As a rule, women feel the first distinct movements of the fetus closer to the second half of pregnancy, and multiparous women feel them earlier than mothers expecting their first child. This is due to the fact that women who have given birth already know what these sensations are, and women who are pregnant for the first time may initially confuse fetal movements, while they are not yet intense enough, with intestinal peristalsis, gas formation in the abdomen or muscle contractions. In addition, in multipregnant women, the anterior abdominal wall is more stretched and sensitive. Chubby women feel fetal movements a little later than thin women.
So, during the first pregnancy, women feel the first movements of the fetus, usually between 18 and 22 weeks (usually at 20 weeks), and multiparous women can feel the movements of the unborn baby as early as 16 weeks.
When expectant mothers begin to feel the movements of their babies, they have many questions and doubts: how often should a child move? Is he moving intensely enough?
It should be remembered that each baby is individual and develops at its own pace, and the norms regarding fetal movements have a fairly wide range.
Character of movements
First trimester. The most intensive growth of the unborn child occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy. First, a group of cells rapidly divides, grows, and becomes an embryo, which attaches to the wall of the uterus and begins to grow, protected by the amniotic fluid, membranes, and muscular wall of the uterus.
Already from 7–8 weeks, an ultrasound examination can record how the limbs of the embryo move. This happens because his nervous system is already mature enough to conduct nerve impulses to the muscles. At this time, the embryo moves chaotically, and its movements seem to be devoid of any meaning. And of course, he is still too small, and the movements are too weak to be felt.
Second trimester. By 14–15 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus has already grown and its limbs have fully differentiated (they have acquired the familiar appearance and shape of arms and legs), movements have become intense and active. During this period, the baby floats freely in the amniotic fluid and pushes away from the walls of the uterus. Of course, he is still very small, so these repulsions are weak and the expectant mother does not feel them yet.
By 18–20 weeks, the fetus grows and its movements become more noticeable. Pregnant women describe these light first touches as “the fluttering of butterflies,” “the swimming of fish.”
As the fetus grows, the sensations become more distinct, and by 20–22 weeks, as a rule, all pregnant women clearly feel the movements of their baby.
In the second trimester, expectant mothers may feel “pushes” of the baby in different parts of the abdomen, because he has not yet taken a certain position in the uterus and there is still enough space for him to turn over and rotate in all directions.
What do children do while in their mother's womb? According to observations made during ultrasound examination, unborn children have many different activities: they drink amniotic fluid (ultrasound shows how the lower jaw moves), turn their head, twist their legs, can clasp their legs with their hands, finger and grab the umbilical cord.
As the pregnancy progresses, the baby grows and becomes stronger. Light pushes are already replaced by strong “kicks”, and when the baby turns over inside the uterus, it is noticeable from the outside how the stomach changes its configuration. At the same time, a mother may experience that her baby “hiccups.” At the same time, the woman feels the child shudder at regular intervals. “Hiccupping” movements are associated with the fact that the fetus intensively swallows amniotic fluid and its diaphragm begins to actively contract. Such movements of the diaphragm are a reflexive attempt to push out fluid. This is completely safe and normal. The absence of “hiccups” is also a variant of the norm.
Third trimester. By the beginning of the third trimester, the fetus can freely turn over and rotate, and by 30–32 weeks it occupies a permanent position in the uterine cavity. In most cases, it is positioned head down. This is called cephalic presentation of the fetus. If the baby is positioned with his legs or buttocks down, then this is called breech presentation of the fetus. With a cephalic presentation, active movements are felt in the upper half of the abdomen, and with a pelvic presentation, on the contrary, they are felt in the lower sections.
During the third trimester, a pregnant woman may also notice that her baby has certain sleep-wake cycles. The expectant mother already knows in what body position the baby is most comfortable, because when the mother is positioned in a position that is uncomfortable for the baby, he will definitely let you know about it with violent, intense movements. When a pregnant woman lies on her back, the uterus puts pressure on blood vessels, particularly those that carry oxygenated blood to the uterus and the fetus.
Closer to childbirth, movements are felt mainly in the area where the baby’s limbs are located, most often in the right hypochondrium (since in the vast majority of cases the fetus is positioned head down and back to the left). Such jolts can even cause pain to the expectant mother. However, if you lean forward slightly, the baby will stop pushing so hard. This can be explained by the fact that in this position the blood flow improves, more oxygen reaches the fetus and it “calms down”.
Shortly before labor begins, the baby's head (or buttocks, if the fetus is in a breech position) is pressed against the entrance to the pelvis. From the outside it seems as if the stomach has “sank”. Pregnant women note that before childbirth, the motor activity of the fetus decreases. This is explained by the fact that at the very end of pregnancy the fetus is already so large that there is not enough space for it to actively move and it seems to “calm down”. Some expectant mothers, on the contrary, note an increase in the motor activity of the fetus, since some babies, on the contrary, respond to mechanical restrictions on motor activity with more violent movements.
How often does the fetus move?
The nature of the motor activity of the fetus is a kind of “sensor” of the course of pregnancy. By how intense and often the movements are felt, one can indirectly judge whether the pregnancy is going well and how the baby feels. Approximately until the 26th week, while the fetus is still quite small, the expectant mother can notice large periods of time (up to a day) between episodes of fetal movements. This does not mean that the baby does not move for so long. It’s just that a woman may not notice some movements, because the fetus is not yet strong enough, and the expectant mother has not yet learned well enough to recognize the movements of her child. But from 26–28 weeks it is believed that the fetus should move 10 times every two to three hours.
Obstetricians and gynecologists have developed a special “calendar of fetal movements.” During the day, the woman counts how many times her baby moves and records the time when every tenth movement occurred. If it seems to a pregnant woman that the baby has calmed down, she needs to take a comfortable position, relax, eat something (it is believed that after eating, the fetal motor activity increases) and within two hours note how many times the baby moves during this time.
If there are 7-10 movements, then there is nothing to worry about: everything is fine with the child. If the mother does not feel the baby's movements within 2 hours, she should walk around or go up and down the stairs, and then lie down quietly. As a rule, these events help to activate the fetus, and movements will resume. If this does not happen, you should consult a doctor within the next 2-3 hours. The nature of the movements is a reflection of the functional state of the fetus, so it is necessary to listen to them. If the expectant mother has noticed that in recent days the child has begun to move less, she should also consult a doctor to check how the baby is feeling.
By the third trimester of pregnancy, expectant mothers, as a rule, already know well the nature of their children’s movements and can notice any changes in the “behavior” of their babies. For most women, an alarming sign is violent, too active movement. However, increased physical activity is not a pathology and is most often associated with the uncomfortable position of the expectant mother, when less oxygen is temporarily supplied to the fetus due to decreased blood flow. It is known that when a pregnant woman lies on her back or sits leaning far back, the fetus begins to move more actively than usual. This is due to the fact that the pregnant uterus compresses the blood vessels that, in particular, carry blood to the uterus and placenta. When they are compressed, blood flows to the fetus through the umbilical cord in a smaller volume, as a result of which it feels a lack of oxygen and begins to move more actively. If you change your body position, for example, sit with a forward bend or lie on your side, the blood flow will be restored and the fetus will move with its normal activity.
When should you worry?
A terrible and alarming indicator is a decrease in motor activity or the disappearance of the child’s movements. This suggests that the fetus is already suffering from hypoxia, that is, lack of oxygen. If you notice that your baby begins to move less often, or you do not feel his movements for more than 6 hours, you should immediately consult an obstetrician. If it is not possible to visit a doctor on an outpatient basis, you can call an ambulance.
First of all, the doctor will use an obstetric stethoscope to listen to the fetal heartbeat; normally it should be 120–160 beats per minute (on average 136–140 beats per minute).
Even if during normal auscultation (listening) the fetal heart rate is determined within normal limits, it is necessary to perform another procedure - a cardiotocographic study (CTG). CTG is a method that allows you to evaluate the fetal heartbeat and its functional state, to check whether the baby is suffering from hypoxia (lack of oxygen).
During the study, a special sensor is attached with straps to the anterior abdominal wall on the back of the child in the approximate projection of his heart. This sensor detects the fetal heartbeat curve. At the same time, the pregnant woman holds a special button in her hand, which should be pressed when she feels the fetus moving. This is shown on the chart with special marks. Normally, in response to movement, the fetal heart rate begins to increase in frequency: this is called the “motor-cardiac reflex.” This reflex appears after 30–32 weeks, so CTG before this period is not sufficiently informative.
CTG is performed for 30 minutes. If during this time no increase in heart rate is recorded in response to movements, then the doctor asks the pregnant woman to walk for a while or climb up the stairs several times, and then makes another recording. If myocardial complexes do not appear, then this indirectly indicates fetal hypoxia (lack of oxygen). In this case, and also if the baby begins to move poorly before 30–32 weeks, the doctor will prescribe a Doppler test. During this test, the doctor measures the speed of blood flow in the umbilical cord vessels and in some fetal vessels. Based on these data, it is also possible to determine whether the fetus is suffering from hypoxia.
If signs of fetal hypoxia are detected, obstetric tactics are determined by the severity of hypoxia. If the signs of hypoxia are insignificant and unexpressed, then the pregnant woman is advised to observe, conduct CTG and Doppler measurements and evaluate their results over time, as well as prescribe medications that improve blood circulation and the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. If signs of hypoxia increase, as well as in the presence of pronounced signs of hypoxia, immediate delivery should be performed, since effective drug therapy aimed at eliminating fetal hypoxia does not exist today. Whether it is a cesarean section or a vaginal delivery depends on many factors.
Among them are the condition of the mother, the readiness of the birth canal, the duration of pregnancy and a number of other factors. This decision is made by the gynecologist individually in each specific case.
Thus, every woman should listen to the movements of her child. If you have any doubts about the well-being of the fetus, you should not delay a visit to the doctor, since a timely visit to an obstetrician-gynecologist can prevent negative pregnancy outcomes.
Every pregnant woman eagerly waits for her baby to make itself known. And many mothers, especially first-time mothers, wonder: at how many weeks will the baby begin to move? But there is no clear answer here. Let's try to figure out if there is an approximate time frame when a mother begins to hear her child.
According to the norms, in the first pregnancy, the fetus begins to move at 20 weeks, in the second, third and subsequent ones at 17-18. But in reality, everything does not always coincide with the norms.
So at how many weeks does a baby move for the first time? Much depends on how sensitive the subcutaneous fatty tissue on the stomach of the expectant mother is. The thinner it is and, therefore, the more sensitive, the earlier a woman will be able to feel the first movements of her baby. And vice versa.
Also, at how many weeks a child begins to move may depend on the child himself, because among babies there are both obvious sleepyheads who love to sleep, and “little ones” who move very actively.
It is known that the baby makes its first movements, which are still uncoordinated and spontaneous. At these times, the fetus is still so small that the mother, of course, will not feel its movements. Another interesting fact is that every day a baby makes up to 20,000 movements, including blinking, movements of arms, legs, fingers, head turns, swimming movements, hiccups, thumb sucking and much more.
Despite the above standards, when asked, many women who have already given birth answer that they noticed the first movements of their baby at 17-20 weeks in the first pregnancy and at 16-18 in the second. Some particularly sensitive mothers recognized fetal movements as early as 14-15 weeks! Another interesting point is that most women compare the first “movements” to the “light fluttering of butterflies” or the “gurgling of fish.”
By the way, at what month does the child move for the first time is important for the doctor. To this date, the doctor adds 20 weeks for the first pregnancy and 22 for the second - this is another way to determine the approximate date of birth.
As pregnancy progresses, the baby's movements become more intense and can sometimes even cause discomfort to the pregnant woman. But at the same time, you should know that it is through all these “movements” that the baby communicates with his mother, and in some cases, they can be used to judge the baby’s well-being.
Therefore, it is important to know not only at how many weeks the baby will begin to move, but also how often he will do this. Of course, as mentioned above, all children make a different number of movements in the womb depending on their temperament, but at least several times they should feel
Pregnancy is the happiest time in a woman's life. Of course, almost every expectant mother, when carrying a baby, faces many problems related to health and the course of pregnancy, but all this is definitely worth it, because at the end of this journey a long-awaited baby awaits her!
Content
One of the most anticipated moments for expectant mothers is the beginning of fetal movement. Pregnant women feel the first activity of the baby in the second trimester. It is important to record the first kick so that the gynecologist can determine the most accurate date of birth of the child.
How long does it take to feel your baby move?
Fetal movement begins earlier than the expectant mother can recognize it. At what stage of pregnancy does the baby begin to move? In the mother's womb, the baby shows its first activity on average at 8 weeks - at this time the formation of the baby's muscle tissues, which are responsible for motor functions, occurs. Since at 2 months the baby is still too small, and his movements are chaotic and convulsive, the woman has no sensations associated with this. This is also explained by the fact that amniotic fluid serves as a buffer for tremors.
Over time, the baby grows, reaching a size at which the tremors begin to be felt by the woman. The expectant mother will be able to recognize the first tremors at 18-22 weeks. However, this indicator is individual for each and depends on many aspects:
- how many births she experienced (primiparas do not feel longer that the baby has begun to kick);
- Is there a significant layer of fat on the peritoneum (thin girls begin to feel the baby pushing early);
- How is pregnancy progressing?
- what position is the baby in?
- features of the location of the placenta (lower or upper abdomen);
- what is the psycho-emotional state of the expectant mother, etc.
When does the fetus begin to move during the first pregnancy?
This is individual for each woman, but there are certain limits for how long the baby can be felt moving. As a rule, during the first pregnancy this becomes noticeable closer to the 20th week. At this time, the baby makes about two hundred movements per day, and until the 32nd week this number increases to 600. Experts associate this with the growth of the baby. The expectant mother does not even feel most of the pushing.
If a child pushes, this is considered normal, however, too active behavior that causes pain, or, conversely, excessive passivity may indicate fetal hypoxia (acute or chronic). In addition, changes in the way the baby moves sometimes indicate a violation of the volume of amniotic fluid:
- with oligohydramnios, pain worsens when the baby moves;
- With polyhydramnios, the expectant mother stops feeling the baby pushing.
When do movements begin during subsequent pregnancies?
The question of at what stage of pregnancy the fetus begins to move does not imply a clear answer: girls feel it at different times. As a rule, the first sensations during the second and subsequent pregnancies occur at 18-20 weeks. At 24 weeks, the baby can kick so hard and actively that even close people feel the tremors when they put their hand on the expectant mother’s belly. Other babies behave very quietly in the womb, so they may not bother the woman at all.
It is believed that multiparous girls begin to feel internal movements earlier than those who become pregnant for the first time. This is explained by the fact that during the second or third pregnancy, the woman already has some experience and can recognize even slight tremors. Unlike multiparous women, those who become pregnant for the first time often do not attach much importance to weak movements in the abdomen, treating them as ordinary intestinal peristalsis.
Science has long known at what weeks a child begins to move. The same information is contained in numerous publications for pregnant women. This is the middle of the gestation period. However, expectant mothers, almost from the first days of pregnancy, begin to listen to their own feelings in anticipation of the first, timid tremors within themselves. But no matter how hard they try, the first movements of the fetus are always unexpected and bring a lot of positive feelings. How and when does this happen? Let's try to figure it out.
Why are fetal movements not immediately felt?
At how many weeks does the baby begin to move during the first pregnancy will any gynecologist tell you. This is a period of 20 weeks. However, sometimes this period may be longer or shorter by 2 weeks. Such differences are associated both with errors in calculating the gestational age and with the individual sensitivity of each expectant mother. That is, if in first-time mothers the child begins to move at 18 weeks, this is also the norm, just like at 22. “Being late” can be associated with significant fat deposits on the mother’s abdominal wall. Or with her carelessness. During the second pregnancy, the baby begins to move in the stomach at 18 weeks or a little earlier.
To understand why fetal movements are not immediately felt, you need to know at what rate it is developing.
In the fourth week of its development, the embryo is very tiny, its size is only half a centimeter. This is a small tadpole; it does not yet have limbs with which it could push its mother.
By the 8th week, the baby’s legs and arms are already visible, but his weight is still only a few grams. It is very difficult for such a little man to make any movement so that his mother feels him. After all, it is surrounded by the placenta, which has no nerve endings, and its walls are quite thick.
By the 12th week, the baby has already grown to 9 centimeters and weighs 15 grams, but the walls of the placenta also thicken, and amniotic fluid begins to form. By this time, the baby is like a small fish in a very large aquarium for its size. Therefore, his movements are not felt by a woman.
At 15 weeks, the baby already weighs approximately 86 grams, he is active, his arms and legs move, the baby swims and tumbles in the amniotic fluid. It is at this time that his movements can already be felt by a woman. But if a woman is carrying a baby for the first time, when the baby moves during pregnancy, she may not immediately understand, confusing these sensations with gas formation in the intestines. Women who are preparing for childbirth again are already more experienced and usually by the 18th week they can say with certainty that they feel the kicks of their baby.
Why do doctors hear such different information about at what stage the baby first moves? Why do women feel the movements of their babies at different stages of pregnancy? It depends on various factors. Of course, experience is important here. Knowing how it happens or just imagining it makes a big difference. One of the important factors is the location of the placenta. If the placenta is located on the back wall of the uterus, then the mother will be able to feel her baby earlier, but this also means that later in pregnancy his kicks will be stronger, because the placenta will not protect her ribs, umbilical area and liver. The structural features of the baby and his constitution are important, because even while unborn children can vary greatly in both weight and height at the same period. There are other factors, such as the baby's health and temperament.
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Every expectant mother is always interested in the question: “How many weeks does it begin? In addition, many worry whether it is dangerous for the health of the unborn baby and his mother if he behaves too violently in the womb? This article will help you find answers to these and other questions concerning
An unborn baby makes about 20,000 different movements every day. He rotates around his body, rocks back and forth, stretches, moves his arms, legs, fingers and eyes, and rotates his hands. The child is able to make crawling or swimming movements and very touchingly place his tiny palm on his cheek. In addition, he sucks his thumb, swallows, hiccups, and shudders. And at these moments the expectant mother feels the fetus moving. At how many weeks can a woman hear signals from her unborn baby? It depends on the next time the woman is going to give birth, and on the characteristics of her body.
At how many weeks does fetal movement begin?
The bodies of all women are different, they react differently to different circumstances of life, have different sensitivity, therefore they can feel this important event in their lives at different periods of pregnancy. Using ultrasound, it was found that the human embryo begins to move at seven weeks, but since it is still tiny and cannot touch the walls of the uterus, the pregnant woman simply will not notice its tremors. At how many weeks does the fetus begin to move, which the pregnant woman is able to notice? If a woman has any movements, she may notice them at the twentieth week of pregnancy or later. A woman pregnant for the second or third time may feel this earlier - at eighteen weeks, and some even at fourteen. This can be explained by the fact that the muscles of the uterus of a woman giving birth have greater sensitivity, and besides, she already knows how to determine that the baby has moved. Overweight women or those who lead a very active lifestyle may notice this phenomenon later, more energetically. They simply hadn't heard him before.
The role of fetal movement in its development
The baby's movements in the womb are very important for his growth and development. As it moves, it develops. His motor system is improving, and the touch of his body to his mother’s body gives certain ideas about the world around him. The intrauterine behavior of twins is very interesting. They either hug, kiss, stroke each other, or push and splash. Each child is unique, the activity of all future babies is different. Some are energetic and active, others are calmer and rarely disturb the mother with their jolts. But every pregnant woman should feel the movement of her unborn baby at least several times a day. And if the normal pattern of movement is disrupted, or the fetus does not move at all, the pregnant woman should consult a doctor. If she does not feel movement, this does not mean that the fetus is not moving. The doctor will perform an ultrasound and listen to the heartbeat of the unborn child and only then draw conclusions.
Fetal movements
This period is the beginning of the child’s vigorous activity. Excessive movement is the only way a child can complain about his troubles, most often about oxygen starvation. Every expectant mother should know how many weeks the fetus begins to move in order to consult a doctor in a timely manner and prevent trouble, and notice the pathology of pregnancy in time. If your baby is inactive, you can cheer him up a little: drink a glass of milk or eat something sweet and lie down quietly. A healthy child will definitely make itself known. If the child is too active, it means he is uncomfortable in his bed, most likely there is not enough oxygen. In this case, the mother needs to change her position, not lie on her stomach or sit with her legs crossed. If the child is constantly restless, the umbilical cord may entangle the fetus several times, and he may suffocate. In this case, you should consult a doctor.
