Baby movements during pregnancy
What’s normal?
Most people usually start to feel their baby move between 16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. You may feel your baby move as early as 16 weeks of pregnancy, especially if you’ve been pregnant before. If this is your first pregnancy, you may not notice your baby’s movements until you are more than 20 weeks pregnant.
What does baby movement feel like?
A baby’s movements can be anything from a kick, flutter, punch, swish or roll. The type of movement may change as your pregnancy progresses. Baby movement is often referred to as ‘baby kicks’
How often should my baby move?
All babies are different! There is no set number of normal movements. From 16 – 24 weeks on you should feel your baby move more and more until 32 weeks. After 32 weeks, movements should stay roughly the same until you give birth. It’s important to get to know your baby’s regular pattern of movement.
Why are my baby’s movements important?
Your baby’s movements are a sign of their well-being. A reduction or change in your baby’s movements can sometimes be a warning sign that they’re unwell. It’s important to know that it’s NOT true that babies move less towards the end of pregnancy. You should continue to feel your baby move right up to the time you go into labour and whilst you are in labour too.
Why would my baby’s movement reduce?
When the baby is being deprived of oxygen they will slow their movements to conserve oxygen. Cord compression, a failing placenta, or a high intake of smoke may all lead to reduced movements and could be potentially fatal.
What should I do if I notice reduced movement?
If you think your baby’s movements have slowed down or stopped, contact your maternity unit immediately. Midwives and doctors are there to help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Don’t put off calling until the next day or wait until your next scheduled appointment. Don’t worry about picking up the phone, it’s important for your doctors and midwives to know if your baby’s movements have slowed down or stopped.
What if my baby’s movements are reduced again?
You should contact your maternity unit again, however many times it happens. Even if everything was normal last time, don’t hesitate to contact your midwife or maternity unit for advice. You’re always doing the right thing.
Charlotte, shares her story of how important Kicks Count was to her family:
“On the 28th of May I had been busy all day when I suddenly thought; oh god, when did the baby last move?’ I phoned the labour ward in tears as I tried to say the words my baby’s stopped moving. We drove to the hospital in silence where they listened for the baby’s heartbeat. They found it but it kept dipping. A surgeon came in and told me that the baby needed to come out now, I was terrified!
After delivering Jasper the amazing surgeon said she’d never seen anything like it, Jasper had wrapped the cord around his stomach three times, around his ankle twice and it had a knot in it - he was suffocating himself with every movement, which is why he’d stopped moving. We were told he would have never made a natural birth and that had we put off coming in our story would have been very different.
We are daily overwhelmed with emotions that our beautiful boy is here. The moral of the story is don’t ignore your instincts, don’t ever put off getting movements checked and make sure you’re aware of any changes in movements as it could quite literally save your baby’s life - like it did Jaspers.
We are eternally grateful for the awareness raised by Kicks Count.”
About Kicks Count
We have many ways that we try to educate parents on the importance of monitoring baby’s movements. We provide free resources to midwives including leaflets, maternity note inserts, stickers, posters and banners. Our website is a valuable resource for up-to-date fetal movement and pregnancy information. We post regularly on social media channels. Our free mobile app helps you keep track of baby’s movements and identify a change in pattern.
You can find more out about Kicks Count here