Is your stomach twitching in early pregnancy? Many women claim to notice their stomach twitching early in pregnancy. Is this possible? What could be happening? I remember this feeling well. And, you are not alone in wondering what is happening.
Yes, it is possible. However, it may go unnoticed in early pregnancy and it may not have anything to do with pregnancy. When you are trying to get pregnant, it is easy to wonder if every little thing happening to your body is because of a baby growing inside you. Before you jump to a conclusion, let’s look at stomach twitching in early pregnancy in more detail.
Early Pregnancy Signs
If you are looking for early pregnancy symptoms, stomach twitching is not one of the most common. With that being said, if you are paying careful attention to your body, then you may notice some small twinges.
There more noticeable pregnancy symptoms include feeling fatigued, tender breasts, and constipation. Some women experience slight cramping as implantation occurs. It is possible to consider these slight cramps just stomach twitches. Of course, the most obvious early pregnancy sign is missing your period.
Are You Noticing Fluttering?
As I mentioned above, some women confuse this cramping with twitching. This is because the feeling is not like what they’ve felt before, so women use all different terms to describe their feelings. For example, some women refer to twitching as fluttering.
According to Countdown to Pregnancy, “Some women experience these feelings as early as implantation when the embryo attaches itself to the uterus (6-12 days after ovulation). There are a lot changes happening in your body, even in very early pregnancy, so cramping and twinges are to be expected.”
Kicks or Hiccups?
As your baby continues to grow and develop in the womb, you may also notice these flutters become more apparent. But, it may still be too early to identify actual kicks. In many cases, you may be feeling your baby hiccuping. The basic rule is that hiccups are repetitive and rhythmic, whereas kicks do not follow a pattern.
Keep in mind, in the early stages of pregnancy, you may be feeling your baby moving around and flipping in the womb. As your baby takes up more space, you will begin to identify clear kicks, pokes, and jabs.
When to Expect Kicking to Begin
Pregnant women can expect to begin feeling kicks between 18-25 weeks. First time moms may not notice until closer to 25 weeks, but second time moms may notice the kicks closer to 18 weeks. Again, as your baby grows, you will be able to tell more easily.
Additionally, babies do develop a sleep routine in the womb. Therefore, you may notice more kicking at certain times of the day because your baby is awake versus when your baby is asleep. Babies also tend to kick more after you drink something cold or eat something sweet.
Why You Need to Count Kicks
Right now, you may be questioning the strange twitches in your stomach, but this is actually a good sign. Noticing any movement from your baby means your baby is moving – this is better than no movement. Once you enter the third trimester, it is very important to make sure you pay attention to your baby’s movement.
No movement or little movement from your baby over a certain amount of time can indicate your baby is in distress and you need to seek medical attention. The general rule is you should feel 10 movements from your baby within a two-hour period.
Other Causes of Stomach Twitching
While you may be pregnant and feeling stomach twitches, there are unrelated causes. For instance, it is possible to feel muscle twitches that result from muscle fatigue, an electrolyte imbalance, or central nervous system issues.
Some people experience stomach twitches due to hyper-acidity. The acid and the gas in the abdomen can cause you to feel like your stomach is twitching. If you notice this after eating certain foods, it is most likely a result of what you are eating and not pregnancy.
To Wrap Up…
First off, if you have think you may be pregnant, you should set an appointment with your healthcare provider to confirm the pregnancy. Do not rely on a list of early pregnancy symptoms. If you are experiencing ongoing stomach twitching, you need to seek medical help.
There are many possible causes for what you feel in your stomach. It could be the result of implantation or the baby moving depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy. If you are feeling your baby move, this a healthy sign! Just make sure you are eating healthy and drinking plenty of water.
