You should start to feel your baby move between around 16 to 24 weeks of pregnancy. If this is your first baby, you might not feel movements until after 20 weeks.
If you have not felt your baby move by 24 weeks, tell your midwife. They'll check your baby's heartbeat and movements.
You should feel your baby move right up to and during labour.
Other people cannot feel your baby move as early as you can. When they can feel the movements, by putting a hand on your bump, is different for everyone.
What your baby's movements feel like
The movements can feel like a gentle swirling or fluttering. As your pregnancy progresses, you may feel kicks and jerky movements.
Urgent advice: Call your midwife or maternity unit immediately if:
- your baby is moving less than usual
- you cannot feel your baby moving anymore
- there is a change to your baby's usual pattern of movements
They'll need to check your baby's movements and heartbeat.
Do not wait until the next day – call immediately, even if it's the middle of the night.
How often should your baby move?
There's no set number of movements you should feel each day – every baby is different.
You do not need to count the number of kicks or movements you feel each day.
The important thing is to get to know your baby's usual movements from day to day.
Important
Do not use a home doppler (heartbeat listening kit) to try to check the baby's heartbeat yourself. This is not a reliable way to check your baby's health. Even if you hear a heartbeat, this does not mean your baby is well.
Why your baby's movements are important
If your baby is not well, they will not be as active as usual. This means less movement can be a sign of infection or another problem.
The sooner this is found out the better, so you and your baby can be given the right treatment and care.
This could save your baby's life.
Can your baby move too much
It's not likely your baby can move too much. The important thing is to be aware of your baby's usual pattern of movements.
Some moms can feel their baby move as early as 13-16 weeks from the start of their last period. These first fetal movements are called quickening and are often described as flutters. It may be difficult to determine whether this feeling is gas or your baby’s movements, but soon you will begin to notice a pattern. First-time moms may not feel these first fetal movements as early as second-time moms.
Some moms, especially those in their first pregnancy, may not feel movement until 18-20 weeks. Remember that each woman and every pregnancy is different, so you may not feel movement as early as another woman. There is a broad range of when the first detection of movement can be felt, ranging from 13-25 weeks.
Why does my baby move?
As your baby is continuing to develop he/she will stretch and flex his/her limbs. As you get further along in your pregnancy, you will begin to feel more obvious movements, such as kicking, punching, and rolling. Your baby may also move as he/she responds to noise or to your emotions.
If your baby finds a position you are in to be uncomfortable, he/she may also begin to squirm. Certain foods you eat can also cause your baby to be more active, and you may notice he/she follows a sleeping/waking cycle.
How often should my baby move?
As you get further along in your pregnancy, you will need to keep track of how often your baby moves each day. Sometime in the third trimester, you may notice your baby’s movements are more frequent and vigorous and occur in a regular pattern.
However, although movements are still regular, they may change towards the end of the third trimester because the baby is bigger and more restricted in the uterus. Talk with your doctor, if you notice a decrease in your baby’s movements.
Beginning with week 28, it is beneficial to begin counting your baby’s movements. This will help you to identify potential problems and can also be a great bonding experience between you and your baby. Using a kick count chart can be very helpful.
When counting your baby’s movements choose the same time each day. It may be easiest to lie on your left side and record how long it takes to feel 10 movements. For further information about recording movements see kick counts.
What should I do if I don’t feel my baby moving?
If you have been keeping a chart of your baby’s movements and you notice a significant deviation in the pattern, contact your health care provider. If you do not feel 10 movements within 2 hours, try again later that day.
If you still do not feel 10 movements within 2 hours, you should contact your healthcare provider.
Want to Know More?
- Fetal Life app: count kicks, track vital signs, sign up for remote nurse monitoring
- Pregnancy Nutrition
- Cord Blood Banking
- Nightfood Nighttime Ice Cream: the Official Pregnancy Ice Cream of the American Pregnancy Association
Compiled using information from the following sources:
1. Count the Kicks. (n.d.). What are my baby’s movements week-by-week
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