Baby stopped kicking

Your baby's movements | Tommy's

The following advice is for every pregnancy, whether you are carrying 1 or multiple babies.

Know the facts about baby movements

Feeling your baby move is a sign that they are well. If you notice that your baby’s movements have slowed down, changed or stopped, it may be a sign that your baby is not well.

Contact your midwife or maternity unit immediately if you notice any changes to your baby’s movements. This could save your baby’s life. There are staff on the maternity unit 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Remember:

It is not true that babies move less towards the end of pregnancy. You should continue to feel your baby move right up to the time you go into labour. Your baby should move during labour too.
You should continue to feel your baby move right up to the time you go into labour and during labour.

DO NOT WAIT until the next day to seek advice if you are worried about your baby’s movements.

Baby movements and stillbirth

Reduced baby movements is not a cause of stillbirth but it is one of the signs that a baby may not be getting enough food or oxygen. In around half of stillbirths, the mother noticed reduced baby movements.

This can sound scary. But it does not mean that a change in movements will lead to a baby’s death. It also does not mean that if a baby is stillborn, it is the parent’s fault for not noticing any changes.

When should I feel my baby move?

Most people are first aware of their baby moving when they are 18-20 weeks pregnant.

If this is your first pregnancy, you may not feel until you are more than 20 weeks pregnant. If you’ve been pregnant before, you may feel movements as early as 16 weeks.

How often should my baby move?

There is no set number of normal movements you should be feeling – every baby is different. The important thing is to get to know your baby's usual movements from day to day.

From 18-24 weeks on you should feel the baby move more and more. After 32 weeks, the movements will stay roughly the same. You should continue to feel your baby move right up to the time you go into labour. Your baby should move during labour too.

Why are my baby’s movements important?

Feeling your baby move is a sign they are well.  

If your baby moves less or if you notice a change this can sometimes be an important warning sign that a baby is unwell. If you get the right treatment and care as soon as you can this could save your baby’s life.

Is there anything that can affect being able to feel my baby move?

You may be less likely to be aware of your baby’s movements when you are active or busy.

If your placenta is at the front of your uterus (womb), it may not be easy for you to feel your baby’s movements. This is called an anterior placenta.

If your baby’s back is lying at the front of your uterus, you may feel fewer movements than if their back is lying alongside your own back. The placenta cushions the kicks.

But you should still feel regular movement, it will just be different to those with the placenta in the more usual place. Do not assume an anterior placenta is why you can’t feel your baby’s movements. Contact your midwife or maternity unit immediately if you think your baby’s movements have slowed down, stopped or changed. It’s always best to get checked.

If your baby lying head down or bottom first (known as breech) will not affect how you feel movements.

Can I make my baby move?

No, you should not try to make your baby move. If you think your baby’s movements have slowed down, stopped or changed contact your midwife or maternity unit immediately.

Can I use a home doppler to check on my baby?

Do not use any hand-held monitors, dopplers or phone apps to check your baby’s heartbeat. This is not a reliable way to check your baby’s health. Even if you hear a heartbeat, this does not mean your baby is well.

A heartbeat alone is not a sign of good health. Any care or treatment that could save a baby needs to be done when the baby has a heartbeat.

Find out more about why using home devices are not a safe way of checking your baby’s health.

You need to be monitored by a cardiotocography machine or a midwife.

What happens if my baby's movements have slowed down?

Less than 24 weeks pregnant

Contact your midwife or local maternity unit if you have not felt your baby move by 24 weeks. They will check your baby’s heartbeat. You may have an ultrasound scan and you may be referred to a specialist fetal medicine centre to check your baby's health.

Between 24 and 26 weeks pregnant

You should contact your midwife or local maternity unit immediately. Do not wait until the next day or next appointment.

Your healthcare professional will check your baby’s heartbeat.

You will have a full antenatal check-up that includes:

checking the size of your uterus
measuring your blood pressure
testing your urine for protein.

If your uterus measures smaller or larger than expected, you may have an ultrasound scan to check on your baby’s growth and development.

Over 26 weeks

You should contact your midwife or local maternity unit immediately. Do not wait until the next day or next appointment. 

You will be asked about your baby's movements.

You will have an antenatal check-up including checking your baby's heartbeat and measuring the size of your bump.

Your baby's heart rate will be monitored using a CTG, usually for at least 20 minutes. You should be able to see your baby’s heart rate increase as he or she moves

An ultrasound scan may be arranged if:

your bump is smaller or larger than expected
your pregnancy has risk factors linked to stillbirth
your baby’s heart rate is normal but you still feel that their movements are slower or less than usual
you have had reduced fetal movements already in your pregnancy.

You should not be discharged until you are happy with baby's movements again. If helpful, you can read some tips here for speaking up in pregnancy.

If the movements have slowed down does it mean my baby is not well?

Fewer movements could mean that your baby is unwell, but usually these checks reveal that everything is OK. Most women and birthing people who have experienced one episode of fewer movements go on to have a straightforward pregnancy and healthy baby. However it is very important that you are checked to make sure everything is OK.

What if my baby’s movements are reduced again?

If, after your check up, you are still not happy with your baby’s movement, contact either your midwife or maternity unit straight away again, even if everything was OK last time.

Never hesitate to contact your midwife or the maternity unit for advice, no matter how many times this happens.

We are here if you need to talk to someone about baby loss. You can talk to our Tommy’s midwives for free on 0800 0147 800. We are open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Or you can email them on [email protected]

Stillbirth - Preventing stillbirth - NHS

Not all stillbirths can be prevented, but there are some things you can do to reduce your risk.

These include:

not smoking
avoiding alcohol and drugs during pregnancy – as well as increasing the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth, these can seriously affect your baby's development
attending all your antenatal appointments so that midwives can monitor the growth and wellbeing of your baby
making sure you're a healthy weight before trying to get pregnant
protecting yourself against infections and avoiding certain foods – see causes of stillbirth
reporting any tummy pain or vaginal bleeding to your midwife on the same day
being aware of your baby's movements and reporting any concerns you have to your midwife straightaway
reporting any itching to your midwife
going to sleep on your side, not on your back

Some of these are discussed in more detail on this page.

Your weight

Obesity increases the risk of stillbirth. The best way to protect your health and your baby's wellbeing is to lose weight before becoming pregnant. By reaching a healthy weight, you cut your risk of all the problems associated with obesity in pregnancy.

If you're obese when you become pregnant, your midwife or GP can give you advice about improving your health while pregnant.

Eating healthily and activities such as walking and swimming are good for all pregnant women. Talk to your midwife or doctor before starting a new exercise programme if you weren't active before you got pregnant.

Read more about obesity and pregnancy and exercise during pregnancy.

Monitoring your baby's movements

You'll usually start feeling some movement between weeks 16 and 20 of your pregnancy, although it can sometimes be later than this. These movements may be felt as a kick, flutter, swish or roll. You should continue to feel your baby move up to and during labour.

If you notice your baby is moving less than usual, or there's a change in the pattern of movements, it may be the first sign your baby is unwell. You should contact your midwife or local maternity unit immediately so your baby's wellbeing can be assessed.

There's no specific number of movements that's considered to be normal. What's important is noticing and telling your midwife about any reduction or change in your baby's typical movements.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has produced a leaflet called Your baby's movements in pregnancy (PDF, 138kb) that you may find useful.

Avoiding certain foods

There are some foods you should avoid during pregnancy. For example, you shouldn't eat some types of fish or cheese, and you should make sure all meat and poultry is thoroughly cooked.

Read more about the foods to avoid during pregnancy.

Going to sleep on your side, not your back

Research suggests that going to sleep on your back after 28 weeks of pregnancy can double the risk of stillbirth. It's thought this may be to do with the flow of blood and oxygen to the baby.

The safest position to fall asleep in is on your side, either left or right. Don't worry if you wake up on your back – just turn onto your side before going back to sleep.

Attending antenatal appointments and reporting any concerns

During your antenatal appointments, your midwife or GP will monitor your baby's development, growth and position.

You'll also be offered tests, including blood pressure tests and urine tests. These are used to detect any illnesses or conditions, such as pre-eclampsia, that may cause complications for you or your baby. Any necessary treatment can be provided promptly and efficiently.

When the baby starts to move in the stomach and what to do if he stops moving

Tips for mothersPregnancy and childbirth then between the 16th and 22nd weeks of pregnancy. Women who are expecting their first child usually feel these movements later, mothers "with experience" - earlier. At first, the “shakes” will be irregular and very weak. But starting from the 28th week, the movements will be stronger - and it will be possible to start counting kicks and punches.

Why count movements

Experts say that the number of movements of a baby in the womb is an important marker of his condition. If the child moves too much or too little, you should definitely tell the doctor about this: it is possible that additional tests will be needed to understand if everything is in order with the unborn baby. But if you do not track movements and do not count them, you are unlikely to be able to understand when the child moves more and when less. Our perception is subjective, it can always “seem”, and the doctor needs accurate data.

Counting bumps and bumps is also a great way to bond with your baby before it's even born. Some even communicate with the baby by tapping on the stomach: the little man is curious about what is happening there, outside, and he responds to tapping with movements from the inside. They say that this way you can even teach math to a baby!

How much the baby should move

It is necessary to count children's jumps, being completely focused on the process. Sit back, grab a pen and paper, and make a note every time you feel your baby move. In the third trimester, the baby moves on average 10 times per hour. If the baby does not make so many movements even in two hours, or there are noticeable and long-term deviations from the standard norm of movements, you need to see a doctor.

"Most of the time, the baby is fine and doing great, but this is one of those times when it's best to play it safe," says Dr. Megan Cheney, MD, director of the Women's Institute at University Medical Center in Phoenix, USA. What to do if the child has stopped moving After all, this is what the baby is doing in the womb 90 percent of the time. Moreover, he sleeps more often when you are physically active: his movements sway him to sleep. But if you decide to take a break, the activity of the child will increase.

Lie on your back for a while to feel your baby's movements. But do not linger in this position, lying and even more so sleeping on your back during pregnancy is harmful.
Eat something tasty: a snack, especially sweet, can motivate the baby to move.
Shine a flashlight on the stomach: the child already knows how to recognize light and darkness. He will be able to notice that there is something bright outside, and will try to get closer to the light source or, conversely, move away from it.
Gently press on your belly (lightly!): if you disturb your baby, he will wake up and will probably start brushing off your annoying advances.
Talk to your child or sing to him: he is already learning to recognize his mother's voice, so it is possible that the baby will wake up from her sounds.
Watch an action movie: action movie or even light horror if you like these genres. The picture on the screen will cause a surge of adrenaline, to which the baby can react with movement.

But if you have even the slightest doubt that everything is all right with the baby, be sure to consult a doctor. Cases when a child's life was saved only thanks to mother's intuition are not so rare.

Natalya Evgenieva

Why the baby stopped moving in the stomach

Why the fetus stopped moving in the stomach

The baby stopped moving - this is a very exciting situation for the expectant mother. Does he have enough of everything, does he feel good, is he comfortable?

At the first stage of bearing a baby, you can find out about this only through tests and ultrasound. But from a period of 18-25 weeks, a woman begins to feel the movements of her child in the womb. Some experience this joy a couple of weeks earlier. From now on, you can track your baby's well-being with the help of these unusual signals.

Doctors usually indicate the need to count the number of movements during the day, starting at 24-25 weeks. At this stage, the fetus should normally be active at least 10 times a day. Before this period, the movements are simply barely noticeable to the mother. And later than 36 weeks, the baby becomes too crowded in the womb for frequent body movements. But their power is increasing. Tracking the movements of the fetus is very important. After all, this is the main indicator of his condition, which is available to a pregnant woman all the time. And why the fetus has stopped moving in the stomach, you must definitely ask the doctor, and without delay, if such calmness lasts 12 hours or more. Intrauterine death is the worst thing that can cause a lack of fetal activity.

The intensity of the movements depends on several factors. The greatest activity of the baby can be felt while in certain positions - lying on his back or cross-legged. That is, in those in which the flow of oxygen through the blood to the child's place slows down. The baby massages the placenta, accelerating the blood flow. These movements are felt. The “bubbler” also behaves restlessly when the mother is in a stuffy room. Or when sitting indoors for a long time.

Baby may react to certain foods. So, sour lemon and sweets can provoke a series of body movements. In addition, the unborn little man already has his own temperament and develops a certain daily routine. Most often during the day, during the activity of the mother, the child is rocked by her movements and sleeps for 3-4 hours with short breaks. Mom's emotions are also a reason to show your position. External stimuli, such as loud noises and bright lights, will certainly cause a reaction in the little man.

Thus, the child does not move normally when sleeping or simply at rest.