Every expectant mother wonders “when should I feel the baby move?” Read this post to find out the answer.
Within the 18 to 22 weeks of gestation, you can feel the baby move. At the initial stage when the baby is in the first stage of development, you can feel like a gas moving inside when there is first fetal movement.
These initial movements will also tell you how big is the baby and what is its position. In this phase, you can feel that the uterus is moving around the belly button.
When the uterus starts weighing more as the baby grows and moves, you will feel it around the belly button. This is a useful article about when should you feel the baby move.
The baby moves and kicks
The early kicks of the fetus seem like gas bubbles inside the stomach for most of the women. By the time a woman reaches 22 weeks from the period of gestation, the kicks start in.
You could either feel a kick, a scratch, or a full-blown punch inside the stomach. Within 24 to 28 weeks people other than you will be able to touch and feel the kicks inside the womb.
This is the time when the nervous system is developing inside the baby. During this stage, they stretch and wiggle inside the womb and you might be able to feel these movements.
Baby movements during day and night
The baby is more likely to move during the night times because the mother is physically inactive and more relaxed around that time. It is during this time they can feel the movements of the baby better.
You could also feel the baby kicking in if you drink caffeinated drinks or sugary foods. The baby inside the womb responds better to sweet and sugary foods eaten.
Once the baby keeps growing inside the womb, the movements keep slowing down as it does not have space to move inside the uterus. Around 34 weeks the kicks of the baby are more sharp and prominent. During this time you might as well feel the jabs of the baby inside your tummy.
It is recommended to count baby’s kicks
You are required to keep a count of baby’s kicks between 28 and 32 weeks if your pregnancy has a high risk. Counting helps you keep a track of the patterns of the baby’s movements. Doing this can also notify you of any changes that could pose a risk to the pregnancy.
The kicks could last between 30 minutes to 2 hours. If there are any changes in the patterns or the duration of the kicks, eat or drink something to make a note of it or if the kicks stop. If the kicks stop for more than two days you need to check with your healthcare provider.
Kicks during various months
A woman who is pregnant for the first time or second time can start feeling the kicks by 4th month from the period of gestation to the 7th month. During these months the kicks get even stronger.
During this month of pregnancy, you might also feel the baby’s hiccups, flutters, and tics. By month 8 there is lesser room for kicks. If your baby is active even during this month, you can sit down a bit more to slow down the kicks.
The baby changes its positions as per your lying down positions. During the month 9, you can feel more than the kicks. You will feel the baby turn over to the other side. You could also feel the feet of the baby inside your ribs nudging it.
What ultrasounds let you see
This is the test that gives you insights into the time and the type of movements of the baby. You can predict the behavior and personality of the baby depending on the pattern of their movements.
You can see the baby wiggle and do other movements if the baby is awake inside your womb during the scan. During the scan, if you are able to see the baby suck his thumb you can predict if the baby is right or left handed.
As the pregnancy grows you might not be able to notice movements. This is all the information you can read about when you should feel the baby move.
