When does fetal movement occur? When does fetal movement begin during pregnancy? When mom starts to feel movements

In fact, the baby begins to move much earlier than the mother feels it.

The first movement of the child, the period when it begins and what it looks like

On average, a woman feels the first movements of a baby for about twentieth week. This may happen earlier, but the expectant mother may simply not understand what exactly she felt.

Women describe their feelings during the first stirring of the crumbs in different ways. Usually they are light, for some they look like tickling, for some they look like “fluttering butterflies” in the stomach, for some it seems that a fish is swimming in the tummy.

As the baby grows, the sensations from his movements will become more pronounced and will begin to clearly resemble tremors.

Where are the first fetal movements felt during pregnancy

If the baby lies head down, movements will be felt in the upper abdomen. If the baby has taken a breech presentation, the mother will feel tremors in the lower part of the belly.

First pregnancy or second, does this affect the first movement of the fetus

How to understand the baby, the language of movements

If mommy experiences stress, a nervous experience, the baby may stop actively moving and “freeze” for a while.
In addition, the baby also has periods of calm when he sleeps and periods of wakefulness. You can wake him up and bring him into an active state, for example, by eating something sweet.

Also, the baby can hiccup, swallowing the amniotic fluid. At the same time, the wife will feel a rhythmic shudder in her stomach.

What determines the motor activity of the baby

If the baby does not move, this may indicate problems, for example, oxygen starvation - hypoxia.

If your baby is active, regularly pushes and makes you aware - all is well.

When to See a Doctor

Fetal movement is one of the most exciting moments in the entire pregnancy. What do you need to know about it?

This amazing moment comes during pregnancy for every woman. At first, it is easy to confuse it with intestinal motility or muscle tension in the abdominal walls, but over time, the movements become stronger and more distinct.

The importance lies in the fact that the severity and activity of movements are diagnostic criteria for the health of the unborn child. Even in the last century, diagnostic tests were created that, using fetal motility, can detect hypoxia and fetoplacental insufficiency.

But how to correctly interpret these results? What factors affect the motor skills of the baby in the womb?

First fetal movements

The nervous system of the embryo begins to form at the 6th week of pregnancy. Already at the 7-8th week, involuntary movements are recorded, but during this period the embryo is still too small (its length is only 15-22 mm), so the woman does not feel these movements. At the 10-11th week, centers of motor regulation are formed in the brain. Then the first voluntary muscle contractions occur.

After the development of the placenta in the first trimester, the fetus is in "free swimming" in the amniotic fluid, which protects it from infectious, temperature and mechanical factors. It can independently push off the walls of the uterus, but because of its size and low strength, the pregnant woman does not feel these tremors.

The turning point comes at 16-22 weeks. The unborn child reaches a size of 18-22 cm, and its weight increases sharply to 150-300 g. It begins to respond to external stimuli (sound, mechanical).

What affects the duration of the sensation of the first stirring

For the first time, the sensation of fetal movements is noted in pregnant women at various times. Why is this happening? This is influenced by a number of factors:

1. Features of the constitution of the body. In women who are overweight or overweight, this occurs more often at 21-22 weeks. Fat deposits in the abdominal cavity act as a shock absorber for the movements of the child. Thin pregnant women notice movement already at the 18-19th week.
2. During the first pregnancy, women usually feel movements later than with subsequent ones. This is due to the fact that after childbirth, the tone of the anterior abdominal wall decreases and the sensations of fetal movements are already familiar to the woman. Therefore, during the second pregnancy, she notes them about two weeks earlier.
3. The number of fruits. With multiple pregnancies, the mother can feel their movements from the 16th week (or even earlier).
4. Mother's expectation. If a pregnant woman purposefully waits for the baby to move and constantly listens to herself, then she notes them a little earlier.

How does it feel to stir

The motor activity of the fetus is captured by mechanoreceptors, which are located on the walls of the abdominal cavity and on the internal organs. Therefore, at first its symptoms are non-specific. Women often describe wiggling as a “butterfly fluttering” or “fish swimming” sensation in the abdomen. Also, the movements of the child are confused with the motor activity of the intestine.

From the 22nd week, the movement becomes more noticeable. It is felt as pressure or "kicks" in various parts of the abdomen, the intensity of which increases over time. In the second trimester, the baby can freely change its location in the uterus. When turning over, you can notice a change in the external configuration of the abdomen. Sometimes a footprint is clearly visible.

In the third trimester of pregnancy, the fetus grows to 40-50 cm in length and takes a more stable position. His thrusts can be painful, as he often touches the bladder, liver, or stomach with his limbs.

Factors of physical activity

The fetus, while in the uterus, is able to respond to various external and internal stimuli. Its motor activity depends on the following factors:

1. Times of Day. Many pregnant women note that their child is most active in the evening or at night.
2. Relationship with nutrition. Often motor activity increases after the mother's dinner, or, conversely, when she is hungry.
3. Voices of familiar people. Experiments have confirmed that the fetus from the second trimester can recognize the voices that he often hears. They can calm him down, or, conversely, activate him.
4. extraneous noise. Sharp sounds stimulate movement.
5. The psychoemotional state of the mother. During stress, excitement, feeling of fear or depression of the mother, the child may experience hypo- or hyperdynamia.
6. Uncomfortable position of the mother and physical exercise. More often the child moves at rest or when he is uncomfortable.

Movement rate

The activity of the child in the womb gradually increases. On the 20th week, on average, he makes 160-180 movements, and the maximum number is observed on the 28-30th week - 500-600. In the third trimester, their number decreases somewhat due to the small amount of free space. Naturally, the mother feels only the most powerful shocks of the fetus.

At what time is it desirable to start monitoring the frequency of movements of the child? Experts recommend doing this from the 28th week. A woman is given special forms with tables where she writes down her observations. Medical staff must explain to the pregnant woman how to do it correctly, in what situations one should not panic and when to see a doctor.

How long should I worry if there is no movement? Almost all patients feel fetal movements until the end of the 22nd week. But if this does not happen, then it is better to contact your gynecologist.

Movement and cardiotocography

Cardiotocography is a non-invasive ultrasound method for diagnosing fetal heart rate. The norm of this indicator is 120-160 beats per minute. It is carried out as planned in the second and third trimester of pregnancy after examination by a gynecologist.

An important diagnostic value is the motor-cardiac reflex, which appears in the fetus from the 28th week. During conventional cardiotocography, simultaneous monitoring of motor activity is carried out. A pregnant woman is given a remote control with a button that she presses when the baby moves. At these moments, the heart rate on ultrasound for more than 10 seconds increases by 15-30 beats per minute.

If the child remained calm all the time of the examination, then the pregnant woman is asked to walk around the office a little.

The absence of a motor-cardiac reflex indicates the development of fetoplacental insufficiency, which is accompanied by impaired blood supply to the fetus.

Table of movements

In gynecological practice, a table of movements is used, in which the pregnant woman enters her observations of the motor activity of the fetus. There are several varieties of it:

1. Pearson table("Count to ten") is the most commonly used. Observation is carried out from 9 am to 9 pm. In this case, it is necessary to record the time of the 10th stirring in a special table (for example, 12:30).
2. Cardiff method. The woman independently chooses the time for observation (but also 12 hours) and fixes when the 10th movement occurred, the time of which is recorded on a special form.
3. Sadowski's technique. A pregnant woman lies on her left side after dinner (these factors contribute to increased motor activity). Within four hours, she should feel more than 10 separate shocks.

When using the Pearson or Cardiff methods, the pregnant woman can carry out daily activities, but without excessive physical exertion.

anxiety symptoms

There are a number of situations when a pregnant woman should immediately seek medical help:

• there is no physical activity of the child for more than six hours;
• fetal tremors suddenly weakened sharply and began to occur much less often;
• against the background of physical inactivity, there was a sharp pain in the abdomen, blood or purulent discharge from the genital tract appeared;
• Your water broke prematurely or contractions started.

If during cardiotocography a decrease in fetal motor activity is detected, there is no motor-cardiac reflex, the pregnant woman is recommended to be hospitalized in the pathology department, where additional studies are carried out (blood tests, dopplerography, amniocentesis, and others), supportive therapy is prescribed. Since the goal is to save the life of the mother and child, the possibility of premature birth (by caesarean section) is discussed.

When there's no reason to worry

Sometimes the fetus can swallow amniotic water, which provokes rhythmic contractions of the diaphragm (hiccups), which the mother feels. This is an absolutely safe state.

You should not panic if there is no active movement for several hours. The baby can sleep at this time. His daily rhythm often does not coincide with the mother's.

If he is too active at night and prevents the woman from resting, then it is better to adapt to the rhythm of the child. A few hours of daytime sleep will allow you to fully restore strength.

During the first pregnancy, active fetal movement is often noted, which brings significant discomfort or pain to the pregnant woman. There is no risk of injury or dysfunction of the digestive or urinary system. This is not a harbinger of preterm labor. Pregnant women are advised to choose a comfortable position (on their side), use loose clothing, pillows and orthopedic mattresses.

Fetal movements are unforgettable feelings that a woman experiences during pregnancy. From the moment of confirmation of the fact of pregnancy, the woman is looking forward to when the child begins to move. The first fetal movement appears already at the 8th week of pregnancy. It is reflex, appears with the beginning of the work of the children's nervous system.

Such motor activity is not felt by a woman - the fetus has not yet grown to the desired size. The pregnant woman begins to feel movements much later, when the child reaches the required size. According to the first movements, the doctor calculates and records the approximate date of birth in the exchange card.

At what time does the movement appear?

From the 12th week of pregnancy, when the placenta is formed, the fetus increases in size and gradually occupies the uterine cavity. By week 16, he reacts to external stimuli (loud sounds, bright lights) and actively makes movements in response to them. But not all women feel tremors at this time. AT Normally, noticeable fetal movements appear before the 24th week of pregnancy. This range of appearance of perceptible activity is determined by the following factors:

• What is the pregnancy.

During the first pregnancy, movements are determined at a later date by about 20 weeks. With repeated pregnancies - from 16 weeks. With multiple pregnancies, movements appear much earlier. Some women claim that they felt active movements from the 14th week of pregnancy.

• Individual threshold of sensitivity.
• The physique of the expectant mother.

If a woman is thin, then she feels movements and pushes better. With a dense physique, sensitivity decreases.

• Attachment of the placenta.

If it happened to the anterior uterine wall, then the tremors will begin to be felt later.

• Fetal position.

When the child is located with his back to the anterior wall of the uterus, the movements are felt less. Distinct tremors are felt when the child's limbs come into contact with the uterus along the front surface.

• Lifestyle of a pregnant woman.

If a woman leads an active lifestyle during pregnancy, then she may not notice the movement of the fetus. In a calm state, the situation changes.

• The emotional state of a woman. With positive emotions and a desire to feel her child faster, a pregnant woman pays close attention to all changes in the body, picks up even the weakest shocks.

What does a woman feel when she moves?

Recognizing the first movement can be difficult. These tremors are perceived by a woman as rumbling in the stomach or intestinal peristalsis. Those pregnant women who managed to recognize the movement compare this phenomenon with the movement of the wings of a butterfly, if it is placed between the palms and a closed space is created. For some pregnant women, the movements of the fetus resemble tickling, bursting of bubbles, or gurgling in the stomach.

The first movements of the baby in the abdomen may resemble stroking. The movement of the fetus during pregnancy in early pregnancy is often felt as a pulse in the abdomen. In the later stages, the children's part of the body that makes the movement is clearly defined. It can be an arm, leg, head or buttocks. Movements often bring inconvenience and pain - shocks occur in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe liver, stomach, diaphragm, and bladder.

Normal fetal movements

For 9 months, the child grows and develops, body size increases, and by the end of pregnancy, he is in cramped conditions. During pregnancy, the number of movements also changes. The child is in motion most of the time, the lull falls on the period of sleep.

By the 20th week of pregnancy, fetal movements reach 200 times per day. At 26-30 weeks - about 600 movements.

In the future, the number of active movements decreases, and before childbirth they become rare. It is worth noting that the pregnant woman does not feel more than half of the movements. On average, movements occur 10-15 times in one hour. During the period when the child sleeps, they are normally absent up to 3 hours. Fetal mobility depends on the following factors:

• Physical stress experienced by a pregnant woman. The calmer the woman behaves, the more actively the fetus performs movements.
• The nature of the diet of a pregnant woman. If the woman is hungry, the baby moves more and the tremors are felt more strongly. When eating sweets, the movements become more active.
• Times of Day. The maximum activity in the fetus appears in the evening and at night.
• Incorrect body position of a pregnant woman. In this case, the fetus begins to move strongly and often, causing pain in the woman.
• Psycho-emotional state of a woman. With strong tension (stress, fears), the fetus may be overly active or, conversely, calm down.
• Surrounding sounds, bright light cause an increase in motor activity or, conversely, its subsidence.

Fetal movements before delivery

Approximately 2 weeks before childbirth, motor activity decreases, the nature of movements changes. This is due to the cessation of growth of the uterus, cramped conditions in the womb. The child is gaining strength before the birth. During this period, it descends into the small pelvis with the presenting part. The woman feels light, shortness of breath disappears, it becomes easier to breathe. Strong movements of the fetus are replaced by complete calm, and vice versa. A few days before the birth, activity may not be determined at all or be too violent.

Counting methods

The deviation of the number of movements from the average values ​​up or down is noted as an unfavorable sign. Such changes indicate oxygen starvation in a child (hypoxia) - chronic or acute, a change in the amount of amniotic fluid. The number of tremors decreases due to the excess volume of amniotic fluid, an increase in tremors is associated with or hypoxia. You can calculate the number of movements using three methods based on the creation of graphs or tables:

• Pearson's method.

Active movements are counted over a 12-hour period (9 am - 9 pm). It is necessary to create a schedule in which to fix the time from the beginning of the count to the tenth movement of the fetus. Normally, he will make ten movements within one hour. If the fetal movements have not reached ten in an hour, you need to try to provoke them: stroke your stomach, eat chocolate or candy, turn on pleasant music or sounds of nature. Then restart counting. If in the future the child remains passive, you should consult a gynecologist.

• Cardiff way.

The calculation of active movements is carried out for 12 hours. The pregnant woman must independently choose the time to start the count. The graph records the starting time of counting and the tenth movement of the fetus. If the tenth movement appeared before 12 noon, no further calculation is carried out. If ten shocks are not recorded in a 12-hour time interval, it is necessary to visit a doctor for examination.

• Sadowski method.

The movement of the fetus during pregnancy is calculated by this method during the period of its activity (7 hours–23 hours). The chart marks the time when the counting began, the woman takes a horizontal position on her side. If the child has made ten active movements in 60–120 minutes, the counting stops. If the movements have not reached ten times during this period, it is necessary to undergo an additional examination by a gynecologist.

Movement during pregnancy with twins or triplets

With the development of multiple pregnancy, physical activity is felt stronger, and the tremors become more intense. A multiple pregnancy makes itself felt earlier than a single pregnancy, at about 14 weeks. The tremors of the fetus that has taken a position near the anterior wall of the uterus will be pronounced. To calculate motor activity, the Sadowsky, Cardiff or Pearson method is used, but the values ​​obtained are multiplied by the number of children in the womb.

Fetal movements during pregnancy are a vital sign. He makes it clear that the child is alive and growing. But do not panic if tangible tremors do not appear by the 16th week of pregnancy. To calm down, you can undergo an unscheduled ultrasound examination and make sure that the pregnancy is developing and the child is growing. If the movements felt good, and they became much less, or they stopped altogether, you should immediately consult a doctor for an examination. This will help prevent adverse effects.

With the end of the first trimester of pregnancy, anxiety about its sudden interruption subsides, health improves, and the tummy begins to grow. The little man inside you is growing and gaining strength. Now the most long-awaited event for the expectant mother is the feeling of the first movements - an incomparable feeling that gives pregnancy a special charm. When does a baby start moving in the womb? This question is asked not only by pregnant women for the first time, but also by women who are carrying a second or third baby. In this article, we will tell you about the “standard” terms for feeling the first movements, depending on what pregnancy is in a row, and what the expectant mother feels at this time.

When does the baby start moving in the stomach?

When does the baby start to move? - a favorite question of all pregnant women. Although in fact, it would be more correct to ask it a little differently: when does the mother begin to feel the first movements of the child? The fact is that the child begins to move in the stomach already at 8-9 weeks of intrauterine life (10-11 obstetric weeks of pregnancy) . Nerve endings responsible for motor activity and muscle bundles appear and begin to develop. Nervous activity is not yet coordinated, so the movements of the fetus are chaotic and convulsive in nature. At this time, the child is not even called a fetus, but an embryo. A pregnant woman, of course, still does not feel any movements inside, because the baby is too small. The main part of the uterine space at this time is occupied by amniotic fluid, and the baby simply does not yet reach the walls of its “house”. However, very soon, in just a couple of months, the expectant mother will finally feel how the baby is actively moving in her stomach.

On term 11-15 obstetric weeks of pregnancy both hemispheres of the child's brain and the cerebellum are formed, due to which the movements of the crumbs become coordinated. He constantly moves inside the uterus: he moves his legs and arms, puts his fingers in his mouth. Mom still does not feel the activity of the fetus. Some women claim that they felt the first movement as early as 13-14 weeks of pregnancy, but doctors are skeptical about such statements. In short periods, pregnant women often mistake the movements of their own intestines for fetal movements.

At how many weeks of pregnancy does the baby begin to move so that the expectant mother feels it? On average, according to medical standards, the first movements are felt by a woman in 16-24 obstetric weeks of pregnancy . Knowing the day when the expectant mother felt the movements of the fetus, doctors can calculate the approximate date of birth (ED). For primiparas, 20 weeks are added to the existing date of the first movements, and for those expecting a second (third, etc.) child, 22 weeks. Of course, this is a very approximate method, but in combination with the date of the beginning of the last menstruation and ultrasound data, it allows you to quite accurately determine how long the pregnancy will last.

Some women panic when the period is already 20 weeks, and the baby does not move. Why is there no need to worry? First, pay attention to the obstetric terms of the first movements - 16-24 weeks. It is believed that the subjective feeling of the first tremors is influenced by the lifestyle of a pregnant woman (an active working woman simply does not concentrate on what is happening to her stomach). In addition, one of the versions of the absence of movement in the abdomen is the fixation of the placenta along the anterior wall of the uterus. In any case, if the tummy is growing, and the doctor records the fetal heartbeat during regular examinations, there is most likely no reason for concern.

After you feel the first movement of the baby, his activity will increase. The long-awaited sensations will become familiar to you. Period from 24 to 32 obstetric weeks of pregnancy is considered the time of maximum fetal motor activity. By the 24th week of pregnancy, the baby already lives according to its own regime: about 16-20 hours a day falls on sleep, and the baby is awake 4-6 hours a day. It has been noticed that the activity of the child and mother are inversely proportional, and the most obvious kicks are observed at a time when the mother sat down or lay down to rest. Most likely, this is due to the fact that mother's walks or other activity contribute to motion sickness of the crumbs, and he falls asleep sweetly. But in the evening or even at night it starts to show a real "break dance"! In addition, there is a direct connection between the emotional state of a pregnant woman and the movements of the baby. He may begin to kick hard or, on the contrary, freeze warily if the mother is frightened, delighted or upset.

After 32 weeks of pregnancy the child is already noticeably crowded in the uterus, so he no longer spins, but only pushes his mother from the inside. The nature of the movements of the crumbs is changing, and more rare than before, tremors can be quite painful for a woman and even interfere with a night's sleep. The expectant mother can only endure this temporary discomfort, try to walk more and not sleep on her back at night (this is how the vena cava, which delivers oxygen to the baby, is clamped).

First, second, third pregnancy: when does the mother begin to feel that the baby is moving?

You should not rely too much on the average timing of the first movements, because in the case of each pregnancy, the sensations are individual. Much depends on the physique of the woman, namely the thickness of the fat layer on the abdomen, and on what kind of pregnancy it is.

Movement of the baby during the first pregnancy

A woman expecting a baby for the first time is quite expected to be very interested in the question - when does the first child begin to move? It is believed that expectant mothers first feel fetal movements for about at the 20th obstetric week, or at the end of the 5th obstetric month of pregnancy . Thin women can feel the movements of the baby 1-2 weeks earlier.

Second pregnancy and baby moving: how many weeks?

When does the second baby start moving? As mentioned at the beginning of the article, regardless of the serial number of pregnancy, children begin to move their arms and legs in the stomach at about the same time. However, it is believed that the woman feels the first movements of the child during the second pregnancy a little earlier. “Experienced” mothers already know what it is like to feel the movements of the child inside them. They listen more closely to themselves and know what to expect. In addition, the muscles of the uterus of multiparous are usually somewhat stretched, which allows you to "catch" the movements a little earlier than the first time. The second child usually behaves approximately at 18-19 obstetric weeks of pregnancy .

Third pregnancy: when does the baby move?

Despite the experience of pregnancies, women are usually still interested in when the third child begins to move. The development of children, regardless of the serial number of pregnancy, is the same, the difference is only in mother's experience and a slightly more sensitive and stretched uterine wall. Therefore, most often the first movements during the third pregnancy, women feel about at 18 obstetric weeks .

It should be noted that pregnant women for the second and third times are usually more confident and calm about the baby, so they can, on the contrary, listen less to the movements taking place inside. And the presence of a child (children), especially a small one, often does not allow you to follow a new pregnancy very carefully. Therefore, mommy can feel the first movements at about the same time as for the first time - for a period of about 20 weeks. In any case, the task of the future mother is to visit the gynecologist who observes the pregnancy in a timely manner, take the necessary tests and report any concerns. Don't panic unnecessarily and everything will be fine.

It is quite difficult to answer the question of when the baby should start moving in the stomach. There are only average terms - 16-24 obstetric weeks of pregnancy. Usually it is at this time that most women feel the first movements of the fetus. If something bothers you (you don’t feel any movement, you are very worried about the baby), be sure to contact your obstetrician-gynecologist who is watching you. Only he can completely dispel your worries.

The first movements: what are they? Sensations when the baby starts to move

The first pregnancy is a mysterious time! Of course, you want to quickly feel the first movements of the child. But how do you know what they are? Are there any "signs" of movement?

Let's turn to the experience of "experienced" mothers. To the question: “What do the movements of a child look like?” they answer like this:

• for gentle stroking from the inside;
• the fluttering of a butterfly;
• as if a fish swam;
• feather tickling;
• just light strokes.

As you can see, the subjective sensations of pregnant women at the first stirring of the child are very different. They depend not only on the "poetic" mood of a woman, but also on the individual characteristics of her body. Fragile, thin pregnant women will feel movements earlier, but they will also probably feel lighter tremors of the baby in the stomach.

Some women find it difficult to recognize the movement of the child, because they confuse it with intestinal motility. As if something is overflowing or rolling in the abdomen. And if you carefully observe, it becomes clear - this is not the intestines at all. As your pregnancy progresses, you will be able to easily determine the cause of movements in your tummy.

The day when the baby in the stomach begins to move becomes an unusual milestone in pregnancy. You truly feel a new life developing within. The feeling of the first movements is always accompanied by vivid emotions, and this is not surprising. The baby's pushes are one of the important ways of his intrauterine communication with his mother. Soon you will notice the reaction of the crumbs to your voice and the voices of loved ones, changes in activity in response to your mood, time of day and various foods. Watching the movements of the child will be very interesting.

We wish you an easy pregnancy and a pleasant "communication" with the baby in your tummy!

The time when a woman carries a child in her womb is one of the happiest and most enjoyable moments. However, with the onset of pregnancy, the expectant mother has a lot of questions with which she turns to her friends or the local gynecologist. In this article, we will talk about how the baby moves in the stomach. You will learn all the subtleties of this process. You can also find out at how many weeks the baby begins to move during the first pregnancy.

Fetal movements: a general description of the process and its features

To begin with, it is worth saying a few words about what perturbations are. Immediately after conception, the embryo is more like a fetus. It is a lump of continuously dividing cells. After the introduction of the fetal egg into the wall of the uterus, the rapid transformation of the new organism begins. At this stage, the expectant mother only learns about her new position and often does not think about how many weeks the child begins to move. However, over time, everything changes, and a pregnant woman has new questions.

At how many weeks does the baby start moving?

It is worth noting that it is impossible to give an exact answer to this question. There are several stages of development of the baby, at each of them the movements can be completely diverse. Let's consider each term separately.

Pregnancy 8-10 weeks: first movements

At how many weeks does the baby start to move in the mother's stomach? This process begins exactly at the specified time. However, at this time, the woman still does not feel any changes. Most of the fair sex, who are in an interesting position, do not even see the belly yet. The uterus is located deep in the pelvis.

How does the baby move in the stomach at this time? The movements of the embryo during this period are chaotic. The baby is just beginning to move his arms and legs. For him, this process can be called new. The child learns to bend and unbend his fingers, clench his fists.

Pregnancy 12-14 weeks: coordination

How should the baby move at this stage? This period plays an important role in the development of the embryo. It is at 12-14 weeks that the brain begins to work actively, or rather its part, which is responsible for coordination. The movements of the child are more concentrated and precise. The baby can already rub his eyes, suck his thumb and do other work with his limbs.

Despite the fact that at this stage the uterus begins to leave the pelvic area, the expectant mother still does not feel the movements of her unborn child. It is worth noting that the first ultrasound examination is carried out precisely at this time. If a woman does not yet feel the movements of the child, then she will be able to see them on the monitor of the device.

Pregnancy 16-20 weeks: the first tangible tremors

At what time does the child move so that the mother feels it? It is at this stage of development. The expectant mother may not understand at first that her baby is moving. Especially primiparous women often confuse the first perceptible movements of the fetus with the work of the intestines. At this time, the movements are more like air bubbles that burst in the stomach. Also, many expectant mothers compare the first movements of the baby with the swimming of a fish.

Movement during this period is felt very rarely and only at rest. In order to feel the tremors, a woman needs to lie on her back and put her hand on her lower abdomen.

Pregnancy 20-24 weeks: active movements

At this time period, a more intensive movement of the unborn child begins. He gets stronger and bigger. Mom can already feel not swimming fish or bubbles, but obvious unexpected jolts. It is worth noting that pregnant women can feel movements in completely different places.

Pregnancy 25-32 weeks: peak physical activity

At this stage, the movements of the baby are very different from the first shocks. The expectant mother can constantly feel movements. The baby is spinning in the womb, he is still quite free there. The baby can roll over several times a day, push the mother and hit nearby organs. So, often pregnant women say that the baby is knocking on the bladder.

Over 32 weeks pregnant: lazy strokes

This time period is characterized by a decrease in motor activity. The baby is already cramped, and he cannot spin easily. At this stage, the expectant mother begins to feel the new movements of the crumbs. The embryo no longer pushes with a pen or leg, but exposes any limb and stretches the uterus.

Such movements are more like the baby stroking the mother from the inside. Sometimes you can still feel the sharp jolts of the child, but this happens less and less. More often, mom (and other people) can see how her stomach "walks". Different parts of the body are constantly sticking out of it.

First pregnancy: fetal movement

To begin with, it is worth saying that each pregnancy is individual. Many doctors say that with each subsequent child, the first movements are felt earlier. This is due to the fact that the woman already knows what to expect. This time, she won't confuse the first light thrusts with bowel movements.

Much also depends on the location of the placenta. If this organ is located on the back wall of the reproductive organ, then the mother will feel the movements of the child a few weeks earlier. When the placenta is located in front, it softens the blows of the crumbs and its movements are recognized later. An important role in the period at which the baby begins to move is played by the physique of the expectant mother. Thin women begin to feel movements a little earlier than full persons. This is due to the fact that the layer of fat acts as a pillow and absorbs the crumbs.

There are women who claim to feel the first movements as early as 10 weeks of pregnancy. Doctors are very skeptical about such statements and say that this is simply impossible. Also, some expectant mothers claim that the movements are noticeable from 5 weeks. This statement can be considered complete nonsense. At this stage, the baby is still a fetus and does not show any physical activity. Most likely, these women confuse increased gas formation with the movements of the crumbs.

Summing up and conclusion

So, now you know what features pregnancy has. The child often moves mainly at the border of the second and third trimester. If you are concerned about the movements of your unborn baby, talk to your doctor. Do not listen too much to the stories of experienced girlfriends. Each woman is individual. Pregnancy is different for everyone.

If you do not feel movements for quite a long time (up to 25 weeks), then we can talk about a developmental delay or missed pregnancy. In this case, the doctor recommends an ultrasound diagnosis to make sure that everything is fine with the baby. Ultrasound should also be done if the previously active baby suddenly calmed down (for a day or more), and the expectant mother stopped feeling his movements.

Enjoy your new position and don't worry. There will come a day when you will feel light tremors that will intensify and change each time. Have an easy pregnancy and successful delivery!