations most often occur and are noted in the late stages of gestation, when the uterus is already quite large and occupies most of the space in the abdominal part. In the later stages of pregnancy, clicks in the abdomen are felt more intensely than in the early stages. Normally, clicks are not felt so clearly until 28-35 weeks. In the later stages, even a listening relative can hear such a sound.

Important.

Clicking during pregnancy is not a symptom that is alarming or life-threatening for the baby. Often such manifestations are also typical for women who, before pregnancy, had bone injuries, in particular the hip sacrum or pelvis.

Possible causes of clicking

After determining the nature and intensity of such a manifestation, you can ask your doctor questions. It is worth immediately pointing out and reminding that such manifestations as clicking do not have any descriptions or lectures in gynecology. Therefore, the answer and probable assumption of the reasons often largely depends on the experience of the doctor managing the pregnancy.

Skeletal system

Throughout pregnancy, the baby grows and develops, all its internal organs, including the skeletal system. If in the later stages of gestation the mother hears barely perceptible clicks during the baby’s movements, reminiscent of the sound of bone on bone, most likely the baby is turning over and his bones are crunching a little. There is nothing dangerous in such a manifestation, and there is no need to worry.

Polyhydramnios

Excessive amount of amniotic fluid in gynecology is considered a pathology, the complexity of which depends on the degree of manifestation of this feature. For example, a slight excess of water is not dangerous for a child, but for the mother it should be a signal that it is worth eating right, leading an active lifestyle, drinking less fluid, and taking medications prescribed by the doctor. Often the cause of this condition is the individual characteristics of a woman’s body or heredity.

Important.

Polyhydramnios is often diagnosed in women with multiple pregnancies. As a rule, this feature is the cause of early labor.

Hiccups

Of course, you can tell the difference between hiccups and clicks on your own. When the baby hiccups, the mother will feel rhythmic, jump-like shocks in the place where the baby’s head is now located. In this case, it is also worth paying attention to the duration of pregnancy, because, as a rule, such manifestations are characteristic of late stages. In earlier weeks of development, such changes should not be noted.

Symphysitis

Pathologies of the mother's bone tissue are often caused either by a history of trauma to the pelvic bones (accidents, falls, bone fractures or punctures), or by an anatomical feature of the structure of the bone tissue - congenital pathologies of the development of the pelvic bones. The last reasons are congenital pathologies that provoke many diseases that complicate life. expectant mother. Sometimes the pain becomes so intense that it is impossible and impossible to endure it.

Symphysitis is an abnormal location of a bone joint, which provokes pain symptoms, in particular in the later stages of pregnancy, when the pressure on the bones increases and increases.

Typically, this feature or disease appears at 30-33 weeks. Previously, such pain was characterized as aching, but tolerable.

How can you distinguish symphysitis from other characteristic painful symptomatic manifestations?

  • severe swelling and pain, possible redness of the tissues in the lower abdomen - in the symphysis area. As a rule, such edema does not have permanent symptoms and is expressed in periodic exacerbation after physical activity or walking;
  • sensation of pain and peculiar clicks when pressing or moving from side to side on the pubic bone;
  • pain in the pelvic bone area, which is aching but tolerable. The pain intensifies when turning, pressing or wearing tight clothing;
  • soreness in the pubis and groin, tailbone or thigh;
  • sharp pain when turning the body, especially in a sitting position. Lifting, lifting and inclines of various types, touching the movement of the pelvis provoke sharp aching pain, it is difficult to walk, and it is impossible to raise straightened legs while lying down due to severe intense pain;
  • duck gait with jerky jerks during a walk;
  • the woman walks in fractional and small steps;
  • heaviness and pain in the pubis occurs when lifting the body up the stairs.

With the development of pathology and a simultaneous increase in the child’s weight, such pain intensifies, becomes more pronounced, and can manifest itself when walking, or in a passive state - sitting or lying down.

Important.

X-rays are not performed during pregnancy, and therefore the diagnosis is made based on the clinical picture and complaints of the woman. Symphysiopathy is a common condition for women who have suffered bone injuries in the past.

There is no need to diagnose symphysitis yourself, because such pain can also be caused by other disorders - changes in the femoral-sacral joints. If symphysitis has been diagnosed, delivery is carried out caesarean section, since there is a risk of rupture during natural delivery.

Location of clicks

Since clicking in the abdomen is not a pathology that is worth worrying about, it is worth determining the location of the likely click, where such a manifestation is most often noted. The clicking may occur in the lower part of the abdomen, in its center, and where the child is now - if he has not yet turned over, then you can expect the manifestation of a clicking in the center of the abdomen; if the baby is upside down, then such features can be observed on the lower part, near the pubis.

Some obstetricians note that such manifestations can be observed in later stages due to the aging of the placenta. This process is considered natural and does not cause complications if the gestation period comes to its logical conclusion - childbirth. It is impossible to talk about a clear pattern, since such manifestations are not considered dangerous and do not pose a threat to the mother.

Gurgling or clicking sounds

If there is a gurgling sound when clicking, then we can say that such features are associated with the child’s life activity. He cannot harm himself or his mother, but the clicking and gurgling sound can most often be associated with the peculiarity of the baby’s body turns and his excessive activity. Often pregnant women noted that such manifestations are observed during the process of turning the baby over to a permanent position - on its head.

Since the baby is completely immersed in water, such gurgling sounds are natural. It cannot be said that there is air in the uterus in the abdomen that rolls from place to place, but with active movements this is possible.

Possible deviations

However, despite the safety of such a manifestation, it is worth paying attention to such features as pathological manifestations. More often, such manifestations are not a single symptom, but appear in conjunction with all the others. A woman may feel:

  • Aching pain in the area of ​​the thoracic abdomen, located closer to the navel. This indicates pathologies of the mother’s digestive system; it is worth paying attention to the diet and the number of servings;
  • Swelling of the limbs, in particular, not after physical activity, which is considered a normal reaction to overwork, but in the morning, when fluid is not excreted in urine, and the woman feels tired in her limbs before she has woken up. In this situation Special attention pay attention to venous diseases, in particular. If the pregnant woman suffered from hypertension before conception or had venous thrombosis;
  • Belly sizes more than the allotted time. And the doctor makes a presumptive diagnosis of polyhydramnios. In this case, we can assume pathologies of the mother’s metabolism, which directly affect the formation of excess fluid in the uterus. Also, the process of hernia formation can be affected by the heavy weight of the fetus. Weight control and proper nutrition in this situation should definitely be discussed with your doctor.
  • Mother's umbilical hernia- a disease that is common in women who are initially overweight, as well as in those who have a tendency to develop such a disease. It is not necessary to say that this pathology is not observed in women who engage in physical activity before or during pregnancy;
  • Rush of amniotic fluid. As a rule, such a manifestation is rare enough for the onset of labor. But those who noticed one click without pain could soon see a slight outpouring of water. After this process, labor begins.

Possible complications for a pregnant woman are mostly associated with the prospect of early birth. If there is no such probability, then there is no need to worry about clicks in the stomach. Such features do not pose a danger at any stage of gestation.

Is it worth doing anything?

During pregnancy, it is important to monitor not only your health, but also your emotional state. Clicking is not a disease, and therefore you should not consider yourself at risk. The child develops according to the deadline, in addition, female body can cope with many difficulties that the woman herself did not even suspect.

Is it worth somehow reacting to such manifestations if they occur periodically, from time to time? No, there is no need to do anything, you can ask your doctor, but there is no point in talking about a disease or pathology if there is no reason for it. Proper nutrition, a sufficient amount of clean water, walks in the fresh air and good sleep - this is what is important to provide at any stage of gestation. If at this time clicks or slight crackling sounds appear, like bones rubbing against each other, there is no need to worry, this is your baby’s way of saying hello and a message that you will meet soon.

A pregnant woman carries a real small world within herself, with its tasks, needs and structure. And you don’t know exactly what and how is happening there in this world, even though with the help of modern technologies you can count the number of heartbeats of a baby, and see his “father’s” or “mother’s” nose. But there are countless mysteries. For example,….clicks.

I was walking when I woke up at night from a strange sound like a click. It was as if someone snapped their fingers, “Hey, sex worker!” But this clear sound definitely came from the depths of my voluminous belly. It could have been attributed to nocturnal auditory hallucinations, if the next time my stomach didn’t click in the presence of my husband, he heard it too.

The baby and I had already gotten used to each other, I clearly identified his movements, rustling and other somersaults, I understood when he suddenly... And then it clicks on you. In a panic (don’t feed us pregnant women bread, let us find a reason to worry) I called my friend: “Katya, did you happen to have anything clicking inside during your pregnancy, somewhere above your navel?” The friend laughed: “I didn’t tell anyone except my husband, but there was a case, except for the options that the baby somehow snuck in a piece of bubble wrap and was sitting there having fun, popping the bubbles, we didn’t have any.”

Hurray, I’m not alone, besides, Katya’s baby has grown into a completely healthy three-year-old boy, so the degree of excitement has decreased. But still, at the next meeting with my gynecologist, I couldn’t resist asking a question. In addition, the belly continued to click from time to time. The doctor was terribly surprised, suggested that it was the intestines and suggested that we stop paying attention: “All the tests are normal, don’t look for difficulties for yourself.”

However, I did not calm down and went looking for a solution on the Internet. Everyone there already knows. They really did, but not for sure. But I received plenty of guesses about the source of my strange sounds.
For example, they wrote that this is a child smacking his lips, sucking his fist, or clicking his tongue. Mothers said that when the baby was born, he made exactly these sounds. Others argued that these sounds are nothing more than the crunching of a child’s joints (in newborns, the joints actually crackle, this is due to the weakness of the ligamentous apparatus, and usually goes away on its own by the age of one year of the child’s life). The third is that they click your symphysis pubis when the baby is overly active. And there were also options for what sounds it makes amniotic fluid, that the bubble “pops” when the child presses against it and then pushes away from it, and even that with such a sound the baby “releases gas.”

The main thing I realized is that if my strange clicks are not accompanied by pain or discomfort, there is no need to worry. And even more so, you shouldn’t worry about good readings CTG and ultrasound. True, for some, a ringing pop is accompanied by the rupture of the amniotic membranes and the breaking of water. It is extremely important not to miss this moment. As for the rest - why worry? Maybe there is a little musician growing inside you who has begun his first rehearsals. However, I hope that one day doctors will reveal the secret of what is really clicking there?

Strange - what is it?... because even doctors don’t give an exact answer.

A pregnant woman is the keeper of a real small world, with its needs, tasks and structure. And she has no idea what and how is happening in this world, even if, thanks to high modern technologies, the baby’s heartbeat is read, and you can see his “mother’s” or “father’s” nose. But all the mysteries contained in this extraordinary process cannot be counted. For example, strange clicking in the stomach during pregnancy…

Starting from the third trimester of pregnancy, when the fetus has already formed and is simply growing in the womb, the expectant mother may begin to hear sounds resembling clicks. Clear sounds come from deep within her belly. Of course it is possible, clicking in the stomach during pregnancy attributed to the consequences of impressionability and nervousness, characteristic of all pregnant women. Attribute it, for example, to auditory hallucinations at night, but when others begin to hear it, it’s worth thinking about.

What does a woman usually do when she hears clicking in the stomach during pregnancy?

The young mother has long been accustomed to the baby, has learned to clearly identify his turns, movements and other somersaults, and understands when he suddenly begins to hiccup. And here you have a new action, a click. She is in a panic (after all, all pregnant women just need a reason to worry once again), first of all she calls her best friend, who tells her that she had the same problem during her pregnancy, but you are unlikely to tell anything of the sort.

One thing that will definitely make her happy is that she is not alone in this. But still, at the next appointment with her gynecologist, the young mother will most likely ask an exciting question. Moreover, my tummy continues to click strangely from time to time. The doctor will probably be very surprised by this and will express his assumption that the intestinal function may be to blame for this, after which he will definitely suggest not to pay attention to it, arguing that all the tests are in order.

You can ask a question " clicking in the stomach during pregnancy", in Internet. Indeed, you can find a lot of information there, but these will only be guesses, not a single exact statement. But you will find plenty of different assumptions about the origin of strange sounds.

For example, there is an assumption that it is the baby who smacks his lips when he sucks his fist, or clicks his tongue. Many mothers will claim that when the baby was already born, he made exactly these sounds. Others write that the baby’s joints crunch like this, and indeed newborns have rather weak joints that periodically make a crunching noise, which usually goes away by the first year of his life. Still others - that your bones click like that when the little one inside you shows excessive activity. There will also be options that the amniotic fluid makes the sounds of a “smacking bubble” when the baby presses against the tummy and then pushes away from it. And even that he farts like that.

After you have thought through and taken into account the information you have found, calm down and understand that if your strange clicks are not accompanied by discomfort and pain, then you don’t have to worry. And even more so, you don’t have to worry about excellent tests, ultrasound, CTG readings. True, you must remember that a loud pop is often accompanied by the release of water and rupture of the amniotic membrane. It’s important not to miss this moment. Otherwise, there is nothing to worry about. Of course, it is strange that doctors have not yet discovered the secret of what is clicking there, but look with wide open eyes when expectant mothers once again ask them this question.