Baby Movement - When it will happen, how it feels, and how often

The first time you feel your baby move is one of the most magical moments of pregnancy. Being able to feel the small kicks and jabs of your baby moving around is incredibly rewarding. Many first-time mothers can’t wait to experience it and wait with anticipation. If you are wondering when you will feel your baby move while pregnant, continue reading to find out!

When will the baby move

The term “quickening” refers to the moment during your pregnancy when you can begin to feel the baby move. When you feel your baby move is different for every woman and varies wildly. In general, women will begin to notice their baby move around 18-22 weeks into pregnancy. However, some women may feel the baby move as early as 16 weeks or as late as 25 weeks.

The feeling of a baby moving around is very similar to gas, stomach, or hunger pains. For this reason, it is not uncommon for first-time mothers to not feel any movement until around the 16-20 week mark. Similarly, second or third-time mothers may notice the movement earlier because they have become more attuned to the feeling in their previous pregnancies.

What does it feel like when the baby moves?

The feeling of a baby moving in your uterus is hard to describe. Some women claim it feels like butterflies, others say it feels like a small fish swimming around. Still, others say it feels like your stomach dropping on a roller coaster or even the feeling of bad hunger. For each pregnancy, your experience is bound to be different. This inability to describe the feeling of a baby moving is precisely the reason why many first-time mothers find it difficult to determine. Once you have figured out what is happening, you will feel over the moon with joy.

When are you most likely to feel the baby moving?

Most women discover that they can’t really feel their baby’s movements unless they are at rest. This is often because they are up and moving around, or their attention is focused on other things. The best time to feel a baby moving is when you are resting, eating, or anxious.

When you are resting, you are more attuned to your body. If you are sitting on the couch or lying down for the night you may be able to feel the baby moving around a little better. In addition, any changes to your blood sugar or blood pressure can force the baby to move. After you have eaten your baby may suddenly perform some cartwheels in your stomach. Similarly, if you are stressed or anxious, your baby may start to move a bit more. Try to get a sense of how your baby reacts to each of these scenarios.

How often should the baby move?

There is no set standard as to how often or how strong a baby’s movements should be. Some babies are content to remain still for long periods of time, while others are more likely to move around all day. As your pregnancy progresses, you should be able to determine what is normal and abnormal for your baby. At around the 28-week mark, you should have a good gauge of what is normal for your baby.

Should I monitor the kicks and movement?

Some physicians recommend you monitor your baby’s movements starting around 28 weeks. The main reason for this is to help you determine if your baby is in distress or not. If a baby is in distress they will be less likely to move around, and their heartbeat may decrease. Your physician may want you to monitor your baby’s movement so that you can more quickly determine if anything is happening. This practice of counting kicks is becoming outdated, but if it helps you feel more at ease try it. In general, the standard is that your baby should move at least 10 times in two hours.

What if the baby isn’t moving?

There are a few different reasons that the baby may not be moving. If you have yet to reach the 25-week mark you may not be able to determine if the baby is moving. Similarly, if you have reached the 25-week mark, but are having trouble determining if the baby is moving wait a bit. As the baby grows larger, the feeling of its movement will be more distinctive and stronger.

If you have grown accustomed to your baby’s movement, but you have not felt anything for a few hours don’t panic. Sometimes your baby is just asleep or they are just not very active during that time of the day. However, if your baby is typically active at night and they suddenly aren’t moving at night don’t be afraid to contact your physician. If your baby is moving less than normal, or you don’t feel 10 movements in a 2 hour period, try reaching out to your physician. They will be able to monitor your baby’s heartbeat and check on them to ensure everything is ok.

Don’t be afraid to reach out to them multiple times throughout your pregnancy. The physician is there to help put you at ease and make sure your baby is healthy and happy. You always want to catch any problems early on in the pregnancy, so it is better to be safe than sorry.

Key Takeaways

You will likely begin to feel your baby move around the 18-22 week mark. As the pregnancy progresses you will become more attuned to your baby’s movements and be able to determine their normal and abnormal. You can try counting kicks to help you monitor your baby’s movements, and you should always contact your physician if something seems off. Pregnancy is hard, and postpartum recovery can be a long painful journey. Make it easier with Bellefit’s postpartum garments. Bellefit has comfortable underwear, nursing bras, and postpartum girdles to make your postpartum journey easy and pain-free. Don’t suffer through the pain alone, invest in a Bellefit postpartum girdle today.