You’re sitting on the sofa, rubbing your hands over your bump, when suddenly there’s a popping or clicking noise when baby moves.
It doesn’t hurt, but it leaves you feeling a little nervous. What was that pop in your stomach?!
You run (waddle) to your laptop and quickly type into the search bar to try and find out what’s going on.
But, for once, the internet doesn’t seem to hold the answer.
What is causing that weird clicking or popping noise inside your bump?
Even if you ask your doctor or midwife, you may come away none the wiser about the sounds from your womb during pregnancy.
What’s the popping or clicking noise coming from my bump?!
That’s because no-one really knows exactly what causes the noise.
The clicking or popping noise isn’t documented in any midwifery or obstetrics texts, though there are a few theories of what could be causing it.
What does the popping or clicking sound like?
The noise can vary from very quiet to pretty loud. Sometimes it may only be noticeable only to you, and other times your colleagues may look up from their desk to check that your waters haven’t just broken.
Some mothers compare it to the sound of cracking knuckles, others to the sound of two fingernails being clicked together.
Here are four of the most common theories behind the mysterious popping or clicking sounds in your womb:
The Popping or Clicking Noise #1: The noise is caused by baby’s joints
Babies are very bendy. However bendy you think they are, double it. They are really good wrigglers, and get themselves into all kinds of weird position in the womb.
Some healthcare professionals think the clicking noise is caused by baby’s joints as he squirms in and out of all kinds of positions.
#2: The noise is caused by your ligaments
Some women have been advised by their healthcare professionals that the clicking sound could be caused by their ligaments stretching to make way for the growing baby.
Rather than the noise coming from inside the amniotic sac, it could actually be something happening to you that is causing the pop noise.
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The Popping or Clicking Noise #3: The noise is caused by the sac
As you bendy baby wriggles and jiggles about, some experts believe that the popping noise could be caused by the fluid moving around inside the amniotic sad.
As your uterus moves around inside you, usually because you are being poked and prodded by you baby’s stretching limbs, air moves around causing a popping sound.
The Popping or Clicking Noise #4: Baby’s mouth is making the noise
There haven’t been any studies carried out into what causes this noise, though some mothers report that their babies emerge from the womb making popping or clicking noises with their lips.
You’ll have to wait until your baby is born to see if this theory stands up.
Is it something to worry about?
It might be worrying to have an unexplained noise coming out of your bump every so often, but fear not. One of the reasons that the noise is unexplained, is because money hasn’t been spent on researching this phenomenon.
Why? Because it’s probably nothing to worry about.
Rest assured that many women have experienced this over the years, and have gone on to have healthy, happy babies. If you feel worried about the noise, ask your midwife or doctor for advice.
