Feeling baby kicks but... not pregnant? Here's what's happening.

It's a fact universally acknowledged that when you fall pregnant, you become acutely aware of just how insane the female body is. Especially after pregnancy. 

Enter: Phantom kicks.

Ever heard of this? It's basically the feeling of a baby kicking inside your stomach when you're... not pregnant.

Watch: Up for a little giggle? Yes? Brilliant. Here are things pregnant people never say. Post continues below.

Understanding Phantom Kicks

While it sounds like something out of a Sci-Fi movie, it's actually a very common thing that happens to both women who have experienced childbirth and miscarriage.

What are 'phantom' baby kicks?

According to Professor Pecoraro, phantom baby kicks are basically a woman’s interpretation of sensations she can feel within her body.

"These popping, gurgling, bloating and unusual feelings are most commonly associated with a baby’s movements from inside the uterus, but can also be caused by simple things like gas, indigestion, normal gut movement or sometimes as a result of an extremely strong desire to wish to feel baby’s movements," he said.

So, they're not actually real?

"The term 'phantom' is used to describe these sensations when there isn’t an actual pregnancy causing them," confirms Dr Pecoraro.

Chrissy Teigen’s Experience

Chrissy Teigen recently shed light on her experience of phantom fetal movements, after she suffered a miscarriage last September.

Chrissy took to Twitter to share an emotional video of her stomach subtly moving. She wrote, "look at this, I’ll pretend it’s him saying hi – it never stops."

look at this 😩 I’ll pretend it’s him saying hi - it never stops. pic.twitter.com/5FKSE3g8cG

— chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) February 3, 2021

Her followers then reacted to her tweet by sharing their stories of phantom pregnancy symptoms, proving just how many women have felt a fetal movement in their abdomen after pregnancy.

And phantom baby kicks aren't just a thing that happen right after a pregnancy. These little flutters can be felt in your stomach for days, weeks, months, or even years after.

Medical Insight into Phantom Kicks

Let's unsheathe the medical scalpel and dissect these mysterious nudges. Behind the veiled curtain of medical jargon and clinical dissections, lies an untapped wellspring of insights that string together the physiological and the phenomenal.

Here, we speak to president of the National Association of Specialist Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Professor Gino Pecoraro, and ask him to help us break down exactly what's going on. 

Why do 'phantom' baby kicks happen?

"While these feelings may be caused by gut activity and the normal muscular contractions (called peristalsis), they have also been attributed to the unusual psychosomatic condition called pseudocyesis," he said. 

To save you from a frantic Google search, pseudocyesis is basically the medical term for a 'false pregnancy'. 

"This is where a false belief that a woman is pregnant can be manifested by symptoms of pregnancy, as well as objective clinical manifestations such as an increasing abdominal size."

Yes, you read that correctly. 

Pseudocyesis Explained

Pseudocyesis can literally cause someone's brain to not only think they are pregnant but also show the signs and symptoms of pregnancy.

According to Professor Pecoraro, "This psychological condition may be as a result of an intense unmet desire to be pregnant in situations where it is either not possible or not happening as fast as [a person] would like."

Connecting Phantom Kicks and Miscarriage

Amidst the echoing silence, these phantom flutters paint stories of loss, hope, and the indefatigable spirit of motherhood. They’re not just physiological but deeply emotional, etching tales of resilience and remembrance, each kick a whisper of the souls once held within.

Is it normal to feel this after a baby has left the womb?

Yes - apparently it's common to feel teeny flutters months or even years after childbirth - so don't worry, you're definitely not alone.

Professor Pecoraro said that while most women report a sense of loss of these kinds of movements after the baby has been born, some women report a continuation of these feelings.

"This situation has been likened to when children report being able to feel the waves around them and as though they are bobbing in the surf, after having spent a long day at the beach - even though they are on dry land."

If they occur, keep in mind that phantom kicks are very normal and can have a wide variety of causes. There's generally nothing to worry about, but if you have any concerns, it's best to check in with your GP and make sure everything is okay. 

Coping with Post-Pregnancy Sensations

Okay, before we hit the panic button, let's get one thing straight: these phantom flutters? Completely normal. Think of them as your body’s little memoirs - sometimes touching, sometimes downright confusing.

Professor Pecoraro quips, it's akin to feeling the sea waves long after you've left the beach. For most women, these sensations wane, but for some, they linger, becoming anecdotes shared over tea or during those 2 AM chats. Yet, if these sensations ever leave you bewildered or anxious, it's always a good move to seek a listening ear, professional or otherwise. Whether it’s your GP or a chat with a fellow ‘phantom-kicker’, talking helps.

If this has raised any issues for you or if you would like to speak with someone, please contact the Sands Australia 24-hour support line on 1300 072 637.

Feature image: Getty

Have you felt phantom baby kicks? Share your experience with us in the comment section below.