A range of factors tin can decide when a pregnant woman tin can feel the baby move, including whether she has been meaning earlier and the location of the placenta.

This article will look at the timeline for fetal movements and the factors that tin affect the sensation.

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The location of the placenta may determine when a person can feel a babe motion.

A woman may feel the starting time fetal movements, chosen the quickening, during the second trimester, between 16 and 22 weeks of pregnancy. Women accept described these movements as a flutter, classy, or detached kick.

A adult female may non initially recognize these sensations, because they can feel similar to abdominal muscle contractions or peristalsis — involuntary movements of the esophagus, stomach, and intestines during digestion.

Women who have been significant before may recognize these movements earlier, around 16 weeks. Others, who are experiencing pregnancy for the first, time may non find the quickening until 20–22 weeks.

Starting at effectually week 32, during the tertiary trimester, the frequency of fetal movements typically remains steady until birth.

One flow of motility may last for 20–40 minutes, and the fetus may non move during sleep, which typically occurs in xc-minute cycles.

As the authors of a 2019 report report, fetal movements tend to become stronger as the pregnancy progresses. Some women also report increased activity in the evenings.

A multifariousness of factors tin can affect when fetal movements occur and how keenly the mother tin experience them. Amongst these factors are:

Maternal torso weight

Authors of a 2017 review confirm previous findings that having a higher body mass alphabetize (BMI) is associated with a decrease in fetal movement.

Placenta location

An "anterior" placenta attaches to the front of the uterus, while a "posterior" placenta attaches to the back.

The babe is positioned behind an inductive placenta. As a result, information technology might take longer for the mother to discover movement.

Distraction

It may be more difficult to detect fetal movement during times of stress or other distractions.

A 2014 written report found that women who are working outside of the habitation toward the finish of the third trimester are more likely to study decreased fetal motility.

Previous pregnancy

The first movements tin can feel like tiny flutters, not unlike the feelings of digestion or gas.

As a consequence, it may be easier for women who have had previous pregnancies to recognize fetal movements earlier on.

When a woman goes into labor, the babe often continues to move.

An older written report, from 1991, with a small participant group of 22 women, found that it was fairly common for babies to move during contractions and labor. Among the participants, 65.ix% felt their babies move while also experiencing uterine contractions.

Fetal motility typically begins in the second trimester.

As a fetus grows and develops, their movement patterns become more regular. They may exist more than active at certain times of the mean solar day, post-obit a meal, or when there are loud noises.

Starting at around 28 weeks, many healthcare providers recommend counting the number of kicks in a 2–3 hour period. This helps constitute a baseline of what is normal for the fetus.

If the number of movements so changes significantly, information technology could point a problem.

A healthy fetus oft makes ten discernible movements in a 2–three hr period, though deviations can occur, peculiarly during slumber.

Prolonged periods of few or no movements can indicate that something is wrong. In this case, information technology is important to seek medical attention.

If an unusually long period passes with few or no movements, try drinking something sugariness or moving around. If the baby nevertheless does not move, consult a doctor.

Seek emergency medical help if movement patterns alter or finish for an extended period and:

  • There is pain.
  • In that location are contractions.
  • Fluid, particularly blood, comes from the vagina

If there has been no movement by 24 weeks, run across a healthcare provider.

If in that location is decreased fetal movement between 24 and 28 weeks, make a aforementioned-day appointment.

If a woman notices decreased movement subsequently 28 weeks, she should encounter a healthcare provider every bit soon every bit possible. If this occurs after clinic hours, information technology may exist necessary to receive an ultrasound at an urgent care facility or labor ward.

A fetus moves for the majority of pregnancy, simply their movements are only discernible for about half of this time.

The pattern of movement can signal that the fetus is growing and salubrious, while deviations can serve as important signs that at that place may be a problem.

If a woman notices a meaning decrease in fetal motion, she should seek medical attention.