One of the most exciting moments during pregnancy is when you feel your baby's first kick in your womb (fetal movements). It's a unique, wonderful, and unforgettable sensation . It's the first time you feel your baby and become more aware of its development. These kicks also indicate that everything is progressing well.
Some kicks are gentle, others rhythmic, others strong… Every pregnancy is different ; some women feel them more than others, and some babies move more than others. Here's what your baby's kicks mean and everything you need to know about them.
When do the kicks start to be felt?
By week 20 of pregnancy , your baby's nervous system is highly developed and they will begin to move their arms and legs. If you've had a previous pregnancy, you may already be feeling these movements as a gentle tickling sensation, as your uterus has already expanded. If not, you may not start to feel kicks until week 24 .
Why do babies move in the womb?
Your baby needs to stretch their already formed muscles and limbs. They start moving earlier, but they're so small and have so much space that they don't touch the uterus. As the pregnancy progresses, their space decreases, and it becomes easier to feel them.
At what times of pregnancy are they most noticeable?
At the beginning of your pregnancy, you'll notice very few movements. Between 5 and 6 months, your baby's kicks will become more energetic . This is because your baby still has some space and the strength to move around quite a bit. Towards the end of your pregnancy, there's almost no room, so your baby's movements are smaller and gentler. You might even be able to tell when your baby is moving by observing their position.
At what time of day are they most noticeable?
Babies have periods of the day when they are calmer and others when they are more active. Their movements tend to be more intense when you are lying down or semi-reclined, and decrease when you are moving, as this makes them sleepy. They also tend to move more about half an hour after eating. This is why they are usually more active at night, between 10 pm and 1 am . They typically move an average of 10 times a day.
Are they related to the baby's character?
No, it's not related at all. Just because the baby kicks strongly and constantly doesn't mean it won't be a calm baby later on. It simply indicates that the baby is healthy . If the baby is moving, everything is fine; if it's not moving, something might be wrong.
What if I don't notice the baby's kicks?
It's easy to miss fetal movements if you're stressed, preoccupied with something else, or your attention is elsewhere. Your baby may have moved, but you didn't notice . Don't obsess over their movements. If you'd like to feel more at ease, you can try these tricks to encourage them to move:
- Play music close to your belly, without being too tall.
- Eat something sweet. Glucose stimulates them. It will take a while to take effect, it is not immediate.
- Change your posture. There are some positions that are uncomfortable and forces them to move.
- Sing to him. While gently touching your tummy. He will surely answer you with a kick.
- Sit down. We have seen before that movement puts them to sleep. Sit quietly.
In any case, it is important to monitor your movements, and if we notice a change in your routine (having not felt you for more than 24 hours or noticing that your movements have decreased a lot) go to the doctor to rule out any problems. This way you will stay more calm.
Now we can also see the baby before birth
Thanks to new technologies and 3D and 4D ultrasounds, we won't just have to be content with feeling the baby move. We can clearly see its movements, its features, how it sucks its thumb, and its movements…
Why remember ... there is nothing comparable to feeling a life inside of you.