When can you feel Baby Moving in Pregnancy?
Feeling your baby move for the first time is an amazing milestone for pregnant women. You can typically start feeling your baby move around 16 to 25 weeks after your last period.
The Early Flutters
At first, it may feel like a flutter or bubble sensation in the lower abdomen, and depending on how active your baby is during the day, you may not be feeling movement every day.
Increase in Activity
In most healthy pregnancies, you will likely feel your baby start to move around 18-20 weeks. This period of increased movement is called the “quickening.” During the third trimester, your baby is most active between about 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. Since you are likely already asleep, you probably won’t notice this period during the day, unless your baby is exceptionally active.
Ready to respond?
As you advance into the third trimester, it is important to monitor your baby’s movements and understand when you should respond to your baby’s movements. Here are some tips on how to recognize when your baby is communicating with you:
- Notice the pattern: Your baby will move in cycles – an hour of activity followed by an hour of rest. Get to know normal pattern for your baby.
- Make a note: Keep a log of the time of day that your baby is most active. This will help you when you want to get your baby to respond to your touch.
- Count and time: Work out how often you feel a kick, a swipe or a nudge. If you don’t feel anything, start timing and counting how long before your baby responds.
Need Help?
If you have any concerns that your baby is not moving enough, don’t hesitate to contact your healthcare provider right away.