Fetal Movements

When will I be able to feel my baby's first movements?

Fetal Movements

Although you will not be able to feel anything yet, at approximately six weeks, your unborn baby will begin making movements and moving around in your uterus. Ultrasounds can detect this movement much earlier than you will be able to feel it. There is not an actual magical week that you will feel your baby move for sure. Most women will feel their baby's movements by week 20, although some have reported feeling the first fetal movements as early as 12 weeks and as late as 26 weeks.

The first fetal movements that a pregnant woman can physically feel are known as quickening. This sensation has been said to feel like butterflies fluttering in the stomach or gas bubbles popping. If you are very thin or have previously experienced pregnancy, you will more than likely feel your baby's movements earlier than an overweight woman or a woman experiencing her first pregnancy. You are more likely to feel your baby if you are laying down. Babies move around in the amniotic fluid and respond to sound and lights. In the early weeks of fetal movements, it is common to feel several flutters one day and none the next. Soon your baby will get stronger and the movements will become more predictable.

Fetal movements will vary from woman to woman. Some women will have hard kickers, while other baby's will tend to be a little softer. As your baby develops more and gets larger, his kicks will become stronger and more frequent. Some women are able to see their baby rolling in their stomach! You will probably begin to feel your baby hiccupping as well. Even in uterus, babies have periods of sleep and awake patterns. More than likely, your baby will make their presence known as you are trying to rest! Mothers may also notice that their babies are more active after a meal, when there is more sugar in the mother's body. There is no link between the activity in uterus and how the baby will be once born. After week 32 of pregnancy, most movements will slow down some because there is a restricted amount of room in the uterus. However, you should still feel your baby move several times a day. Occasionally, a baby will stretch out and their feet can become lodged in the mother's ribs. Although it can be extremely painful, there is not much that can be done when this happens.

It is important to pay attention to your baby's movements. Your baby's health can be determined by his movements. All pregnant women should take time out of their day to assess their baby through fetal movement monitoring, or fetal kick counts. This is simply done by counting the number of kicks she feels over a certain time period. Throughout your pregnancy, you will notice a pattern in your baby's movements. On average, a baby will kick approximately four to six times per hour. Any change in the normal pattern or a drop in kick counts can show that the unborn baby is distressed. To do a kick count test, lay down on your left side if possible and write down the number of times you feel the baby move in one hour. You should do this around the same time each day, preferably after a meal. Another method of a kick count test is to lay down and note how long it takes for you to feel ten movements. These movements can be kicks, twitches or entire body movements.

Call your doctor immediately if you notice that your baby is not moving around as much as usual or has stopped moving. If you do not feel at least ten movements in a two hour period, you should notify your caregiver at once. There are a series of tests that your doctor can perform to check the condition of your baby. If the baby's health is deteriorating, there will be a lack of fetal movements that will eventually stop all together. More than likely, a nonstress test or biophysical profile will be ordered to check your baby's condition.

Comments: Fetal Movements

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punkesqmommy - 326 days ago.
Hi All. I am 31 weeks pregnant today and my baby has been moving pretty well but there are some day when he seems so quiet! And now that I'm in the single digits, I understand movement should feel different ... And they do! I might feel a strange shifting movement and all of a sudden I will feel what I think is his little round head right beneath my right rib (which is where he seems to go more than anywhere else, and yes, he has been breach during my last 2 US). Then as if by magic, he's shifted again and I no longer feel his head there. So, I am really sending movement as opposed to kicks and jabs but I do worry because my doc said I should look for 10 movements a day while I see online it says 10 movements in a 2 hour period. Confused and still monitoring the shifts.

noelle robb - 335 days ago.
Hi everyone, this is my 1st post, im 23 weeks today... bit worried because im not sure if what im feeling is my baby!!! just cant wait until I get a real for sure movement.. this is my 3rd pregnancy, my son will be 12 years next month and I had a M/C at 12 weeks 2 & half years ago so been 12 years since I felt a baby move inside me!!!! hoping it happens soon

brshultz - 538 days ago.
Im a first time mom and im 32 weeks my little man moves like crazy and hes starting to move up in to my ribs his head has been spending his time pushing on my on my right side i start to see his little head sticking out of my side.

brenda leeane - 555 days ago.
I am 15W6 days pregnant and i first started feeling my baby move about a week ago... i feel it about 5 times a day just a little flutter i can feel it a lot better when im laying down... cant wait untill my husband can feel him her as well.

jenakatessa - 598 days ago.
I am 21 weeks tomorrow and I dont feel anything at all really. Maybe small thuds down low almost feels like its right on my bladder, but thats it. I am going for my next ultra sound on wed to find out what the gender of the baby is....my last was on 12th week and i seen the little arms legs and heartbeat....this is my second child and I thought i would have felt a lot more movement and gained more weight by now. With my son at this point i had gained about 15 pounds, and this time only 5. Once i see the baby moving i will feel much better. I try to eat sweets or drink orange juice as i was told it would make the baby move around but it doesnt do nothing......i just cant wait till wed....COME FASTER! I BEEN WAITING SOOO LONG!!

tportes1@hotmail.com - 666 days ago.
hey ladies, this is my first post, and I am 11.6 weeks I think today I felt my baby move, I'm excited I've been pregnant before but lost the baby, so this is a miracle and I pray I make it to my second trimester super excited two more weeks!! well really one because tmrw I will be 12wks

chany - 673 days ago.
I am almost 18 weeks 3 days away :) I have 3 other children and am worried about this one and how much baby moves I have felt baby before and I know its normal cause I am only 17w4d but it still worries me :( I have a doppler now I had to buy one cause I was so worried now that I hear baby I am ok just still worried about movement

rose baby - 721 days ago.
I am 21 weeks 6 days.....So Sat this baby was kicking like you wouldn't believe .... hard enough to stop me while I am walking. then by Wed his kicks weren't as hard... buy Friday I felt close to nothing... to the point I called the Dr and they got me right in. He is fine saw him moving and kicking around he had Hiccups and all... It was really strange ...Dr said it happens... My only conclusion is that more liquid must have produced in my placenta to reduce the sensation and feel... My recommendation is to call the Dr if you feel nervous but don't stress out....Dr said up to 22 weeks it happens but if it were 28 weeks they would be concerned....

shea_pulliam@hotmail.com - 737 days ago.
im almost 15 weeks prego and i have felt only 3 movements. Feels like butterflies and when i feel it i stop bc its weird for me to feel it. I have only gained about 3 pounds and i dont look or really feel pregnant at all. I cant wait to get bigger and feel it move more!

mammaK - 778 days ago.
I am 32 weeks and woke up to my baby doing summersaults thats what it felt like.

FirstTimeMummy20 - 1004 days ago.
mrstt iam 19.4 weeks and feel my baby move almost everyday but its getting to the point where if i dont feel anything i worry but baby has a sleeping pattern now maybe you arent feeling anything because your moving around when babies awake. but then you are only 14 and a half weeks so the kicks are still very light, i you were over 20 weeks then i would say its not normal. dont panic, you'll be feeling thuds in the ribs soon xx

mrstt - 1060 days ago.
Hi, I am 14w3d pregnant with twins. I started feeling one of the babies move at 13w2d. I could feel it for 6 days but nothing for the past 3 days. Has anything similar happened to any of you ladies? Is this normal?

bixgirl - 1107 days ago.
This might be a weird question, but how can you differentiate between the baby moving and gas? I'm almost 23 weeks and I still don't know if what I'm feeling is the baby! It makes me feel like screaming. lol. Any descriptions on how to tell what's what would be so appreciated!!! :) Thanks!

ambermiracle - 1114 days ago.
I am 24 weeks and just started to feel my little man move. And trust me, when he starts you'll never get used to it. morning noon night hes a wiggle worm. BUT I only feel him kick my lower abdomin, which I used to mistake for gas. now I know what it is.

Xenia! - 1114 days ago.
hey corrina :) i got told today at the doctors that this could be usual cause the bub is moving from being upside down lol

corrina1987 - 1115 days ago.
xenia im in same situation im 25 weeks and not feelin much movement or strong movement im suspected to be carrying a small baby again though which could be the cause of mine but still doesnt stop me worrying so any input form anyone will be greatly appreciated

Xenia! - 1115 days ago.
Hey ladies! Im 25weeks this week with my first baby and Im a bit worried cause everyone else i know who is pregnant and doctors seems to be saying 'strong movements, moving all day' and my baby only kicks at certain times of the day but not very strong should i be worried? I dont know what everyone means by strong baby movement :(

Jennylg12 - 1139 days ago.
I'm 26 weeks with a super small baby...he's only 13oz so far...I'm suppose to monitor his movements but I have such a hard time knowing if it's gas, food digesting or if it's actually my little prince moving.

MarineWife2010 - 1150 days ago.
i am 18weeks and 4days i have been feeling the baby move for like 2 weeks my husband has just been able to feel it like 2 days ago and he cant get enough of it.. i started showing at like 12weeks and i am so ready to meet the little one i have not found out the sex yet that is in 12days hope everyone is doing great

Kt1sttimer - 1185 days ago.
I am 13 weeks 3 days and I haven't felt the baby move. I know that's EARLY, but with my first I felt at like 11 weeks.. Just the sudden gassy feeling (but not gas) nothing this time around.. I only weigh 102 right now. I would think I would feel something. Hopefully I'm being paranoid. It's just at 2 weeks I found out I was pregnant by a pee test. Starting bleeding BAD at 5 weeks and found out I had twins and lost one. Just nervous I'm sure....

sarahs6th - 1208 days ago.
Hi Im 19 weeks and 4 days still not feeling the baby move, my other 5 i felt early on what is going on with this one???

LANNiE - 1261 days ago.
Hey ladies. I will be 14 weeks tomorrow, and randomly (like once or twice a week) since about 11 weeks I've been wondering if I've been feeling flutters. It feels like someone lightly tapping the inside of my uterus, and it's slowly getting a little higher (still only feeling it just above my pubic region though, where my uterus is located). This is my first (my first pregnancy didn't actually make it this far so it's pretty much my first), do you think I'm just imaging things, or could it actually be flutters? Message my page if you can help me out.

kryzzy - 1261 days ago.
I am about 18 weeks and I havent felt any movements. I dont feel like im showing. I barely feel pregnant. Its so discouraging and annoying. I have an U/S on December 30th to determine the gender of my child. Hopefully by then I will be feeling things, and I will at least feel better seeing a picture of the baby again.

bigbabybump - 1306 days ago.
Hi everyone, I will be 16 weeks pregnant in 2 days and I have been feeling the baby move since around 11 weeks, this is my second child. I also started showing at like 6 weeks!! Anyways, I am concerned because I haven't felt any movement at all in 5 days. Should I contact my doctor?

Bri - 1331 days ago.
LaNa22mtl - Congrats and welcome to the site! As for the kicks, being your first you may not notice kicks as quickly. You should start any day. But, if you don't, that doesn't mean baby isn't ok. There are several posibilities for why baby isn't kicking or you aren't feeling them. Since you already said the placenta is in the right place then it's probably because baby is facing the wrong way. If you are being kicked on the inside you probably won't feel them as much as if she was kicking your belly. Another reason could be weight. If you are over weight (not saying you are but if) then your cushion could be padding it. Honestly, you really should start feeling kicks by 24weeks. If you haven't felt them by your next appointment (which should be around that time) I would make a comment to your doctor/midwife. Real hard kicks usually aren't felt for another couple of weeks anyhow. Try not to worry yet but if you can't stop worrying then give your caregiver a call. They'll probably tell you everything is fine but depending on your circumstances they might want to see you. Again, congrats and try not worry. If baby was fine at your 20 week u/s then the she is probably just fine.