Can you feel your baby kick at 20 weeks
Your baby's movements - NHS
When you'll feel your baby move
You should start to feel your baby move between around 16 to 24 weeks of pregnancy. If this is your first baby, you might not feel movements until after 20 weeks.
If you have not felt your baby move by 24 weeks, tell your midwife. They'll check your baby's heartbeat and movements.
You should feel your baby move right up to and during labour.
Other people cannot feel your baby move as early as you can. When they can feel the movements, by putting a hand on your bump, is different for everyone.
What your baby's movements feel like
The movements can feel like a gentle swirling or fluttering. As your pregnancy progresses, you may feel kicks and jerky movements.
Urgent advice: Call your midwife or maternity unit immediately if:
- your baby is moving less than usual
- you cannot feel your baby moving anymore
- there is a change to your baby's usual pattern of movements
They'll need to check your baby's movements and heartbeat.
Do not wait until the next day – call immediately, even if it's the middle of the night.
How often should your baby move?
There's no set number of movements you should feel each day – every baby is different.
You do not need to count the number of kicks or movements you feel each day.
The important thing is to get to know your baby's usual movements from day to day.
Important: Important
Do not use a home doppler (heartbeat listening kit) to try to check the baby's heartbeat yourself. 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.
Why your baby's movements are important
If your baby is not well, they will not be as active as usual. This means less movement can be a sign of infection or another problem.
The sooner this is found out the better, so you and your baby can be given the right treatment and care.
This could save your baby's life.
Can your baby move too much
It's not likely your baby can move too much.
The important thing is to be aware of your baby's usual pattern of movements.
Any changes to this pattern of movements should be checked by a midwife or doctor.
Find out more
- Tommy’s: baby movements in pregnancy
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists: your baby’s movements in pregnancy
- signs that labour may be starting
Page last reviewed: 12 October 2021
Next review due: 12 October 2024
Baby movements during pregnancy | Pregnancy Birth and Baby
Baby movements during pregnancy | Pregnancy Birth and Baby beginning of content5-minute read
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An exciting landmark of pregnancy is when you first feel the sensation of your baby move.
These movements are a sign that your baby is healthy and well.
Every baby is unique, it is important for you to get to know your baby’s individual movement pattern. At any point, if you are concerned about your babies movement pattern, please contact your midwife or doctor immediately. Do not wait until the next day.
When will I feel my baby moving?
You will start to feel your baby moving between 16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. The location of your placenta will not affect this sensation. It is more common for women having their second or subsequent pregnancies to feel their baby move earlier.
If you have not felt your baby move by 24 weeks, you should contact your doctor or midwife.
What will my baby’s movement feel like?
The type of movement you feel will depend on what your baby is doing and their stage of growth and development. Each baby is different, with some more active than others.
The first sensations you feel may be a fluttering (like 'butterflies in your tummy'), swishing, rolling or tumbling sensation or a tiny kick.
These early sensations are often called ‘quickening’. As your pregnancy progresses, the movements will become more distinct, and you will more easily feel their kicks, jabbing and elbowing.
How often should I feel my baby moving?
There is no set number of movements you should feel. As you start to feel your baby's movements more consistently, usually by 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy, you will get to know what a normal pattern of movement is for you and your baby. You should then consistently feel your baby's movements right up until they are born and even during labour.
Babies tend to move more at certain times of day – they may be more active while you sleep, and sleep while you’re awake. Usually, unborn babies sleep for 20-40 minutes cycles (occasionally up to 90 minutes), and they don’t move when they’re asleep.
Should I track my baby’s movement?
There are no set number of movements a baby should have, so counting kicks or recording on a chart is no longer recommended.
It is important to make time regularly each day to notice your babies’ movements. If you are busy or not paying attention it can be easy to miss this very important signal from your baby. If you are busy or working, it may be helpful to set reminders for yourself to check in with your baby.
Common myths about baby movements
- It is not true that babies move less towards the end of pregnancy.
- Having something to eat or drink does not help stimulate your baby to move.
What should I do if my baby stops moving?
If you haven't felt any movement from your baby by 24 weeks, see your doctor or midwife.
At any stage of your pregnancy, if you are concerned about your baby's movements, contact your midwife or doctor immediately. Do not wait until the next day. A slowing down of movement may be a sign that your baby is unwell.
Your doctor or midwife will invite you into the hospital and check your baby’s heart rate using a CTG Machine.
In some instances, you may also have an ultrasound.
What do I do if I have recurring concerns about my baby’s movements?
Remember you are the one who knows your baby’s movements best. It is important that whenever you are concerned about your baby’s movements to contact your doctor or midwife.
Contact your doctor or midwife again even if you have already seen them about your baby’s movements previously.
Speak to a maternal child health nurse
Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.
Sources:
Australian Family Physician (Decreased fetal movements: a practical approach in primary care setting), Mater Mother's Hospital (Pregnancy – your baby’s movements and what they mean), Raising Children Network (16 weeks pregnant), Miracle Babies (Your baby’s movements), PSANZ SANDA (Baby's Movements), Red Nose (Decreased fetal movements (DFM)), Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth (Movement matters)Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: April 2022
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- Fetal heart rate monitoring
- Giving birth - early signs of labour
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Fetal movement tracking / Obstetrics and gynecology, reprudoctology / Articles about health / Articles and encyclopedia / madez.ru
The most reverent, unforgettable feeling during pregnancy is the first long-awaited stirring under the baby's heart. The baby begins to move from the 8th week. He already has the first muscle bundles and nerve fibers. It is still very small and, surrounded by amniotic fluid, practically does not touch the walls of the uterus. In the process of growth and development of the nervous system, his movements become more ordered, and already at the 20th week, the mother begins to feel the movements of her baby.
Remember the date when you felt the first tremors of the child, the Doctor will definitely ask about it and mark it in the exchange card. Based on this parameter, he will calculate the estimated due date. During the first pregnancy, 20 weeks will be added to the date, with the second - 22.
Movement can determine the position of the fetus. In the place of its greatest activity, limbs are usually located.
Methods for diagnosing the well-being of the baby:
- Cardiotocography (CTG) helps to monitor the well-being of the baby. The interaction of the nervous, muscular and cardiovascular systems is checked. If the child moved, and his heartbeat increased, the reaction is correct. If the heartbeat did not change when moving, this indicates the first signs of hypoxia and the need for close medical monitoring. Such a study is planned. Spend it from 30 weeks twice a month.
- The state of blood circulation in the system "mother - placenta - fetus" allows you to evaluate ultrasound with dopplerometry.
On this ultrasound, a qualitative and quantitative analysis of blood flow in the uterine arteries, umbilical cord vessels, aorta and cerebral arteries of the fetus is done. - Self-monitoring of fetal movements:
Count to ten test - DOWNLOAD TABLE
This is the simplest and most common baby D. Pearson's movement test. It is recommended by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation and is indicated in official documents on the management of pregnancy in our country. It can be used by everyone from 28 weeks at home to independently monitor the condition of the child. In a special table, every tenth movement is noted from 9:00 to 21:00. This is how the features of his motor activity are determined. Under normal conditions, the tenth perturbation is noted before 17:00. If the number of movements within 12 hours is less than 10, it is advisable to inform the doctor. If the baby does not make itself felt within 12 hours - an emergency, urgently see a doctor!
The second test recommended by our gynecologists is counting movements for an hour.
There should be 10-15 of them. If more or less, you must definitely pay attention to the doctor.
If the baby does not move for three hours, there is no cause for concern. He can just sleep.
Table of movements is available on our website madez.ru in the section of the article about health "gynecology"
Movement language
Sometimes the movements become especially intense in a short period of time. This baby "protests" because of your uncomfortable position. If you lie on your back for a long time, the large vessels of the uterus are squeezed, blood flow to the fetus is reduced. By his actions, he is trying to force you to change position.
The baby calms down during a cold snap, when you experience, worry, sit for hours in one position. Try eating something sweet - he should respond to the treat. He benefits from walks in the fresh air for at least three hours a day, good nutrition, long sleep, a reasonable alternation of work and rest.
Pregnancy management at EMC Fetal movement test at EMC Medical Clinic
A woman expects a lot of new sensations and emotions during pregnancy. One of the most pleasant moments during this period is the first movements of the baby.
Can you feel him pushing? So he communicates with you, talks about himself.
By how often you feel his movements, you can judge the temperament and his well-being.
To understand if your baby is doing well, you need to regularly, preferably daily, conduct a "fetal movement test", and all that is required for this is to independently observe the baby's movements.
The first movements of the fetus, as a rule, appear at the 20th week of pregnancy, but may appear a little earlier or a little later. Explicit regular movements begin from the 24th week. From now on, the child should remind himself about 10-15 times an hour. Of course, if you do not feel anything for 2-3 hours, it does not mean that something has happened.
Maybe the baby is just sleeping. But in general, movements during the day should be regular.
Why is ultrasound and CT not enough?
Ultrasound and CTG are modern effective methods for diagnosing the condition of the fetus, which accurately determine the parameters of blood circulation and heartbeat at a particular moment and are carried out at a certain interval if there are no medical indications for more frequent examination. Therefore, usually at the appointment, the doctor asks the woman a question about whether she noticed changes in the "behavior" of the baby. In case of any changes, the doctor will recommend re-examination.
It is important that by conducting a regular fetal movement test, you constantly keep your unborn child's well-being under control. According to international studies, this not only allows you to identify and prevent possible problems in a timely manner, but also reduces the overall level of anxiety in pregnant women.
What determines the activity of the fetus
Of course, to some extent, the baby's mobility in the mother's womb is influenced by his temperament, but, of course, this is not the main thing. Its activity is largely determined by the following factors:
-
The volume of physical activity of a pregnant woman. If you lead a fairly active lifestyle during pregnancy, fetal movements may be felt less frequently.
-
Time of day. Although babies inside the tummy do not make much difference, day or night - they lead an active life when they want - practice proves that they become more active at night.
How to count movements
The most common is the Pearson or "Count to 10" method. You need to take into account any movement of the baby, excluding hiccups - pushes, kicks, flips, etc. But count not the number of movements following each other, but the alternation of rest and activity (both groups of movements and single ones).
