How often should you feel your baby move at 21 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

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

How many times should my baby kick during pregnancy?

Hurray, you've started to feeling those flutters – or maybe even little kicks – made by your growing baby as they move about in your womb! And you may have heard or read about keeping track of how many of these movements you're feeling. But why is this important? How many movements should you expect to feel each day? And does that change as your due date gets closer?

"Each baby will develop their own individual pattern and some are just more active than others," says Nikki Khan, senior midwife at St George's University Hospital, London. "There’s no 'correct' frequency, as it's different for every woman. But your baby will develop a 'routine' and it's good to get to know what's normal for your baby."

When will you first start to feel your baby move?

Aren't you supposed to count 10 kicks per day?

No, this is something pregnant women used to be told (there was a very successful 'Count to 10' programme that was widely endorsed by midwives). But now because it's known how very different one baby's movements can be from another's – some babies may move 4 times an hour, for example, while others move 100 times an hour – this has practice been discontinued.

Mums-to-be used to be asked to keep a record of their baby’s movements but it can be more worrying than reassuring, so we no longer do this
Nikki Khan, senior midwife, St George's Hospital

It's also really hard to compare what pregnant women call a baby movement: it could really vary, with some women 'counting' every tiny flutter and others maybe not noticing much beyond the really big kicks.

So, now it's all about staying in tune with your baby's regular movements. The idea is to get to know your baby's kicking habits and become aware of how active your baby is – so that, if anything changes away from that norm, you can ask your midwife to check it out.

More like this

Baby kick watch: week by week

OK, so we know that every baby is different but, despite that there are certain common patterns to baby movements that happen during your 2nd and 3rd trimester. For example, you'll probably notice that your baby's movements will increase until you're 32 weeks pregnant and then, from then on, keep pretty much to the same frequency until you give birth.

We asked MadeForMum's expert midwife Anne Richley to outline what to expect:

8 to 12 weeks
You won't be able to feel anything yet but your baby is regularly moving around from about 8 weeks of pregnancy. Your baby's brain is sending messages to growing muscles, telling them to work, which in turn helps your baby to grow. Your baby is surrounded by cushioning amniotic fluid, acting as protection from any bumps and pressure.
13 to 15 weeks
Some pregnant women, especially if those who've had a baby before, can start to feel slight movements at the very beginning of the 2nd trimester. However, this is very rare.
16 to 24 weeks
This is typically the time period in which you will first feel that your baby moving – and if it's your 1st baby, it's more likely to happen after 20 weeks than before. You might only feel a little flutter – also known as quickening – as your baby is still tiny It can be so slight, you might put it down to gas or indigestion. Whenever it happens, it's completely normal to then have a few days when you don't feel anything at all.
24 to 28 weeks
This is when your baby's noticeable movement patterns will start to take shape. If you're busy working or looking after other children, you may not be aware of your baby's smaller actions and, as like as not, you'll find that, just when you start falling asleep, your baby starts to get lively! If you feel regular, jerky movements right about now, that could all be down to your baby having hiccups. Hiccups can last for 30 minutes at a time and are completely normal and won't harm your baby. They shouldn't be counted as movements however. The same goes for if your baby jumps after they hear a loud sound.
If your baby's pattern doesn't become clear exactly at 24 weeks, don't panic. As long as your baby is moving, that's fine. You might find your baby develops a more regular pattern closer to 28 weeks.
28 weeks
You may find your baby has developed a more regular pattern and you should be able to feel about 10 movements in a 12-hour period – but some of those may come very close together. Don't worry if your baby is quieter: just start familiarising yourself with what your baby likes to do.

From about 26 weeks, I've had a very active little boy in there but it took me a while to get into his pattern of moving and sleeping. If he has a very active day like yesterday, he will be quieter today
Writer73, on the MadeForMums forum

29 to 31 weeks
This is what your partner may have been waiting for: the grand reveal! Around this time you may be able to see your baby's movements from the outside, when the odd elbow or foot pushes out against your belly. One of the best places to spot your baby moving is in the bath (find out how to run the safest temperature for your bath)

Since 28 weeks, it's been much more regular. Not so much a pattern but I feel my baby most evenings. The movements change. Now it's less kicks but more general movement. I can see bits of my belly expand when my baby moves!
Angel00, on the MadeForMums forum

32 weeks
Your baby will become really active now, changing position constantly, stretching their arms and somersaulting. In fact, your womb's a bit like a playground. This active phase will continue up until birth. There will still be a pattern to it. If you notice a reduction in your baby movements, talk to your doctor or midwife.
36 weeks
After those weeks of tumbling and pushing around, most babies will start to move into a head-down position from 36 weeks, ready for the birth. As your baby gets into this position, you may feel gentle jabs from their arms and legs. If you've had several babies before, will may find that your baby’s in what’s known as an 'unstable lie', where your baby flits between being head-down (cephalic), sideways (transverse) or bottom-first (breech). Your baby can do this several times a day, although this is extremely rare with a 1st baby.
36 to 40 weeks. Your baby won’t be able to move so much now and you're likely to feel a more persistent kick underneath the ribs. The movements might have changed but the frequency should remain the same. If you notice any change, speak to your midwife.

What if I'm past 20 weeks pregnant and I can't feel any kicks?

Most pregnant women will have felt some flutterings by the 24th week of pregnancy. It's worth knowing that first-time mums-to-be tend to feel movements later on in pregnancy – so don't be disheartened by the mum who's having her 3rd and has been feeling movements since week 16.

Also, if you have an anterior placenta (where your baby's placenta is attached to the front – tummy-side – wall of your uterus, rather than the back – spine-side – or top or side), you may feel fluttering a few weeks later than the average pregnant woman does, because the placenta is acting as a kind of cushion between your baby and belly, so making movements harder to feel.

If you haven't felt any movements at all by 25 weeks, though, do contact your midwife.

Read more about how anterior placenta can affect your baby's kicks

Are there certain times of the day when I should feel my baby move?

Babies can be active throughout the day and night, says Anne Richley, but they won't be continuously active so don't be worried if your baby has a rest for while. Babies don't always move, especially when they are sleeping.

Babies can sleep for anything from 20 minutes to 40 minutes, and sometimes they can even have a longer nap of anything up to 90 minutes.

You might also find that your baby's very active at night and in the morning, but you don't feel a huge amount during the course of the day. This is very normal as babies become very used to noise and your activity outside the womb and they often move more when you stop.

Think about how we walk around rocking a baby to sleep for comfort. It's the same thing when your baby's in your uterus. So when you sit down and rest, your baby might wake up as the rocking stops.

When will my partner be able to feel my baby kick?

Your partner will often be able to feel your baby a few weeks after you feel the first kicks. Again, every pregnancy is different.

"I think it was around the 23-week mark when my baby got really active so that my husband could start feeling the kicks," says Lucy_Spoon on our MadeForMums Chat forum. "My baby usually goes quiet if her Daddy touches my belly (might be a good sign that he's going to be some sort of baby whisperer). Now that I am 34 weeks, when I'm giving hubby a hug in bed she kicks his back!"

What will make my baby move more?

You can probably second-guess half of the things that will make a baby move before you even experience it, such as:

hot, cold or fizzy drinks
caffeine
ice
sugary food

What will make my baby move less?

Some things that are likely to make your baby move less include:

Taking painkillers
Sedatives
Drinking alcohol
Smoking

”Also, if you haven’t had much to eat or drink that day, your baby may become lethargic and move less,” says Nikki Khan, "so have a light, nutritious snack and see if that helps.

"Sometimes, we're so busy, we're simply not concentrating on our baby and miss regular movements that way. If you're able to, take some quiet time to relax, and reconnect with your baby, focusing on feeling her move.

"A glass of ice-cold water will often get her moving – it’s thought that your baby can feel the change in temperature and will try to move away from it. If you’re at all worried, trust your instincts and call your midwife. She can have a listen and monitor you properly to put your mind at rest."

When should I seek medical advice?

"If you're concerned that your baby’s moving less than previously, you should contact your midwife who'll advise you to have your baby's heartbeat monitored to check everything’s OK," says Anne Richley. "In most cases, your baby will be moving but you're just not aware of it. Alternatively your baby might have altered positions, meaning you don't feel pushes or turning in such a defined way.

"Towards the end of your pregnancy, your baby has less room in which to do huge kicks or shoves, but you should still feel the same amount of moving, even it's slightly less strong, or feels different.

"Sometimes a significant reduction in movements can show that your baby is becoming unhappy in the womb, so it’s always important that you speak to a midwife, who can arrange for you to be seen quickly."

About our expert midwives Anne Richley and Nikki Khan

Anne is a midwife with 22 years' experience. She is currently Matron for Community Midwifery Service at Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust. She has written a number of books on pregnancy and birth, including Your Baby’s First Yearand Labour & Birth.
Nikki is passionate about midwifery care and qualified as a midwife in 1989. She has practised extensively as a Senior Midwife in the NHS and the private sector. She currently works at St George's University Hospitals NHS Trust and also acts as an Expert Midwifery Witness.

Read more...

When will I first feel my baby move?
Anterior placenta: how can if affect my baby's kicks?
What does the size of your bump mean?

21 weeks of pregnancy: sensations, signs, fetal development

Pregnancy

Article

2. 9/5 194 reviews

21 weeks of pregnancy is a long-awaited time for mothers. The sixth month has gone and the baby is gaining weight and increasing in size. This is a wonderful stage that brings us closer to the appearance of a small crumb and is accompanied by joyful manifestations.

4min. for reading Feb. 17, 2022

In order for mothers to be calm and balanced, they need to know what their fetus is going through during this period and what to expect from their body.

How does the baby feel at 21 weeks pregnant?

The pregnancy calendar indicates that at this time, all the indicators of the child are very different from those that were observed a few weeks ago. The fetus has grown, and its body has become stronger. His movements became clear and purposeful. Now mom will not miss his next push, which is felt more and more every week. The baby is more comfortable than ever - there is enough space in the uterus and he can move freely. At the 21st week of pregnancy, it often happens that the biorhythm of mother and baby does not match, and he begins to actively behave in the evening, preventing the parent from sleeping. In this trimester, he already hears sounds well, so calm him down by telling a story or singing a lullaby. Light strokes on the stomach also help.

The child's activity now is an opportunity to assess his condition and comfort in the uterus. If the movements are frequent or very few, this may indicate a lack of oxygen. At 21 weeks, the norm is when the fetus performs 200 movements in 24 hours. However, most of them cannot be felt. During the day, mom manages to catch about 15 movements. The lack of oxygen is easily eliminated with frequent air walks, light exercise for moms and breathing exercises.

The size of the child has already changed. In length at this time, it reaches - 26.7 centimeters, while its weight is up to 360 grams. But this is not the limit. Its size will still increase, because the internal organs are still being improved. First of all, this is the digestive system - it is preparing for full-fledged, independent work. The baby swallows amniotic fluid all the time so that they pass through the intestines. Thus, they are excreted through the rectum. It already has enzymes and hydrochloric acid in the digestive system in small amounts. The taste of the baby's first foods depends on what the mother eats, what drinks she drinks and whether she has bad habits. Therefore, it is important to lead a healthy lifestyle and eat healthy food.

How does the expectant mother feel at 21 weeks pregnant?

A woman's feelings during this period change - she constantly wants to eat, as the fetus becomes overgrown with fat and needs additional calories. Eat in moderation, but so as not to overeat and not feel hungry. Pregnancy at 21 weeks requires weight control, by this time you can recover by 4.5 - 6. 5 kilograms.

Don't be surprised if you develop unusual food cravings and start liking strange food combinations - this is normal during this period. Now you can not raise your hands above your head, and if this still happened, do not keep them in this position for a long time. The body is already preparing for childbirth, so colostrum can be released at this time. If this happens - do not press, keep hygiene and wipe the chest. Also watch for vaginal discharge - thrush may aggravate. If you find any problems in yourself, contact your doctor immediately.

Ultrasound at 21 weeks of gestation

The development of the baby occurs in each week of the "interesting position". And if everything goes in positive dynamics for you, then at week 21 the doctor usually prescribes a second planned ultrasound of all trimesters. During the ultrasound examination, the doctor will tell you about the following points:

whether the fetus is developing normally;
are there any threats;
confirm or for the first time report the sex of the baby;
how active and strong the baby is.

Ultrasound at 21 weeks is a necessary procedure that will help assess the condition of the baby and its level of development. In addition, this is a good opportunity to exclude the presence of pathologies. During the examination, the doctor will carefully examine the baby's organs and compare their sizes with the dimensions of the fetus. Based on these data, conclusions are drawn about the nature of the course of pregnancy.

Nutrition tips for expectant mothers at 21 weeks pregnant

Remember that now the baby begins to recognize the taste of food, so it is worth eating only healthy and healthy foods, as well as leading a healthy lifestyle. In addition, some foods may be harmful to his small body. It is important to consider the following:

do not eat excessively salty foods;
do not overeat and eat up at night;
get rid of the habit of malnutrition;
divide the daily ration into frequent but small portions;
take more vitamins;
no alcohol.

These simple tips will improve your baby's condition and your health. 21 weeks pregnant is a great time to prepare for childbirth and enjoy your position.

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Fetal movements during pregnancy

Fetal movements are expected by pregnant women and obstetrician-gynecologists. 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.

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.
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.

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.
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.

There are three methods for counting fetal movements: