Foetal Movement: When will my baby start kicking?

Your pregnancy is going well, but you have yet to feel your unborn baby moving. Is everything okay? Gynaecologist Dr Dries Potgieter explains that while an ultrasound can identify foetal movement as early as seven to eight weeks of pregnancy, women generally don’t begin to feel the baby move until sometime between 16 to 22 weeks of pregnancy, or even later if it’s your first pregnancy. Veteran moms tend to feel movement sooner and according to www.whattoexpect.com, thinner moms-to-be may also feel movement earlier.

When should I be concerned?

If you have not felt your baby kicking by 24 weeks, irrespective of whether it is your first or second or third child (or more), follow up with your health care practitioner. Initially, babies have rolling movements. This might feel like “bubbles popping” or gas trapped in the stomach. The sensation of foetal movement by the mother is felt earlier by women who had babies before. It could be due to the fact they recognise the previous sensation earlier. After 20 weeks, the baby will start with real kicking and hiccupping. Babies also have sleep cycles and at times will have a snooze when you are going for your ultrasound assessment. If you are concerned by the movement or kicking of your baby, choose an hour in the day when you can sit still and count foetal movements. We would like your baby to move four times in an hour. Be it that the movements are fewer than four, count for another hour. If still fewer than four, go to your health care practitioner. Foetal kick charts may be used to monitor your progress.

Movement after 36 weeks

Your baby should always be moving throughout the day. After the 36th week of pregnancy, babies have much less room for big movements such as kicks and rolls. But this doesn’t mean she will move less. She will still use her hands to explore her face and body, and try to stretch in her cramped surroundings.