Baby movement in second trimester
When to Worry About Fetal Movement: Decreases and Increases
One of the most exciting experiences in your pregnancy is feeling your baby move for the very first time. Suddenly, it all becomes real: There’s really a baby in there!
Eventually, you might get used to feeling your baby moving around in your belly — you may even complain good-naturedly about a foot in your ribs or speculate that you’re going to give birth to a future soccer star.
But it’s a good idea to keep tabs on your baby’s movement in utero, just in case — especially during third trimester. That way, if you do notice a drop-off in fetal movements, you can notify your doctor for additional evaluation.
Those first few fluttery movements are sometimes called quickening. At the very beginning, you might feel something and then second guess yourself: Did I really feel something? These early fetal movements might feel like a gentle fluttering, or it might feel like bubbles. Some people even mistake them for gas.
In general, you can expect to start feeling them during your second trimester, usually between 16 and 22 weeks of your pregnancy. However, if it’s your first pregnancy, you’re more likely to start feeling them on the later side, perhaps between 20 and 22 weeks. If you’ve been pregnant before, you might start noticing them a little earlier, perhaps around the 16-week mark.
However, every pregnancy is unique. There’s no set “correct” time to feel fetal movement, and you may feel flutters even earlier than 16 weeks or a little later than 22 weeks.
Ah, second trimester: The glory days of pregnancy, when the morning sickness tends to wear off, but you don’t yet feel large and awkward like a parade float.
Your baby’s movements during second trimester can be a little unpredictable. You’ll feel those first fluttery movements, which can start early in second trimester but might show up a little later on.
Then, typically, you’ll start feeling those fetal movements a little more frequently — and a little more intensely.
Your baby’s just getting warmed up! As your baby gets larger, the movements will get larger, too, and you may start to feel some stretches and maybe even some punches and kicks.
Your healthcare provider might even be able to put a hand on your belly and feel your baby moving underneath.
You’re in the home stretch by the time you hit the third trimester.
At some point in this last trimester, you may start to notice some patterns in your baby’s movements. Perhaps your baby’s more active at certain times of day or night.
The movements may seem larger and more vigorous, and you may occasionally let out an “oof” after a particularly enthusiastic kick or punch. Your partner may be able to see your baby moving under your skin (is that a foot?).
However, this is also the time in your pregnancy when your baby starts to run out of room to wiggle around in your uterus. That’s good, because your baby’s gaining weight, getting stronger, and putting on some of that irresistible baby fat.
But it also means your baby can’t stretch and move quite as freely anymore. Being squeezed into an increasingly smaller space means your baby might not move as much as you’d expect, but you should still continue to feel movement. This is when your doctor might suggest doing a kick count.
What’s a kick count?
A kick count is exactly what it sounds like. You pick a time of day and you count the number of times your baby kicks or move during that time frame. It’s sometimes also called a fetal movement count (FMC). You can even use an app to help you keep track.
Typically, it’s a good idea to do a kick count at the same time each day, for the best comparison. Focus on baby’s movement, and see how long it takes to get to 10 kicks.
If your baby doesn’t kick, squirm, or poke you 10 times within an hour, you might try having a snack, changing position, and then continuing your count for another hour. If you reach 10 before the second hour is up, you and baby are good to stop the count.
But if you consistently monitor a kick count on a daily basis and then notice a day when the movements drop off, call your doctor immediately.
There can be benign (harmless) causes of decreased movement. For example, you might have unknowingly chosen to do a kick count while your baby was napping. You might just try another time to launch a kick count when your baby seems to be more active.
But there are other more potentially serious reasons that your baby might not be moving around as much.
Your baby’s growth might have slowed down. Or there could be a problem with your baby’s placenta or with your uterus. It’s also possible that your baby’s umbilical cord could have gotten wrapped around their neck, a condition that doctors call nuchal cord.
Your doctor may want to do some further evaluation if your kick counts are showing decreased movements. A nonstress test can provide some useful information on your baby’s heart rate and movements during the third trimester.
Another option is a three-dimensional ultrasound, which can give your doctor a good look at your baby to check out their movements, as well as their growth and development to make sure they’re on track.
Eventually, you may be able to do more specific monitoring yourself at home. Researchers continue to explore the possibilities of new types of monitoring devices — like the fetal movement acceleration measurement recorder — that may help you keep track of your baby’s movements.
If you’re a little nervous and want to prod your baby to shake a leg (and bring you a little peace of mind), you can try a few different simple strategies:
- Eat a snack or drink something sweet like orange juice.
- Get up and move around.
- Shine a flashlight onto your belly.
- Talk to your baby.
- Push or poke (gently!) at your belly where you can feel your baby.
While decreased movements have been linked to possible complications, the opposite isn’t necessarily true.
A 2019 study of 500 women found no association between reported excessive fetal movements in the third trimester and stillbirth or the umbilical cord wrapping around baby’s neck. However, there was a correlation between increased movements and other complications.
At this point, more research is needed to get a handle on the situation.
What that means for you: If you’re noticing that your baby is extra wiggly, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. But it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re about to go into labor, either. More predictable signs that your baby may be gearing up for an exit include:
- loss of your mucus plug
- baby dropping lower into your pelvis
- your water breaking
- your cervix stretching and thinning
You may also experience some of those famous Braxton-Hicks contractions, which aren’t really a sign that labor’s starting — but are a sign that your body is gearing up for labor soon.
If you’re in your third trimester and you’re worried that you’re not feeling your baby move very often, definitely try the kick count.
If you monitor your baby’s kicks or movements during a particular window of time but you’re still not logging enough movements, call your doctor.
Every baby is different — even for the same woman. Your first baby may move around a lot more — or a lot less — than your second. What’s important is paying attention to patterns of your baby’s movements in utero.
And as your pregnancy progresses, those kick counts can be a good way to give yourself some peace of mind. If you notice something that sets off your internal alarm, though, don’t hesitate to call your doctor. It’s possible that some additional evaluation might be a good idea, just to rule out any possibility of complications.
For more pregnancy guidance and weekly tips tailored to your due date, sign up for our I’m Expecting newsletter.
Second Trimester | St. Mary's Regional Medical Center
In the second trimester of pregnancy, the fetus should now weigh about four to six ounces and be about four-and-a-half inches long.
Its head may appear very large compared to the rest of its body and account for half the baby’s total length. Muscles have developed. The baby can move all its arm and leg joints.
Weeks 13 to 16
In weeks 13 to 16, your appetite will likely increase as morning sickness subsides. Your belly is probably beginning to show now and you will probably need to switch to maternity clothes and larger bras.
Weeks 17 to 21
Sometime between 18 and 22 weeks, you’ll begin to feel your baby move. This is called “quickening,” and is the beginning of what may be one of the greatest sources of joy during your pregnancy. It’s difficult to explain to a first-time mother exactly what she can expect to feel. Some women say it feels like a flutter in their lower abdomen or butterflies in their stomach. Others describe it as a bumping or nudging, a twitch, a growling stomach or a bubble bursting. Some first-time mothers mistake the first sensations of fetal movement for a gas bubble.
Women who have had a baby before and recognize the sensation of fetal movement or women who are very thin may feel their baby’s first movement earlier than 18 weeks into their pregnancy.
In addition, a miscalculated due date can also make it appear as if the first movements are coming earlier in the pregnancy than normal. As your pregnancy progresses, your baby will be moving almost continuously, although you won’t feel every movement. The position of the fetus and your own activity can make your baby’s movements indiscernible. You may also be asleep when your baby is most active – as many babies are at their peak of activity in the middle of the night.
By the end of the fifth month, the fetus may be eight to 10 inches long and weigh between a half-pound and one pound. It has begun to grow hair on its head and its eyebrows and eyelashes begin to appear. A thick coating, called vemix, covers and protects the baby’s skin. The baby is becoming very active, and kicks. It can also open and close its eyes, and blink.
Your uterus has grown to the height of your belly button, and you should now be able to feel your baby moving around inside. Because this is a very sensitive and emotional time, it’s important to be aware of your feelings and not bottle them up. Good communication with your partner, family and healthcare professionals can help alleviate your fears. So if you’re afraid of something, talk about it.
Weeks 22 to 27
Between the 24th and 28th weeks, fetal movement becomes more consistent and expectant mothers can keep track of fetal activity. If you’d like, or if your physician recommends that you do so, you can keep a “kick chart” that will track your baby’s movements. During this time, mood swings may occur and you may also experience feelings of “strangeness.” Hormonal changes in your body are the major cause of both. If you haven’t felt your baby moving around all day and you want to bring out some movement, try this in the evening: Have a glass of milk or a snack and lie down for an hour or two.
The combination of your inactivity and the food may get your baby going. But don’t worry if it doesn’t work. Expectant moms may not feel movement for a few days at a time.
The rapid growth of your baby continues. The fetus should now weigh about one pound and be 11 to 14 inches long. Its skin is red and wrinkled and covered with a fine soft hair. Finger and toe prints are developing. You may feel your baby’s strong kicking and the skin on your belly is probably starting to itch. (Try cocoa butter or coconut oil.) You may also be experiencing pain down the side of your belly as your uterus stretches. Talk with your doctor about best remedies for pain. Don’t take any medications or supplements without consulting your doctor. What you take goes to your baby, too.
Stay Comfortable
Maintaining your comfort and safety is important while you’re pregnant, so be sure to take time to care for yourself. At the same time, be on the lookout for hazards that could potentially cause problems for you and your baby such as crowded stairways or hallways, or indoor or outdoor environments that have been cleaned or treated with toxic chemicals.
By the end of the second trimester, your baby will begin to grow more rapidly and will demand a great deal of energy from your body. Here are a few tips to help you relax and replenish your energy:
- Take a break every day for half an hour. For your break, gather six to eight pillows. Make a stack of four or five pillows in front of you. Make another stack of two or three pillows and sit on them, facing the larger stack. Lean forward onto the larger stack with the smaller stack supporting you. This will help take the weight of your uterus off your back and restore your energy.
- Lying on your side can be an ideal resting position. This is especially important after your fifth month of pregnancy, when lying on your back can cause the weight of your enlarged uterus to impede the flow of blood and oxygen to you and your baby. For comfort, bend your knees and elbows. Then place several pillows under your knees, head and back.
- Try semi-sitting to ease nausea and indigestion or make reading and relaxing more enjoyable.
Lean back on pillows at about a 45-degree angle. Then put a pillow or a few rolled towels under your knees to give them support and keep them flexed.
Stay Safe
Here are ways to keep you and your developing baby safe in the second trimester:
- Wear your seatbelt when in moving vehicles. Make sure you keep the lap portion of the belt under your belly, low and across your pelvic area. The shoulder harness should come down over your shoulder, between your breasts and over the top of your belly to fasten on the side. Follow your auto manufacturer’s recommendations for seatbelt and air bag safety. If you are driving, try to sit about 10 inches away from the steering wheel. And be sure to keep objects off your lap and the dashboard.
- Watch out for workplace, household and garden chemicals. Fumes from paint, varnish, garden or home pesticides and cleaning fluids may contain dangerous chemicals you could inhale. This is a great time to make your home and gardens green spaces.
- Stay away from hot tubs and saunas. The heat from these can damage your baby’s developing brain and spinal cord.
- Avoid lead. Lead can be breathed or swallowed when found in paint, water and crystal.
- Let someone else clean up after your pets. Cat feces can carry diseases that bring about birth defects.
- Make a no-smoking rule in your house. Even second-hand smoke can hurt your baby.
- Avoid caffeine, often contained in soda, coffee and tea.
- Do not drink alcohol while you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It can result in serious mental and physical defects known as fetal alcohol syndrome.
- Get your physician’s approval before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medications or home remedies.
- Watch your step. You are not as well-balanced as you were before you became pregnant. Make sure your rugs have skid-proof bottoms and be careful getting out of the tub or shower.
- Wear sensible shoes.
Don’t wear high heels, sloppy slippers or thongs that could cause you to slip and fall.
Fetal movement - how and when does it occur
- At what time does fetal movement begin
- Fetal movement rate
- Methods for assessing the "sufficiency" of fetal movements
- Changes in fetal activity
- Determination of the condition of the fetus
“Dear patients, we are glad to welcome you to the website of the Fetal Medicine Center – a medical center of expert level in the field of modern prenatal medicine. nine0018
We see our mission in making the expectation of a child and its birth a happy, calm and most comfortable period for every woman. By providing professional medical support, we help couples plan pregnancy, control its harmonious course, conduct expert-level prenatal diagnostics, providing comprehensive care for the health of the expectant mother and baby.”
Roza Saidovna Bataeva
Head of the Fetal Medicine Center in Moscow
From the very beginning of pregnancy, every expectant mother begins to listen carefully to the sensations inside her growing belly.
Can't wait to feel your baby move. When does the fetus begin to move? At what time can a pregnant woman begin to listen carefully to herself, waiting for the first movements of her child? Should I be worried if they are not felt or the baby suddenly calmed down? And can movements carry any other information, besides communicating with mom? nine0018
At what time does the fetal movement begin
The first movements of the future baby begin early - already at 7-8 weeks of pregnancy . It was at this time that the first muscles and the rudiments of the nervous system of the fetus are formed. Naturally, at this time, the movements of the embryo are still very primitive - these are muscle contractions in response to nerve impulses.
Approximately from 10 weeks of pregnancy the fetus begins to move more actively in the uterus, and, encountering an obstacle on its way (walls of the uterus), change the trajectory of movements. However, the baby is still very small and the impacts on the uterine wall are very weak, the expectant mother cannot yet feel them.
At 11-12 weeks of intrauterine life, a little man already knows how to clench his fists, grimace, frown, by 16 weeks of pregnancy he begins to react to loud, sharp sounds with increased motor activity, at 17 weeks the first facial expressions appear, and at 18 weeks he covers his face with his hands and plays with the umbilical cord, compresses and unclenches the fingers of the hands. nine0003
Gradually, with increasing gestational age, movements become more coordinated and more like conscious. When the baby grows up, the pregnant woman begins to feel his movements.
When does the fetal movement begin during the first and subsequent pregnancies
It is generally accepted that during the first pregnancy, the expectant mother feels the first fetal movements at 20 weeks of pregnancy, with repeated pregnancies - at 18 weeks. This is not entirely true. A mother who is expecting her first child, indeed, most often begins to feel the movements of the fetus a little later than a multiparous woman.
This is due to the fact that "experienced" mothers know how the movements of the crumbs are felt at first and what they should feel. Some primigravidas perceive the first movements of the fetus as an increase in intestinal peristalsis, “gaziki”. Many women describe the first movements of the fetus as a feeling of fluid transfusion in the abdomen, "fluttering butterflies" or "swimming fish." nine0003
The first movements are usually rare and irregular. The time of the first sensations of fetal movements naturally depends on the individual sensitivity of the woman. Some future mothers feel the first movements as early as 15-16 weeks, and someone only after 20. Slender women, as a rule, begin to feel movements earlier than full ones. Women who lead an active lifestyle, work hard, usually feel the movements of the fetus later.
By 20 weeks, due to the formation of the spinal cord and brain, as well as the accumulation of a certain amount of muscle mass in the fetus, movements become more regular and noticeable .
From 24 weeks of pregnancy, the movements of the fetus are already reminiscent of the movements of a newborn - the expectant mother feels how the fetus changes position, moves its arms and legs. The motor activity of the fetus increases gradually and its peak falls on the period from the 24th to the 32nd week of pregnancy. At this time, the activity of the baby's movements becomes one of the indicators of its normal development. After 24 weeks, the child begins to "communicate" with the mother with the help of movements, respond to the sounds of voice, music, and the emotional state of the mother. With an increase in the gestational age of more than 32 weeks, the motor activity of the fetus gradually decreases due to the fact that the baby is growing up and he simply does not have enough space for active movements. This becomes especially noticeable at the time of childbirth. By the end of the third trimester of pregnancy, the number of fetal movements may decrease somewhat, but their intensity and strength remain the same or increase.
nine0003
Fetal movement rate
The baby in the mother's belly moves almost constantly. At the 20th week of pregnancy, the fetus makes about 200 movements per day, and between the 28th and 32nd weeks, the number of movements reaches 600 per day. Naturally, a pregnant woman does not feel all the movements of the fetus, but only a small part of them. So, after 28 weeks, the frequency of fetal movement, according to the sensations of a woman, is usually 4 to 8 times per hour, with the exception of periods of fetal sleep (3-4 hours in a row). nine0003
In the third trimester, a pregnant woman may notice that her baby has regular sleep and wake cycles. Children are usually most active from 19:00 to 4:00 in the morning, and the period of "rest" occurs more often from 4 to 9:00 in the morning. Of course, the movements of the fetus depend on the mood of the mother, if the mother is worried or happy, the baby can move more actively, or vice versa, calm down. The fact is that when a mother rejoices, her body significantly increases the amount of hormones of joy - endorphins, which regulate the work of the heart and blood vessels, including the vessels of the placenta.
During stress or pronounced negative emotions, biologically active substances are also produced - stress hormones, they also affect the work of the heart and blood vessels. It is thanks to this biological interaction between the organisms of mother and baby that the fetus feels the state of the mother. When the expectant mother is resting, the baby usually becomes more active, if the pregnant woman is active, busy with some kind of work, the child most often calms down. The movements also change depending on the satiety of the expectant mother. Usually the baby begins to move actively after the mother eats, especially something sweet. At the same time, the level of glucose in the blood increases sharply, which causes the fetus to be more active. nine0003
Fetal movements are the language in which the unborn child speaks to the mother. Naturally, a pregnant woman should listen to the movements, because in some cases, changes in the movements of the fetus may indicate a violation of its intrauterine state and a not entirely successful pregnancy.
If, after 20 weeks of pregnancy, the expectant mother does not feel the movement of the fetus, it may be worthwhile to see a doctor and make sure that everything is in order with the baby.
Methods for assessing the "sufficiency" of fetal movements
Counting the number of movements
The easiest way to assess fetal movements is to count the number of movements of the pregnant woman herself. Self-assessment methods are very easy to use, do not require additional equipment, the presence of a doctor and are easily reproducible by any woman. Their disadvantages are that each woman has different thresholds of susceptibility.
Count to ten
The most common method for assessing fetal movements is called count to ten . It can be carried out after 28 weeks of pregnancy, when the fetus is mature enough for active movements. Its essence lies in the fact that the expectant mother counts the movements of the fetus for a 12-hour time interval, for example, from 9 am to 9 pm.
The time when a pregnant woman catches the tenth movement is recorded on a tablet. If the fetus makes less than 10 movements in 12 hours, this is a reason to consult a doctor for an additional examination.
Sadowski Method
In the evening after dinneruntil 11 p.m.), the woman lies on her left side and counts the movements of the fetus. At the same time, everything is considered, even the smallest movements. If 10 or more movements are noted within an hour, this indicates that the baby is moving quite actively and feels good. If the fetus moved less than 10 times in an hour, then the movements are counted for the next hour. Evening time for this assessment method was not chosen by chance. It is in the evening hours, especially after dinner and the associated increase in glucose, that the greatest activity of the fetus is noted. If the number of fetal movements during this test is less than 10 per two hours, this should be considered as a sign of a violation of his condition and additional studies should be carried out.
nine0003
For an obstetrician-gynecologist, fetal movements are also an important diagnostic criterion for some deviations in the course of pregnancy from the norm. Too active, violent, painful fetal movement or weak, rare movements may indicate its unfavorable condition.
Changes in fetal activity
Changes in fetal activity may be associated with external influences. For example, if a pregnant woman lies on her back for a long time, then the enlarged uterus compresses a large vessel - the inferior vena cava, the blood flow to the fetus is disrupted, which immediately causes its violent reaction - active movements. The same changes in the activity of the baby can occur in any other uncomfortable position of the mother - if she leans forward, squeezing her stomach, sits with her legs crossed, the child forces her mother to change her position with her activity. A similar situation occurs if the baby himself squeezes or presses the loops of the umbilical cord, limiting the flow of blood through it.
He begins to move more actively, changes his position and relieves pressure on the umbilical cord. However, in some cases, an increase or vice versa, a subsidence of fetal movements can be a sign of a serious pathology. nine0003
After 28 weeks of pregnancy, if your baby does not let you know for 3-4 hours, he may just be sleeping. In this case, the expectant mother needs to eat something sweet and lie down on her left side for half an hour. If these simple manipulations do not lead to a result, it is worth repeating them again after 2-3 hours. If this time the baby does not make itself felt, this is an occasion to consult a doctor. Rare and weak movements can also indicate a fetal problem, most often a lack of oxygen for the baby, that is, fetal hypoxia. nine0003
Determining the condition of the fetus
To determine the condition of the fetus, the doctor conducts a series of examinations:
Auscultation (listening)
The simplest is auscultation (listening) using a special wooden tube (obstetric stethoscope) or a special device that captures the fetal heartbeat, doctor listens to the baby's heartbeat.
Normally, it is about 120-160 beats per minute. A decrease in heart rate less than 120 or an increase of more than 160 indicates intrauterine suffering of the child. nine0003
Ultrasound and dopplerometry
During ultrasound, the doctor visually assesses the size of the fetus, the correspondence of the development of the fetus to the gestational age, because with oxygen starvation, the growth rate of the fetus slows down and its size lags behind the norm for each period of pregnancy. Also important is the structure of the placenta, the presence of signs of aging in it, as a result of which the function of transferring blood, oxygen and nutrients to the fetus usually worsens. During ultrasound, the amount and type of amniotic fluid is assessed, which can also change with intrauterine fetal suffering. Dopplerometry of the vessels of the placenta and umbilical cord is a method for studying blood flow velocities in these vessels. With a decrease in the speed of blood flow in any vessel, one can speak of fetal malnutrition of varying severity.
nine0003
Learn more about the services:
- Pregnancy ultrasound
- Ultrasound in the first trimester of pregnancy
- Make KTG
- Perform fetal echocardiography
Cardiotocography (CTG)
This is an important method for assessing the condition of the fetus. CTG is performed at a gestational age of 33 weeks or more, since only in this period of intrauterine development of the baby is a full-fledged regulation of the activity of the cardiovascular system of the fetus by the centers of the spinal cord and brain. Recording of fetal heartbeats is carried out for at least 40 minutes, and if necessary, the study can be extended up to one and a half hours. The device registers and records the baby's heart rate. For example, with a decrease in the concentration of oxygen in the blood of the fetus, the supply of oxygen to the cells of the nervous system decreases, which in turn affects the heart rate, especially during the period of wakefulness of the child.
The obstetrician-gynecologist evaluates the heartbeat recording curve, episodes of slowing down and a sharp increase in the fetal heart rate, and based on these data, makes a conclusion about how comfortable the baby feels in the mother's stomach. nine0003
If during additional methods for assessing the condition of the fetus, initial disturbances in the supply of oxygen to the baby are detected, drug treatment is carried out aimed at increasing the access of blood and oxygen through the placenta and mandatory control examinations against the background of ongoing therapy. If the changes are deep and the baby experiences a pronounced deficiency of oxygen and nutrients, his condition suffers, an emergency delivery of such a patient is performed.
Fetal movements are not only an indicator of his condition, it is a way of communication between the baby and parents. The movements of the crumbs in the mother's tummy are unforgettable sensations that a woman can experience only in this short, but such a happy period of her life.
nine0003
Center for Fetal Medicine in Moscow:
The main activities of our center are the early detection of congenital malformations in the fetus, prenatal screening for the detection of chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus, as well as pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, fetal growth retardation and threatened abortion.
Our center is organized in such a way that the whole range of services is concentrated in one place, where a woman receives the results of various types of examinations, including ultrasound, biochemical, and specialist consultation within 1-1.5 hours. In the presence of a high risk for chromosomal diseases in the fetus, invasive diagnostics and genetics consultation are carried out here in the center. nine0003
Fetal echocardiography is given special attention in our center, since congenital heart defects in the fetus are increasingly common today, but, unfortunately, are often missed during ultrasound during pregnancy.
In view of the ever-increasing number of multiple pregnancies, which requires more time and a special approach, the observation of women with multiple pregnancies has been allocated to us in a separate clinic for multiple pregnancies.
All examinations in the center are carried out according to the international standards FMF (Fetal Medicine Foundation) and ISUOG (International Society for Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology). In complex clinical cases, we can consult with specialists from King's College Hospital, King's College Hospital (London, UK). nine0003
The team is a special pride of the center. Our doctors are not only one of the leading specialists, professors, doctors and candidates of medical sciences, doctors of the highest categories, they are also a team of like-minded people and real enthusiasts in their field. All ultrasound diagnostic doctors in our center have international FMF certificates. Having extensive experience in prenatal diagnostics, we share our knowledge with our colleagues by conducting training courses.
The Center is equipped with the most modern diagnostic equipment: these are the latest generation ultrasound machines, GE Voluson E8 Expert, with a complete set of modern technologies, including three-dimensional ones, this is a biochemical analyzer, Delfia Xpress, these are workplaces with professional computer programs.
nine0003
Fetal movement during pregnancy
ATTENTION
We continue to work on New Year holidays.
Opening hours of multidisciplinary clinics on Polikarpov Alley, Marshal Zhukov Ave. and Okhtinskaya Alley:
December 31, 2022 - from 9:00 to 16:00;
January 1, 2023 - day off;
From January 2, 2023 - as usual, from 09:00 to 21:00.
Reception under the CHI policy in the structural unit of Devyatkino from January 2 to 8 is conducted only by on-duty specialists - a therapist and a pediatrician. nine0003
Working hours of dentistry on Kolomyazhsky pr.:
December 31, 2022, January 1 and 2, 2023 - holidays;
From 3 to 8 January 2023 - from 11:00 to 17:00;
From January 9, 2023 - as usual.
Pregnant women and obstetrician-gynecologists are waiting for fetal movements. This is a very important sign that allows you to judge that the pregnancy is going well, and the child is developing successfully.
Also, the baby communicates with the mother with the help of movements and can tell her about any inconvenience, so you need to listen to the movements of the fetus. nine0003
When fetal movements appear
- The first fetal movements appear at the seventh or eighth week of pregnancy. However, the small fetus does not come into contact with the walls of the uterus, so the mother does not feel its movements.
- Closer to the seventeenth week, the fetus begins to react to loud sound and light, from the eighteenth it begins to consciously move.
- A woman begins to feel movements during her first pregnancy from the twentieth week. In subsequent pregnancies, these sensations occur two to three weeks earlier. Also, a woman will feel the first movement of the fetus earlier if she is slim and leads an active lifestyle. nine0006
- From the twenty-eighth week, especially active movements are observed. The child "communicates" with the mother, reacts to her emotions.
This continues until the thirty-second week, when the baby grows so much that it can no longer actively move in the uterus.
Fetal movement - as normal
Except for three to four hours a day when the baby sleeps, he is in constant motion. In the twentieth week, the fetus makes two hundred perturbations a day, from the twenty-eighth to the thirty-second, their number increases to six hundred. Then, the activity decreases again. nine0003
Fetal activity may vary depending on the following factors:
- Time of day . Usually the fetus moves more actively in the evening and at night.
- Mother's emotions . If a pregnant woman is under stress, then the child is frightened, may freeze and stop moving, or, conversely, react to adrenaline with active movements.
- Physical activity . During physical activity, the child is usually more calm than at rest. If the mother is in an uncomfortable position for a long time, the fetus may react with strong painful shocks.
nine0006 - Pregnant diet . If the mother feels hungry, the child begins to move more actively. Also pushing and touching become stronger after eating. Especially if mom eats sweets.
- Environment a. The fetus reacts to loud sounds, sudden switching on of light. He may freeze in fear, or vice versa, begin to move more actively.
Why and how to count fetal movements
Changes in the motor activity of the fetus may be a sign of pregnancy pathology. Too strong, painful, or vice versa, weakened movements signal that the child does not have enough oxygen. This condition is called fetal hypoxia. In addition, sensations change when the amount of amniotic fluid changes. Therefore, it is important to count fetal movements, especially during the first pregnancy. nine0003
There are three methods for counting fetal movements:
- Pearson method . Movements are considered from nine in the morning to nine in the evening, during which physical activity is limited.
