When pregnant, one of the things that most mothers wait for excitedly is to feel the movement of their baby.
So, when would you start feeling the movement?
It varies from baby to baby. If it is your first pregnancy, the first movements would be felt sometime around the 18th to 20th week. If it’s your second or third child, the movement can be felt a little earlier around the 15th week. You are also more likely to feel your baby’s movements if you are sitting down for some time or lying still. This is inspite of the fact that the baby had actually started moving in the amniotic sac sometime around the 7th or 8th week. You can also ask your ultrasound technician to help you view your baby’s acrobatics.
How Does The Kicking Feel Like?
Most pregnant women have described the baby’s movement in the womb as nervous twitches or a tumbling motion. So, what is the baby doing down there?
1. By the 7th to 8th week, the baby starts moving sideways and starts making startling movements
2. By 9th week, the baby would start hiccupping and move his/her tiny new arms and legs
3. 10th week would mean that the baby can now move his head, bring his hand to touch his face, and open his jaw and stretch
4. 12th week, the stretching is accompanied with a yawn (he has so much to do after all!)
5. 14th week and the baby can move his eyes
6. 5th week and he/she starts sucking his thumb of his preferred hand
But remember, this is just the initial few weeks, its only in the 18th week that you would feel your baby kicking and pushing. (It might look to you that he/she is in a bit of a hurry to come out)
However, the baby is not continuously moving. Sometimes, it rests, so don’t panic if you do not feel movement for some time. (snoozing time, do not disturb!)
So, how many of these footballer-like kicks should you expect every day?
In the beginning, the kicks would be far off and between. You might feel several kicks or might not feel anything at all. This is because even if your kid is continuously moving, some of these are not that strong enough for you to feel. Only in the second trimester will the kicks be strong enough for you to feel every time. In the third trimester, when the baby has lesser room to move, you can feel more movement in your womb.
Remember that it is a good idea to discuss with other mom-to-be’s, but every baby has their own distinct movement pattern.
Keeping A Track In Third Trimester
There is no set amount that you should feel, however, as your pregnancy progresses, make sure that you are tuned in your baby’s movements especially during your waking hours. If you are not feeling any movement, try these:
1. Eat a snack and relax. Babies sometimes sleep when you are moving around, when you eat something and relax, the baby wakes up
2. Have a glass of ice-cold water. The change in temperature would wake your baby up
3. Make some noise. Play loud music or even slam the door loudly, wait for your baby to respond
In case you still unsure, consult your doctor or midwife immediately to rule out any doubts.
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References
| 1. | ↑ | webmd |
| 2. | ↑ | babycenter |
| 3. | ↑ | momjunction |
source: curejoy.com