Is it in your head or are you actually feeling the baby kicks after you’re no longer pregnant? Known as phantom kicks, these fluttering sensations in the abdomen can occur after giving birth or experiencing pregnancy.
Here, we examine what phantom pregnancy kicks are, what causes them and what to do if you feel kicks but are not pregnant.
What are phantom kicks?
Phantom kicks are the visible feeling of a baby moving, or a baby’s kicks, in your belly when you are no longer pregnant. They can be felt days, weeks or months after pregnancy.
Little is known about phantom kicks, as research into the phenomenon is limited. However, it is believed to involve certain nerve receptors and their “memory”, similar to the sensation of phantom limbs.
Studies have found that between 80% and 100% of amputees experience phantom limb syndrome, a condition in which people experience sensations in a limb that no longer exists.
What causes phantom kicks?
There are several theories about what causes phantom kicks postpartum, though nothing is certain. Some experts believe that the phenomenon is related to the body’s process of postpartum recovery, as the muscles and connective tissue begin remodeling themselves when the baby is born. Others think that the growth of the uterus during pregnancy leads to the growth of nerve receptors, resulting in sensation. There is also the possibility that phantom kicks are the body’s misinterpretation of other bodily functions, such as digestion and gas.
How long do phantom kicks last?
Anyone can experience phantom kicks after pregnancy, but the phenomenon is most common soon after giving birth. Although some people feel phantom kicks for years after their baby is born, most people stop experiencing them after a few months.
A 2019 study found that, of 197 women surveyed, 40% said they felt phantom kicks after giving birth for the first time and, on average, up to 6.8 years after giving birth. One woman in the study reported feeling like a ghost 28 years After giving birth.
When should you worry about phantom kicks?
Phantom kicks are generally nothing to worry about, physically speaking. But if they happen more often, it may be worth talking to a health care professional.
Concerns about phantom kicks tend to surround mental rather than physical health — especially for people who have experienced pregnancy or child loss. The feeling of movement can complicate the grieving process for people who felt a baby move before suffering a loss. It is common for trauma to induce false pregnancy symptoms such as phantom kicks.
Discussing these symptoms and any difficult feelings surrounding them with a health care professional or your wider support network can be an important way of processing your emotions after pregnancy.
The bottom line
Experiencing fluttery sensations known as phantom kicks after pregnancy is uncommon and usually not a cause for concern. However, if you’ve experienced a loss, it’s important to talk about it because phantom kicks can be linked to trauma and unprocessed emotions. It’s a good idea to talk to a healthcare professional, who can offer or recommend support.
