The closer the due date, the less my baby moves
What Do Typical Fetal Movements Feel Like?
Fetal movement is often defined as any movement you feel in your womb, such as a kick, flutter, swish, or roll. As the fetus develops throughout the pregnancy, the severity and frequency of this will alter. The action is comparable to several different fetal motions, including as bending, hiccupping, and stretching. A healthy fetus will also occasionally rest throughout the day, so try not to expect continuous movement.
Why Fetal Movements Matter
The earliest and most fundamental type of fetal monitoring is thought to be being aware of the movements of the fetus, and it remains crucial now as it has always done. This is crucial since it can reveal information about their wellbeing.
I inquire about fetal activity at every prenatal appointment starting in the second trimester. It's crucial to pay attention to any decrease in fetal movement since it may indicate a bad change in the pregnancy.
Your doctor may decide to perform essential testing in response to decreased movements, which could benefit both you and the fetus. The results of these tests can assist the medical team in deciding whether to proceed with the pregnancy or whether further measures are necessary.
When Do You Start Feeling Fetal Movements?
Pregnant women typically become aware of their baby's movements between weeks 16 and 20 of their pregnancy. This gets better until the week. Fetal movement is likely to plateau after that but unlikely to decline.
Patients often experience movement at a gestational age of no more than 24 weeks, though this can vary. The quality but not the number of a patient's fetal movements may vary as the pregnancy progresses, but they should persist every day once they begin.
What Causes Decreased Fetal Movements?
It's difficult to determine whether the fetus is sick without more testing, although there are a number of explanations for decreased fetal movement. Typical explanations that are not alarming include:
- The fetus is sleeping. “If it happens in a short span of time (duration of 20-40 minutes), it is likely a fetal sleep cycle,
- A pregnant person’s mobility and exercise pattern. Fetal movement can decrease temporarily after exercise.4
- More serious causes of reduced fetal movement include:
- Placental abnormalities or placental insufficiency
- Stillbirth
Insufficient or excessive amniotic fluid might also result in less fetal movements. Low amniotic fluid levels raise the possibility that the placenta isn't working properly or that the amniotic sac, or bag of water, burst. When levels are high, further testing might be required to rule out fetal abnormalities or poorly controlled diabetes during pregnancy.
Reduced fetal movements can result in cesarean delivery, induction of labor, or hospitalization to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
However, research indicates that most pregnant women who experience fewer fetal movements will go on to give birth to healthy children, even though a period of lower fetal movements can precede unfavorable outcomes.
Ways To Monitor Fetal Movements at Home
The good news is that you can track the fetus's activity at home without the need for expensive medical equipment. A technique that is suggested is kick counting.
Women should be aware of kick counts and this kind of evaluation since it may be a warning sign that something is wrong and needs to be looked into further.
The popular "count to ten" technique is an option for expectant mothers. Here's how to carry it out:
- Pick a time when the fetus is most active (that’s typically in the evening after meals)
- Sit with your feet up or laying on your side
- Count ever kick, roll, or jab until you get to 10
Ways to Encourage Fetal Movement
There are a few strategies you can use at home to promote fetal activity, but make sure you speak with your doctor first. Anything that doesn't seem right should be discussed as soon as possible with an OB-GYN or other healthcare provider.
The following are some strategies to help your baby move around:
- Have a glass of juice or a snack – an increase in your blood sugar may also cause a small jump in fetal blood sugar
- Short session of gentle exercise — low-impact exercise or movement can wake your baby if they are sleeping
- Massage or rub your belly – a gentle massage where your feel your baby's head or bottom might stimulate movement
- Make some noise – noise from a television or music player might wake your baby, just don't turn it up too loud
When to Call a Health Care Provider
When something outside of your routine during a pregnancy occurs, that's when you should take action. Pregnant women typically have a solid sense of what a fetus's typical daily activities are, although they are frequently preoccupied and fail to notice the fetus' movements.
Pause, rest, and count if you sense that the fetal movement differs from what is customary and normal for you and your child. Please contact your healthcare physician if you do not experience 10 motions within a two-hour period.
Remember that measuring kicks is just one aspect of the evaluation; you should also take into account variations in pattern and strength.
I let myself time to lie down with a cold drink and concentrate on my baby's movements if I felt anxious about a decrease in or alteration from my usual movements. Redirecting focus can sometimes be all that is needed to calm a worried parent. If you're still not sure, though, you should definitely let your healthcare professional know.
What Do Typical Fetal Movements Feel Like?
Fetal movement is often defined as any movement you feel in your womb, such as a kick, flutter, swish, or roll. As the fetus develops throughout the pregnancy, the severity and frequency of this will alter. The action is comparable to several different fetal motions, including as bending, hiccupping, and stretching. A healthy fetus will also occasionally rest throughout the day, so try not to expect continuous movement.
Why Fetal Movements Matter
The earliest and most fundamental type of fetal monitoring is thought to be being aware of the movements of the fetus, and it remains crucial now as it has always done. This is crucial since it can reveal information about their wellbeing.
I inquire about fetal activity at every prenatal appointment starting in the second trimester. It's crucial to pay attention to any decrease in fetal movement since it may indicate a bad change in the pregnancy.
Your doctor may decide to perform essential testing in response to decreased movements, which could benefit both you and the fetus. The results of these tests can assist the medical team in deciding whether to proceed with the pregnancy or whether further measures are necessary.
When Do You Start Feeling Fetal Movements?
Pregnant women typically become aware of their baby's movements between weeks 16 and 20 of their pregnancy. This gets better until the week. Fetal movement is likely to plateau after that but unlikely to decline.
Patients often experience movement at a gestational age of no more than 24 weeks, though this can vary. The quality but not the number of a patient's fetal movements may vary as the pregnancy progresses, but they should persist every day once they begin.
What Causes Decreased Fetal Movements?
It's difficult to determine whether the fetus is sick without more testing, although there are a number of explanations for decreased fetal movement. Typical explanations that are not alarming include:
- The fetus is sleeping. “If it happens in a short span of time (duration of 20-40 minutes), it is likely a fetal sleep cycle,
- A pregnant person’s mobility and exercise pattern. Fetal movement can decrease temporarily after exercise.4
- More serious causes of reduced fetal movement include:
- Placental abnormalities or placental insufficiency
- Stillbirth
Insufficient or excessive amniotic fluid might also result in less fetal movements. Low amniotic fluid levels raise the possibility that the placenta isn't working properly or that the amniotic sac, or bag of water, burst. When levels are high, further testing might be required to rule out fetal abnormalities or poorly controlled diabetes during pregnancy.
Reduced fetal movements can result in cesarean delivery, induction of labor, or hospitalization to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
However, research indicates that most pregnant women who experience fewer fetal movements will go on to give birth to healthy children, even though a period of lower fetal movements can precede unfavorable outcomes.
Ways To Monitor Fetal Movements at Home
The good news is that you can track the fetus's activity at home without the need for expensive medical equipment. A technique that is suggested is kick counting.
Women should be aware of kick counts and this kind of evaluation since it may be a warning sign that something is wrong and needs to be looked into further.
The popular "count to ten" technique is an option for expectant mothers. Here's how to carry it out:
- Pick a time when the fetus is most active (that’s typically in the evening after meals)
- Sit with your feet up or laying on your side
- Count ever kick, roll, or jab until you get to 10
Ways to Encourage Fetal Movement
There are a few strategies you can use at home to promote fetal activity, but make sure you speak with your doctor first. Anything that doesn't seem right should be discussed as soon as possible with an OB-GYN or other healthcare provider.
The following are some strategies to help your baby move around:
- Have a glass of juice or a snack – an increase in your blood sugar may also cause a small jump in fetal blood sugar
- Short session of gentle exercise — low-impact exercise or movement can wake your baby if they are sleeping
- Massage or rub your belly – a gentle massage where your feel your baby's head or bottom might stimulate movement
- Make some noise – noise from a television or music player might wake your baby, just don't turn it up too loud
When to Call a Health Care Provider
When something outside of your routine during a pregnancy occurs, that's when you should take action. Pregnant women typically have a solid sense of what a fetus's typical daily activities are, although they are frequently preoccupied and fail to notice the fetus' movements.
Pause, rest, and count if you sense that the fetal movement differs from what is customary and normal for you and your child. Please contact your healthcare physician if you do not experience 10 motions within a two-hour period.
Remember that measuring kicks is just one aspect of the evaluation; you should also take into account variations in pattern and strength.
I let myself time to lie down with a cold drink and concentrate on my baby's movements if I felt anxious about a decrease in or alteration from my usual movements. Redirecting focus can sometimes be all that is needed to calm a worried parent. If you're still not sure, though, you should definitely let your healthcare professional know.
