At 8 months pregnant, the abdomen feels like it's pulsing or jumping, similar to a heartbeat.

Nov 28, 2024 Source: Cainiu Health
Disease description:

I'm almost 8 months pregnant, and recently my belly has been pulsating like a heartbeat. May I ask, what could be causing this?

Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhang Lu

During pregnancy, especially in the later stages, pregnant women may feel a pulsating sensation in their abdomen, which is usually caused by the fetal heartbeat or movements. The main reasons are as follows:

1. Normal fetal movement: At eight months of pregnancy, fetal movements gradually become more frequent and regular, with up to 3-5 normal movements per hour. At this time, the fetus's activity may cause the mother to feel a pulsating sensation in her abdomen.

2. Fetal hiccups: In the later stages of pregnancy, the fetus swallows amniotic fluid to exercise lung respiration, and hiccups may occur during this process, causing the pregnant woman to feel a pulsating sensation in her abdomen.

3. Abdominal aortic pulsation: As the fetus increases in size, the pregnant woman's uterus also enlarges, possibly compressing the abdominal arteries and producing a pulsating sensation similar to a heartbeat.

In fact, this pulsating feeling is very likely caused by the fetus's activity within the uterus, such as kicking legs, turning over, or sucking fingers. As pregnancy progresses, the fetus grows larger and its movements within the uterus become more pronounced, thus giving the mother this pulsating sensation. However, any unusual sensations during pregnancy, especially those accompanied by pain, bleeding, or other discomforts, should be promptly evaluated by a healthcare provider to ensure the health of both mother and baby.