I Feel Movement in My Stomach But Have My Period

When you’re pregnant, you know how your body can feel different.

For example, you may be able to feel the baby moving around in your stomach. Could you be expecting?

Then again, if you think, “I feel movement in my stomach but have my period,” what do you do?

It’s crazy, right? Fluttering in the stomach refers to a feeling of movement in the stomach that cannot be explained with any symptoms.

The movement sensations can range from butterflies to fluttering, tightness, and fullness like a ball pressing against the abdomen. 

While these movements can usually be felt in the stomach, they can also be localized towards the lower abdomen or around the back.

I Feel Movement in My Stomach But Have My Period – Is This Normal?

Yes. There is a good chance you are pregnant, but it is also possible that the movement you feel may be something else.

That’s why it’s never a bad idea to do a pregnancy test just to be sure.

You should also know that early pregnancy and period symptoms can be very similar.

Many women worry that they may have had a period and not realize it, but this is nearly impossible unless there is bleeding during pregnancy.

So, if you’ve been feeling movement in your stomach for more than a week, you are likely pregnant.

If you are unsure about your next period date or think you may be pregnant, it’s best to take a pregnancy test. 

If your test says negative and you still believe you could be pregnant, try another one in two weeks.

It may be too early to detect the pregnancy hormones in your urine yet.

Then again, if you are not pregnant and still have your periods, there is an increased likelihood that the movements could be caused by something else. 

So, what other conditions could make someone feel movements in the stomach but is not pregnant?

Here are some of the possible causes:

1. Gastrointestinal Distress

Gastrointestinal distress is a prevalent complaint in otherwise healthy young women.

Many women get cramps and other stomach symptoms just before and during their periods, making it more difficult to tell whether they have gastrointestinal distress.

Most of the time, the symptoms of gastrointestinal distress are mild and don’t require treatment.

However, sometimes these problems can signify something more serious, especially if the signs come on suddenly or are very severe.

Gastrointestinal distress is a condition that causes painful spasms and cramps in the stomach.

It can also be painful enough to cause nausea and vomiting.

2. Menstruation 

The endometrium thickens every month, waiting for pregnancy, and prepares itself for nesting if an egg comes out of the ovary.

If this doesn’t happen and no pregnancy occurs, this tissue breaks down and leaves the body with menstrual blood once a month.

In fact, during menstruation, it may seem like the menstrual blood comes from below, but actually, it comes from the endometrium.

Because the endometrium breaks down and sheds during menstruation, there are pain receptors in this tissue, and its breakdown can cause cramps in some women.

In addition, some women feel more pain than others during menstruation due to the sensitivity of these pain receptors.

3. Ovulation

A couple of days after your period, you’ll probably notice that your vaginal discharge is stretchy, slippery, and clear – if you hold it between two fingers and pull it gently apart, it will form a thread. This is a sign that ovulation is approaching.

Your body temperature may rise slightly at this time, so if you use the basal body temperature (BBT) method of tracking ovulation, you might see a slight rise on the chart.

You may experience other symptoms as well.

For example, some women feel mild cramps or spasms in their abdomen around this time in their menstrual cycle. 

They can be similar to some women’s feelings just before their period starts.

Others also experience a sensation akin to butterflies fluttering inside the stomach.

4. Phantom Kicks

Phantom kicks are the sensation of feeling fetal movements when you aren’t actually pregnant.

These sensations can be comforting and confusing to a woman, especially if she has experienced the real thing before.

These feelings should not be alarming or painful, and they often happen after an individual has experienced a pregnancy loss or miscarriage. 

They can also occur in women who have never been pregnant before but who have entered perimenopause, which is the stage that occurs just before menopause, which is when periods stop altogether. 

During this time, hormones fluctuate, and body changes occur that may make it difficult for a woman to tell whether she is pregnant or not.

Summary 

As you can see, there are a lot of conditions that could make you ask, “I feel movement in my stomach but have my period, so what could it be.”

It could mean many different things if you’re just starting to experience abdominal pain and heavy menstrual bleeding. 

Talk to your doctor about getting checked out, as they know what is normal for you from previous tests and procedures and will know exactly what kinds of things you should have looked out for. 

Even if no significant reason can be found, your doctor will find some way to help ease your symptoms and make the symptoms less frequent.

Also read: Signs Labor Is 24-48 Hours Away

Frequently Asked Questions’

Why do I feel something moving in my belly? 

If you feel painful cramping along with the feeling of movement in your belly, you might have a stomach bug.

If you eat food contaminated with harmful pathogens, such as viruses or bacteria, this can happen. 

Sometimes a stomach bug can spread through contact with people who have it; other times, it comes from touching contaminated surfaces or eating contaminated food.

If you have diarrhea and vomiting, gas pains, and feeling things moving in your belly, you need to call your doctor.

Why do I feel something moving in my stomach but not pregnant? 

Most commonly, that sensation comes from your intestines, which are long tubes connecting the stomach to the rectum.

The intestines are where food is broken down into nutrients and wastes. The intestines contract in waves as they move food along to the rectum. 

You may feel this movement in your stomach, especially on an empty stomach when there is little else for the intestines to do. 

This can feel like a fluttering or bubbling sensation.

People who are overweight or have digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome may be more aware of these sensations than others. 

Can you feel your period in your stomach?

You can feel the period in your stomach when the muscles of your uterus contract and expand during menstruation.

The uterus is a pear-shaped organ that sits just above the bladder inside the pelvic region. 

It’s also called the womb, where a fetus grows during pregnancy.

Your uterus contracts throughout your menstrual cycle as part of its normal function.

However, during menstruation, these contractions become stronger and more frequent.

The muscles in your abdomen contract along with the muscles in your uterus.