How to feel that the baby is moving. Fetal movements - exciting sensations

11.09.2019

All expectant mothers look forward to fetal movements during pregnancy, this is the first contact with the baby, which makes the maternal instinct turn on, if this has not happened before. The movements of the future baby not only bring great joy to future parents, but help them to suspect a pathology and immediately contact an obstetrician. When it begins, how many movements normally should be of interest to all pregnant women.

Why does the fetus move?

The movements of a little man in the womb are necessary, they speak of his growth and development. The child begins to move in the first trimester, at about 7 to 8 weeks. By week 10, he has swallowing movements, he can change the trajectory of his movements and touch the walls of the amniotic bladder. But the size of the embryo is still insufficient, it only floats freely in the amniotic fluid, very rarely "collides" with the uterine walls, so the woman still does not feel anything.

Starting from the 16th week, the fetus is already sensitive to sounds, which is manifested by an active motor reaction. From the 18th week, the future baby begins to touch the umbilical cord with handles, knows how to squeeze, unclench his fingers, and touches his face.

Therefore, the fetus is worried in the mother's stomach, which in turn worries the woman when exposed to external factors unpleasant for the baby:

strong, unpleasant, loud sounds;
a feeling of discomfort in the womb, for example, the mother's hunger;
stress experienced by the mother (due to the release of adrenaline, blood vessels, including in the placenta, contract, blood supply deteriorates);
oxygen starvation (due to active movements, the placenta is stimulated, its blood supply is enhanced, which provides the child with additional oxygen).

In addition, if a woman takes an uncomfortable position when large vessels are squeezed, the child experiences a lack of oxygen and also becomes active.

First movements

Each woman feels the first movement of the fetus differently at different times. When this happens depends on several factors:

gestational age;
first or second, etc. pregnancy;
time of day (usually in the evening or at night);
mother's complexion (thin or full);
Times of Day;
placenta attachment option;
Lifestyle;
individual sensitivity (some feel from 15 to 16 weeks);
mother's behavior (physically active women simply do not notice movements).

According to statistics, the first fetal movement during the first pregnancy is felt by a pregnant woman at 20 weeks. And with repeated bearing of the fetus, the period of perturbation is reduced to 18 weeks.

But everything is individual, even for an individual woman, the second, third and subsequent pregnancies proceed in a new way each time. If a woman during the second pregnancy began to feel fetal movement at 19 weeks, then during the third pregnancy these periods may change (felt earlier or later).

The rate of perturbations

The rate of fetal movements depends on how long the expectant mother is in pregnancy. The baby is constantly moving, but of course, a woman cannot feel all his movements.

At a period of 20 - 22 weeks, the fetus commits up to 200 movements per day,
but by 27 - 32 weeks he is already performing about 600 movements... It is characteristic that with the beginning of the third trimester (32 weeks), the amount decreases, which is explained by its weight (the fetus is already large enough) and it becomes cramped in the uterus. There are no “large” movements anymore (turns and overturns in the uterus) and the baby can only make “small” arms and legs.
After the 28th week, the average amount is 8 - 10 per hour. The exceptions are the periods of sleep of the child, which is equal to 3 - 4 hours - at this time the baby does not make active movements. The expectant mother should remember certain cycles of the child's activity. The greatest activity is observed from 7 pm to 4 am, and the decrease in activity or the so-called state of rest occurs between 4 am and 9 am.
By 32 weeks, the fetus takes its final position, as a rule, this is the head to the small pelvis (longitudinal position, cephalic presentation). But the transverse position or breech presentation is not excluded. Mom should not despair; to correct such positions, the doctor will always prescribe the performance of special gymnastics, which contribute to the overturn of the fetus and its reception of the "correct" position - longitudinal, with the head to the small pelvis.

If the child has taken the "correct" position, that is, with the head down, then the pregnant woman will feel movements in the upper abdomen (the child "kicks" with his legs). In the case of a breech presentation, movements will be felt below, near the bosom.

Change in the intensity of perturbations

If the baby is well and comfortable in the womb, and the mother does not experience any external or internal stimuli, then the movements are rhythmic and smooth. Otherwise, the nature of the movements changes dramatically, which should alert the woman and require the consultation of an obstetrician.

As a rule, the woman notes the "increased" activity of the baby when she is calm and resting. Conversely, many mothers are afraid that during her vigorous activity, the child does not move at all. This phenomenon is easy to explain. When a woman is at rest, she listens more attentively to her feelings and carefully notes the movements of the child. When she is busy, she does not have time to be distracted from business and she simply does not notice that the baby is moving. In order to dispel her doubts (the child is ill, he dies), the pregnant woman should sit down and relax, watching how he moves.

Doctors very often advise pregnant women to take the bed rest position - on the left side. It is in this position that the blood supply to the uterus is enhanced, which is used in the treatment of chronic fetal hypoxia and for its prevention.

A change in activity is possible from an uncomfortable or incorrect body position of a woman, for example, lying on her back or sitting with a straight back. When the expectant mother lies on her back, the pregnant uterus strongly compresses the inferior vena cava (one of the main blood vessels).

When this vessel is compressed, blood flow to the uterus is significantly reduced and the baby begins to experience oxygen deficiency.

So that mommy understands that he is feeling bad, he has violent and frequent movements. It is quite simple to establish blood circulation and eliminate hypoxia - mom should turn on her side.

Also, the child's physical activity changes if the mother is in a stuffy or smoky room. Due to the lack of oxygen, the child reacts to the situation with painful and violent shocks. A woman should leave the room and take a walk in order to regain a comfortable state for herself and the baby.

In addition, the tremors of the fetus change if the mother is hungry. He experiences a lack of nutrients and "calms down", moves sluggishly and reluctantly. But as soon as the pregnant woman has a snack, the baby's joy is expressed in increased activity.

Stirring in pathological conditions

If the child's physical activity suddenly becomes violent, prolonged and gives pain to a woman, this indicates some pathological condition and requires an immediate visit to a doctor:

Threatening premature birth

The movements become frequent and violent due to the increased tone of the uterus.

Polyhydramnios

In this case, the nature of the aftershocks is fundamentally different. They are rarely felt by a woman, and their strength is insignificant, which is explained by the large volume of the uterus, where the baby rarely touches its walls and the mother does not often feel his movements.

Malnutrition

Due to the small volume of amniotic fluid, the child becomes cramped in the womb, he constantly "beats" in the mother's belly, which is characterized by the woman as frequent and painful tremors.

Acute hypoxia

With pathologies such as premature placental abruption, preeclampsia and others, the fetus experiences acute oxygen deficiency and reacts accordingly.

Chronic hypoxia

Develops in the presence of placental insufficiency, anemia, preeclampsia. Movement is sluggish and becomes infrequent.

Diaphragmatic hernia in a pregnant woman

In this case, the mother, when the fetus moves, experiences pain under the sternum.

Inconsistency of the scar on the uterus

If a woman has a history of a cesarean section, then if the scar is incompetent, which can lead to rupture of the uterus, she feels pain in the area of the scar when the baby moves.

Acute cystitis

With inflammation of the bladder, the pregnant woman complains of frequent, painful urination, painful movement in the lower abdomen.

How the tremors feel

Each pregnant woman describes the sensations in her own way, besides, they change with an increase in the gestational age.

For short periods of time (20 - 25 weeks), women characterize them as "butterfly fluttering" or "fish swimming". Other pregnant women talk about "fluttering" or "vibrating the phone" or "tickling". Some describe their feelings in a less romantic way: "gurgling in the stomach, as if the intestines are junk."
After 27 - 28 weeks, when the fetus has already grown up enough, its movements become clearer and more specific. A mother-to-be, and even a father-to-be, may feel a kick in the area of the abdomen where the hand is laid. The baby's dissatisfaction is very often expressed by such "kicks" - in the case of an uncomfortable posture by the mother or with loud and annoying sounds. But if an unfamiliar hand kisses the mother's belly, the child shrinks in fear and does not want to “kick”.

Count

In order to determine how the fetus is feeling, it is important to count its movements. How to count fetal movements? For this purpose, several techniques are used:

Pearson's method

This method is based on counting movements over 12 hours. Produced from 9 am to 9 pm. During this test, a woman is required only one condition - to reduce physical activity. All movements, even the smallest or weakest, are counted. In the antenatal clinic, the doctor issues a special form or asks you to independently draw up a table of fetal movements, where the time of the tenth movement will be noted. Normally, about an hour should pass between the first and tenth movement. And of course, mom must remember that a rest period is also possible, which should last no more than 4 hours. If this time is exceeded, an urgent need to contact an obstetrician.

To draw up a table, you should take a notebook sheet in a box and line it up as follows. The gestational age is recorded on top. Hours from 9.00 to 21.00 are marked vertically, and days of the week or dates are marked horizontally. From nine in the morning, you should start counting movements. As soon as their number reaches 10, a mark is put in the table at the hour when this happened. Additional information is entered into the table: there were less than 10 movements and how many in total. We continue the counting on the following days, and we must enter the data into the table, with which we need to go to the doctor's appointment.

Cardiff Method

The basis of this method also consists in counting the baby's movements in 12 hours, the only difference is that the woman herself chooses the hour to start counting. Again, a table is drawn up, where the tenth stirring is recorded. It is considered normal when the tenth wiggle occurred before the 12th hour of the study. Otherwise, see a doctor immediately.

Sadowski method

Counting of fetal movements begins after dinner from 19.00 to 23.00. This method is based on the fact that in the evening and after eating, the fetus increases motor activity. Be sure to record the start time of the count, and the pregnant woman should lie on her left side at this time.

When the fetus makes 10 movements per hour or less, the counting stops. But if there were fewer of them, continue to count the movements. An unfavorable sign is a decrease in perturbations (less than 10) in 2 hours.

Thus, it becomes clear that the listed methods of counting the baby's movements can be mastered by every pregnant woman. The use of these techniques does not require any equipment or medical supervision.

Diagnosis of pathology

A change in the nature and intensity of movements in the future baby indicates his trouble. A terrible sign is the lack of movement for 6 or more hours, which requires immediate medical attention. Methods for examining the condition of the fetus include:

Fetal heart auscultation

Listening to the heart rate is done directly by the obstetrician using an obstetric stethoscope (wooden tube). Normally, the fetal heart rate is 120 - 160 beats per minute. When deviated in one direction or another, they talk about oxygen starvation of the baby, which requires instrumental research methods.

Cardiotocography (CTG)

CTG is rightfully considered an affordable, reliable and most accurate method for assessing the condition of the fetus. CTG is performed from 32 weeks of gestation, and in case of suspicion of intrauterine pathology and at an earlier date (from 28 weeks). With the help of cardiotocography, not only fetal movements are recorded, but also the rhythm of its heart contractions and uterine contractions. The study is carried out as follows: the pregnant woman is placed on a couch, and 2 sensors are attached to her stomach. One is in a well-listened place of the fetal heartbeat (he will record the heart rate), and the other is nearby (records the uterine contractions). The cardiotocogram recording is carried out for at least 30 minutes, but it is also possible to increase the examination time up to 1.5 hours. While taking a cardiotocogram, a woman needs to note every movement of the baby and press a special button. Analysis of the cardiotocogram includes:

basal heart rate (norm 120 - 160 beats per minute);
the amplitude of variability (tolerance of deviations up or down) of the basal rhythm (the norm is 5 - 25 beats per minute);
deceleration (sudden jumps of the curve downward) - normally absent or sporadic, shortened and shallow are observed;
acceleration (sudden jumps of the curve upward) - normally should be at least 2 within 10 minutes of the study.

For a more accurate diagnosis of the state of the fetus, CTG is performed with functional tests (without load and with the introduction of intravenous oxytocin).

Doppler ultrasound

An ultrasound examination allows you to assess the size of the fetus, its compliance with the gestational age (with chronic hypoxia, there is a lag in size). The doctor also studies the structure of the placenta, the degree of maturity (signs of aging), the volume of amniotic fluid and its type (these indicators change with oxygen starvation of the baby). With the help of dopplerometry, placental and umbilical cord vessels, the speed of blood flow in them are studied. If the blood flow is reduced, they speak of intrauterine fetal hypoxia.

During the ultrasound scan, the child's movements, heart rate and muscle tone are assessed for 20-30 minutes. If the fetus does not experience discomfort, then its limbs are bent - a sign of normal muscle tone. In the case of extended arms and legs, they speak of a reduced tone, which indicates oxygen starvation.

Question answer

I have my first child, but 4 hours have passed, and I do not feel fetal movements. What to do?

First of all, you need to calm down. The fetus does not always move actively, for 3-4 hours the absence of movement is allowed, at this time the baby is asleep. Try to hold your breath for a short time, the blood will stop flowing to the placenta, to the child, he will experience mild hypoxia and, in response, "will be indignant" - he will begin to "beat" with his arms and legs. If this method does not help, observe the baby for another 30 - 40 minutes. In the absence of even the slightest movement, urgently consult an obstetrician.

What movements of the fetus should be before childbirth?

On the eve of childbirth, the baby practically stops moving, which is considered normal. The child is preparing for birth, which is a very difficult process for him and requires a lot of strength, and a decrease in the motor activity of the fetus saves energy before childbirth. But there should not be an absolute absence of movements, the baby, although occasionally, makes movements.

How does cardiotocography and ultrasound with Doppler affect the child's condition? Isn't it harmful?

No, these methods are absolutely safe for both the baby and the mother.

I am going to give birth to my third child, the term is still short, 10 weeks. What and when should there be movements during the third pregnancy?

It is impossible to say for sure in how many weeks you will feel the wiggle. Everything here is individual. Normally, with repeated pregnancy, the mother begins to feel the movements of the fetus from 18 weeks. But their earlier onset is also possible, at 16 weeks. But the nature of the movements may be completely different, unlike the first two pregnancies, and this should not be scared. All children are different, even while still in the mother's stomach.

I have a "bad" CTG, which was performed twice. Do you have to go to the hospital?

Yes, “bad” results of cardiotocography indicate intrauterine fetal suffering and require medical treatment in a hospital. In addition to hospital treatment, you will have CTG repeated and, if necessary, resolve the issue of early delivery.

The question of when you can feel the first fetal movement during the second pregnancy is actively discussed on the forums and asked to obstetricians-gynecologists during routine examinations . On this occasion, there are so many different opinions and conjectures that even the most sober-minded pregnant woman begins to get confused, doubt and worry. And this does not benefit either her or her baby.

So, many are sure that at the beginning it must necessarily be fixed much earlier than at. And if this does not happen, then something is going wrong: the child does not move, because he is lagging behind in development, etc. Of course, such thoughts are just right to panic ... In this article we will try to dot all the i's.

The answer to the question about , at how many weeks the second child begins to move will surprise many. Exactly at the same time as the first one. This happens about 8 or 9 weeks from the moment of conception.

The time of the beginning of the first movements does not depend on what kind of pregnancy it is. But the early movements of the baby are not felt by the mother. The baby is still too young and does not even touch the walls of the uterus. Therefore, there can be no jolts, and the movements can really be fixed only on.

But the movements of the fetus during the second pregnancy begin to be felt when the child is already large enough: he periodically squeezes his fingers and pulls the umbilical cord. And women who have given birth once, indeed, often record tremors a few weeks earlier. If during the first pregnancy, the movement of the child begins to be felt approximately in the middle of the term, then with the second mother, by the end of the fourth month, she can feel the baby. The norm in any case, no matter what the child is talking about, is considered the beginning of perturbation in the period from 16 to 24 weeks.

Reasons for earlier sensations in the second pregnancy

Thus, the time interval between when the fetal movements during the second pregnancy begin and when the mother feels them may be less than when carrying the first child. Sometimes the difference is a week, and sometimes a month. This can be explained simply: experience!

When a child begins to move, it is very similar to the sensation of intestinal peristalsis. Primiparous women simply mistake the baby's timid thrusts for signals from the digestive system. Only by the middle of the term, the baby's movements become so active that the expectant mother understands: this is it.

When the child begins to move during the second pregnancy, it is easier for a woman who has already experienced all this once to understand where the peristalsis is and where the tremors are. Therefore, she records the first movements of the baby often earlier. But this is not at all necessary. Sometimes sensations appear at the same time, and sometimes later. Indeed, in addition to the sequence of pregnancy, there are other factors that affect the ability to feel the tremors.

Why does it feel different

The timing of the fixation of the first fetal movements during the second pregnancy (as, indeed, with any one in the account) depends on many factors. Not all expectant mothers, even those with experience, know about this.

The period of occurrence of perceptible movements is influenced by:

Mother's weight. The larger it is, the later the woman can feel the tremors. The fatty layer on the belly does not allow the pregnant woman to feel the still rather weak activity of the baby.
Fetal weight and height. The larger the child, the earlier he will begin to make itself felt.
Woman's threshold of sensitivity. If it is overestimated, then the mother will feel the first movements of the fetus during the second pregnancy earlier, and if it is underestimated, then this event will happen closer to the middle of the term.
The amount of water. The more there are, the later the crumb will make itself felt.

In addition to these four main reasons, the temperament of the baby, and the lifestyle of his mother and hers, play a role. In any case, it should be remembered that the timing of the baby's movements during the second pregnancy does not have to come earlier than during the first one.

Yes, this happens often, but not always. If the baby does not make itself felt even in the middle of the term, there is no reason to worry. After all, the period from 16 to 24 weeks is considered the norm for the first fetal movements during the second pregnancy.

Child's motor activity and mother's sensations

It is important for expectant mothers to know how and how many weeks the second child should move. It has already been said that his first movements begin as early as 2 months, but the pregnant woman does not feel them. Towards the middle of the term, weak signals are already recorded. They are subtle and similar to intestinal fermentation.

From the 7th month, the baby learns to breathe and swallows amniotic fluid, which causes hiccups in him. Mom feels it as strong enough, rhythmic tremors. At this period, the peak of the baby's activity falls. Further movements will not be as frequent, but more noticeable.

Methods for counting movements

In order not to miss possible complications, the expectant mother should constantly monitor the movements of the child: during the second pregnancy, the first or the third, it does not matter. There are several ways to count the movements of the baby.

Here are the main methods:

Pearson technology. From 9 am to 9 pm, movements are counted daily and every 10th is recorded on paper. Dramatic glitches in the schedule should be a cause for concern.
The Cardiff Method. For 12 hours at any convenient time, the pregnant woman records the movements, indicating the interval between every tenth in a special table.
Sadovski's way. You need to start counting at 7 pm, lying on your left side. Within an hour, there should be 10 or more movements. If there are fewer of them and they do not become more frequent further, you should contact your doctor.

All of the above methods can be used starting from about 28 weeks, when the movements during the second pregnancy are already clearly felt. At an earlier date, these methods are ineffective. The child's movements are still too timid and chaotic.

Baby behavior before childbirth

Many pregnant women begin to panic, noticing that at the very end of the term, the child has practically stopped moving. In fact, this is normal and suggests that it will start from day to day. The baby prepares for birth and, freezing, saves energy. In addition, he is already very cramped in the uterus. But we are not talking about complete silence. Movement, although rare, should be felt.

And sometimes, on the contrary, just before the contractions, the baby begins unprecedented physical activity. This is also a variant of the norm. . When the baby in the second pregnancy began to move very much the day before, it may be trying to take the most comfortable position for birth.

Movements abruptly disappeared: causes and actions

Sometimes the perturbations abruptly disappear even at an earlier date. The duration of the silence is very important here. Normally, each series of active movements is replaced by rest. At this time, the child is asleep. If he hasn't moved after three hours of calm, you need to be on your guard. If the movements are not felt for more than 12 hours, it's time to sound the alarm.

The long absence of movement can be explained by various reasons. And in most cases, everything ends well. But it's better to play it safe once again. After all, the reason for the disappearance of tremors can be

” №8/2014 02.06.16

Of course, all future mothers are looking forward to the first movements of the fetus. Many women from this moment are truly aware of the fact of their pregnancy. At this stage, many questions arise regarding the activity of the fetus in the mother's tummy. We will answer the most popular ones.

1. The baby begins to move before you feel it

The first movement of the fetus begins early, already at 7-8 weeks of pregnancy. It was at this time that its first muscles and the rudiments of the nervous system were formed. From about 10 weeks of pregnancy, the baby begins to move more actively in the uterus, sometimes bumping into its walls. However, he is still very small, and these blows are very weak, so the expectant mother cannot yet feel them.

2. "As if a fish swam": during the first pregnancy, fetal movements are felt later

The first movements of the fetus will be soft and as if tickling - as if a fish had swam. The expectant mother will be able to feel the tangible shocks a little later. If the pregnancy is the first, the first fetal movements can be seen at 18–20 weeks, and with repeated pregnancy, at 16–18 weeks (the woman is already familiar with this sensation, she more accurately and earlier determines the fetal movement).

In general, the manifestation of the first movements of the fetus is very individual and depends on how sensitive the expectant mother is, as well as on her physique. For example, thin women can feel fetal movements earlier - even at 15-16 weeks, and larger moms - sometimes later than 20 weeks.

Women who lead an active lifestyle, who work a lot, usually feel fetal movements later, since with high employment they usually listen less to their inner feelings.

3. From the 24th week, the fetus already "communicates" with the mother with the help of movements

Fetal movement is an indicator of a normal pregnancy, good growth, development and well-being of the baby. At first, when the expectant mother only felt the first movements of the fetus (18–20 weeks), the movements may not even be felt every day. From 24 weeks of pregnancy, the expectant mother already feels how the fetus changes position, moves its arms and legs. The motor activity of the fetus increases gradually, and its peak falls on the period from the 24th to the 32nd week of pregnancy. At this time, she becomes one of the indicators of the normal development of the baby, the child begins to "communicate" with the mother with the help of movements, react to the sounds of her voice and emotional state. From the moment of "growing up", when the baby began to actively move, he "speaks" to his mother, thereby informing her about his anxiety, joy, pleasure, or his well-being.

In turn, the fetus is very sensitive to changes in the emotional state of the expectant mother. For example, when she is excited, worried or happy, the baby may move more actively or, conversely, calm down for a while. Fetal movements can vary in quantity and intensity even during the day. And this is normal.

4. If there is no movement, the baby can just sleep

Starting from the 24th week of pregnancy, the baby should move an average of 10-15 times per hour. If the baby does not make itself felt for 3-4 hours, it is possible that he is just sleeping. In this case, the expectant mother needs to eat something sweet and lie on her left side for half an hour. If these simple steps do not help, it is worth repeating them again after 2-3 hours. If the baby still does not make itself felt, this is a reason to consult a doctor.

After 32 weeks of pregnancy, the number of fetal movements gradually decreases due to the fact that the baby is growing up, and he simply does not have enough free space. But their intensity and strength remain the same or grow. This becomes especially noticeable by the time of childbirth.

See your doctor immediately if:

no fetal motor activity for 12 hours or more,
the fetus was overly active for several days, and then abruptly subsided,
you notice only rare and weak fetal movements (this may be caused by a lack of oxygen - fetal hypoxia).

5. How to count fetal movements? 2 special tests

It is recommended to count the number of fetal movements for every expectant mother, especially in the third trimester of pregnancy (after the 28th week) - there should be at least ten of them during the day. There are 2 fetal movement tests to assess fetal activity

"Count to ten"... On a special card (you can take it from your doctor or he will tell you how to draw it up), the number of fetal movements is noted daily, usually from 28 weeks of pregnancy. The essence of the fetal movement test is that the expectant mother counts fetal movements for 12 hours, for example, from 9 am to 9 pm. If the fetus makes less than 10 movements during the period, this is a reason to consult a doctor for an examination.

There is another way to count fetal movements - Sadovski technique... They spend it like this: in the evening after dinner, the woman lies on her left side and counts the movements of the fetus. In this case, you need to take into account everything, even the smallest movements of the fetus. If 10 or more fetal movements are noted within an hour, this indicates that the baby is feeling well. If the fetus has moved less than 10 times in an hour, then its movements are counted for another hour. The evening time for this assessment method was not chosen by chance. It is in the evening, especially after dinner and the associated increase in glucose, that the highest activity of the fetus is noted. If the number of fetal movements is less than 10 times in 2 hours, this should be considered as a sign of a violation of its condition and additional research should be carried out.

6. Fetal movements may be a little painful

Sometimes the baby's movements hurt the mother-to-be. In this case, she needs to change her body position (lie on the other side, walk, etc.). After that, the discomfort should go away. If for a long time, for several hours, fetal movements remain painful, the expectant mother should definitely inform the doctor about this, as this may be a sign of problems during pregnancy (for example, with oligohydramnios). In addition, most expectant mothers note some soreness in the hypochondrium, especially in the third trimester of pregnancy - and this is not a deviation from the norm, since the uterus has risen high enough for the baby to “reach” these areas as well.

7. Smart baby: why are fetal movements too active?

The baby can move too actively, as already mentioned, when the emotional state of the expectant mother changes, in addition, this is how he can react to external noises (from about the 20th week of pregnancy, when the hearing aid is formed and the bones in it began to ossify to conduct sound ). Therefore, if the expectant mother comes to the apartment where the renovation is underway, or watches a movie with strong noise effects in the cinema, then, most likely, she will feel quite frequent shocks in her tummy.

8. What is the expression of oxygen starvation of the fetus?

There is a widespread belief that increased fetal activity is a sign of oxygen deprivation, but this is not always the case. Indeed, in the initial stages of fetal hypoxia, the baby's restless behavior is noted, which consists in the frequency and strengthening of his movements. However, with a prolonged or increasing lack of oxygen, the movements of the little man weaken, or may even stop altogether. Therefore, anxiety should be caused by rare (less than 10 per day), weak fetal movements (especially after 30 weeks) or increased activity after a "quiet period", which requires urgent consultation with a doctor. If the doctor suspects that something is amiss, he will send the expectant mother for an ultrasound or CTG (cardiotocography), with which you can figure out why the baby is behaving this way. And if necessary, the doctor will prescribe treatment to normalize the condition of the fetus.

It is very important to listen to the sensations in your tummy and notice how often and intensively the baby moves. Then you can feel the changes in the nature of his movements and consult a doctor in time to make sure that everything is in order with the baby.

9. The little "astronaut" is always on the move

At the 20th week of pregnancy, the fetus makes about 200 movements per day, and in the period between the 28th and 32nd weeks, their daily amount reaches 600. Naturally, the expectant mother does not feel all the baby's movements, but only a small part of them. So, after 28 weeks, the frequency of movement of the fetus, according to the woman's sensations, is 4 to 8 times per hour, with the exception of periods of sleep (3-4 hours in a row). During the third trimester, a pregnant woman may notice that her baby has certain sleep and wake cycles. Children are usually most active from 7 pm to 4 am, and the period of "rest" occurs more often from 4 to 9 am.

From the first days of pregnancy, the expectant mother begins to be interested in questions related to the motor activity of the fetus: "How long does the baby start to move?", "When will I feel the first movements?" In addition to them, the pregnant woman may be disturbed by the intense or, conversely, weak movements of the baby. These and other important issues are discussed in the article.

First movements

The first movements of the child begin at the embryonic stage of development (pregnancy 8-10 weeks). It is impossible to feel this, but they can be clearly seen on the first ultrasound examination. The embryo is 4-7 cm in size and its movements are uncontrolled (unconscious) nervous twitchings associated with the growth and development of the baby and its central nervous system.

During this period, the embryo is located deep in the pelvis, and it is still very small, so if it seemed to a pregnant woman that something was "twitching" in the abdomen, then these are probably signs of flatulence or simple nerve impulses radiating to the lower abdomen.

How long to wait?

An indicator such as "first fetal movement" carries important information for the leading gynecologist, indicating the correct development of the child and his general health. A woman can feel such sensations starting from the second trimester of pregnancy. The specific dates depend solely on the individual characteristics of the pregnant woman.

The following factors are also worth considering:

The figure of a woman. If a pregnant woman has a lean physique, then she can feel the movement of the baby from 20 weeks. The more weight a woman has, the less sensitive the first movements will be.
Number of births. If a woman has already given birth, then the second and subsequent pregnancy can be felt at a slightly earlier date (from 18 weeks). This is due to the fact that the one giving birth already knows exactly how the child is pushing, plus, under such circumstances, the woman becomes more sensitive.
Active lifestyle. When a woman leads an active life during pregnancy: she does household chores, goes to work, enjoys interesting hobbies that are associated with high mobility - during such periods she simply does not have time to pay attention to the first jolts of her crumbs.

Usually, average pregnant women begin to feel fetal movement at 18-22 weeks.

There are times when the expectant mother does not feel the baby's first kicks even at 23-24 weeks. But this does not mean that pregnancy with pathologies. However, it is worth informing your obstetrician-gynecologist about this (to eliminate the risks). Most often, a woman simply has low sensitivity or the baby prefers to rest in the daytime, and at night, while mommy is sleeping, it tumbles.

Feelings and duration by week of pregnancy

In this section, fetal movements will be considered, starting from the 18th week and ending with the final 40th. The presented data may differ slightly from the real sensations of a pregnant woman, since each expectant mother has a peculiar organism and the reaction with sensitivity may partially differ.

From 18 to 19 weeks - slight slight twitching, feeling of increased flatulence. During the day, you can feel 5 or more of these "kicks". The duration is approximately 2-10 seconds in one short period of stirring. If you look closely at the lower abdomen, you can see how the skin twitches in places during movement - it is in this place that the baby sends its first signs of tangible activity to the mother.

From 20 to 25 weeks- at these times, the movements become more noticeable, and they can no longer be confused with gases, but their intensity is still not great.

From 26 to 30 weeks- during this period, the baby becomes much larger and all his movements are felt very clearly. With active vigor of the fetus, the abdomen can "shake". In some cases, with sudden movements of the baby, the mother may feel even slight discomfort, especially if the child “kicks” her into the bladder. The number of perturbations is approximately 10 times a day. With breaks for the child's sleep (1-3 hours).

From 31 to 36 weeks- at this time, the fetus most of all begins to move and "shove". He has already grown well, and most of the organs are already ripe. This is an almost full-fledged healthy child and his movements are already conscious: sometimes he turns over in a dream, sometimes he is awake - he plays with his arms, legs. It can stretch (the abdomen dramatically stretches to one side for 3-10 seconds), hiccup (rhythmic twitching for 1-10 minutes).

From 36 to 40 weeks - during this period, the fetus may slightly reduce its activity. The kid becomes very large and has practically no room for somersaults. At this time, the child can be in one position for half a day and at the same time press on any organ. The pregnant woman probably began to notice that her rib aches, her stomach aches or “shoots” in the liver area. In such situations, you need to somehow force the baby to move, the pregnant woman can eat chocolate, stroke her belly and talk to him, or go for a walk. But despite the calmer behavior of the child, movements should be felt at least 10 times a day.

Movement norms

Each pregnant woman at different times thinks about whether the child moves too little / too much? What if he felt bad in his stomach? To help the expectant mother understand his condition by the movements of the baby, the norms of the fetal motor activity are presented below:

Trimester of pregnancy	The rate of perturbations	Less than normal	More than normal
First	0	0	0
Second	10-20 movements per day. The increase in the number of movements depends on the duration of pregnancy.	Less than 10 movements per day. Lack of movement for 5 hours or more.	More than 25 movements per day and no fetal sleep period during the day.
Third	At least 10 movements per day. The activity of fetal movement decreases slightly, depending on the increase in the term	At the beginning of the 3rd trimester of fetal movements less than 10 movements per day are considered less than normal. By the end of the 3rd trimester, the alarm should be sounded if the child has moved no more than 5-6 times. It is also required to urgently call an ambulance if the child has never moved within 7-10 hours.	More than 20 movements, as well as lack of sleep, constant sharp and painful kicks of the fetus and uncontrolled rolling

If for some reason a pregnant woman noticed deviations from the norm, then on the same day she needs to visit a gynecologist, or call an ambulance to find out the reasons for increased or decreased fetal activity.

In no case should you be inactive. Since in case of deviations, the life of the fetus may be in jeopardy and it risks dying within a few hours.

Movement counting methods

For a more detailed determination of the rate of fetal motor activity, they came up with several options for calculating movements. These methods should be used only when the expectant mother suspects the possibility of any deviations in the activity of her baby. Also, such calculations are used "routinely" in some clinics by leading gynecologists for a more detailed study of the condition of the fetus. They require that the pregnant woman, from 28 weeks until the very birth, keep a diary of the child's activity every day.

D. Pearson

This method includes counting every tenth movement. It is done like this.

A woman counts the movements of her child from 9 am to 9 pm every day. As soon as the pregnant woman counted 10 movements, it is necessary to mark with a cross at about what hour she felt the 10th kicks of the baby.

Let's take as an example a part of such a table:

_28 _ week of pregnancy

_29 _ week of pregnancy

Time / Date

02.11

03.11

04.11

05.11

06.11

07.11

08.11

09.11

10.11

11.11

12.11

13.11

14.11

15.11

9:00

9:30

10:00

10:30

11:00

11:30

12:00

12:30

13:00

13:30

14:00

14:30

15:00

15:30

16:00

16:30

17:00

17:30

18:00

18:30

19:00

19:30

20:00

20:30

21:00

Number of movements (if less than 10)

If during the whole day the child has moved 10 times, then everything is fine with the fetus and nothing bothers the child.

If the pregnant woman recorded less than 10 movements (for example, on November 15, the fetus made 8 movements in a day, that is, less than the prescribed amount), then we enter this in the "Number of movements" line, indicating exactly how much the baby moved in a day (respectively, a cross on this day do not put). It is important to show these indicators to the gynecologist within 1-2 days. Perhaps the child is suffering from hypoxia.

In the process of counting, absolutely all movements of the baby are recorded, even barely perceptible twitching.

Across Cardiff

The method of calculating movements according to Cardiff assumes the same scheme as that of Pearson (fixing the range of movements of the fetus for 12 hours), but you can start counting movements at any time. The calculation results are similar.

The norm when the baby makes about 3 movements per hour.

According to Sadowski

This method involves counting and recording movements after eating. The main rule is that movement should be started after eating for 2 hours. If, as a result, the pregnant woman counted less than 4 movements within two hours, it means that you urgently need to inform the gynecologist.

Pain during fetal activity: normal or pathological?

Throughout pregnancy, a woman may feel pain in the abdomen. In some cases, these pains may be within the normal range, but for the most part they indicate pathology. Pain when moving the baby can also indicate the normal development of the baby, or abnormalities in the development of pregnancy.

If a pregnant woman feels pain when the fetus moves up to 30 weeks and the pain is recorded exclusively in one place, then this is a reason to communicate this information to the leading obstetrician-gynecologist. He will prescribe an ultrasound of the internal organs of the pregnant woman, a clinical and biochemical blood test, a general urine test, etc.
If a pregnant woman sometimes feels pain during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy with the active movement of the child or with sharp kicks in any area of the abdomen, then this is not a deviation. These feelings are quite normal, because the uterus, during growth, squeezes all organs in the abdominal cavity, and sharp kicks of the fetus can deliver uncomfortable and moderately painful sensations to the expectant mother.
If pains began to arise at a later date (from 30 to the very birth), then there are 2 options: either the child is large and, with active movement, touches and infringes on neighboring organs, or a pathology is possible, which the gynecologist must find out.

In any case, if you begin to feel soreness in your stomach, be sure to tell your doctor about it, even if you think that the child just kicked you hard.

Features in multiparous

As mentioned above - multiparous begin to feel the first movements earlier than primiparous. But this does not mean at all that if there is no perturbation at the time of 17-20 weeks, then the multiparous one needs to sound the alarm. Each pregnancy, whether it is the first or the fifth, has its own characteristics and the sensations of movement in some kind of pregnancy can be early, and can be late.

So that the expectant mother does not have doubts and fears, it is better to once again go to the ultrasound scan and check how the baby is doing there in the womb. Moreover, this study is safe for the baby.

Cause for concern

If a pregnant woman observes the following deviations, then she should urgently visit a doctor or call an ambulance:

When the fetus moved, sharp pains in the lower abdomen appeared.
During very active movements, blood or brown discharge appeared.
The child stopped moving: he does not respond to stroking, to the intake of a pregnant sweet food, to sounds - for 6 hours.
If the pregnant woman feels unusual movements for the child: twitching and shaking, similar to a nervous tic (not to be confused with fetal hiccups), constant flips from side to side for several hours in a row.
The child has no rest (sleep) time throughout the day.

The doctor will be obliged to send you for research (ultrasound of the fetus, Doppler, CTG of the fetus), as well as additionally prescribe a test (blood for coagulogram, for TORCH infections, smear for STIs, blood for antibodies, etc.). Perhaps the woman has worsened blood circulation in the placenta due to thickening of the blood, an inflammatory process has begun, or there is a Rh conflict.

Fetal movement during pregnancy is a very detailed indicator of the condition of the baby in the womb. If you watch them carefully, you can significantly reduce the risks of complications, and you can also just enjoy communicating with your unborn child.

The baby's tummy thrusts are the first way of communication between the expectant mother and her unborn child. Each girl awaits these sensations with trepidation, and then watches them with tenderness throughout the pregnancy. By the nature of his movements, he is trying to understand whether everything is good as a child, he is happy about something, what kind of temperament he has.

In contact with

When does a woman start to feel wiggle?

The fetus ripens before the first movements already at 6-7 weeks of its life. He moves only the formed arms and legs, but is still too small to reach the walls of the uterus. This will continue until the end of week 16.

Only from 12-13 weeks a girl will be able to feel the lightest touch. These sensations, when the first movement of the fetus is felt during the first pregnancy, is popularly compared to the swimming of a fish in the stomach. In fact, it is, the woman does not feel the child, but the movement of the amniotic fluid. A woman constantly listens to herself and often takes the natural work of the intestines for the movements.

The first fetal movements during the first pregnancy begin to be felt at a period of 19-20 weeks when the weight and size of the fetus allows it to push off the walls of the uterus and knock on them with legs or arms quite sensitively. At the same time, the future father feels the tremors, putting his hand to his stomach.

Each organism is individual, so you can feel the slight touches of the crumbs earlier if:

there is no excess weight;
the chorion is localized mainly along the anterior wall of the uterus;
a woman leads a correct lifestyle (eats well, does not smoke, does not drink alcohol, avoids stress).

Or the baby will make itself felt a little later in cases when:

a woman works a lot, solves some important issues and does not listen to her feelings;
the woman is overweight and a layer of fatty deposits prevents the crumbs from feeling the gentle jolts;
the placenta has formed along the back wall.

After 22 weeks of pregnancy, every parent already receives regular greetings from the baby.

First or second pregnancy: is there a difference in sensations?

The mother of the first-born is constantly worried when the fetus begins to move during the first pregnancy, tries to feel the tremors. She compares her feelings with the descriptions of other women, thinks if the child is pushing or maybe just intestinal peristalsis.

The expectant mother of two already knows exactly what it feels like to be kicked from the inside. For this reason, she feels the first fetal movements during the second pregnancy a little earlier - at a period of about 18 weeks. But it is worth remembering that each pregnancy has an individual course.

It may happen that a girl will feel the sensation of the first fetal movement during the second pregnancy a little later than in her first pregnancy. Do not panic, you need to give the baby time to grow and gain strength.

How to recognize the baby's pushes?

The very first movements of the baby are very light and smooth, so if someone suddenly shoves you at 12 weeks, you should not be delighted - this is your intestines. How to recognize fetal movement during the first pregnancy? The touch of a baby is often compared to the flutter of a butterfly's wings. They are characterized by gentle vibration. You are unlikely to confuse them with something else, these sensations will be new to you.

The place of localization of the first movements of the baby in the abdomen

The uterus grows with increasing gestational age and by 16-17 weeks its upper part is about 6-7 centimeters below the navel. Accordingly, in this area from the pubis and higher by 9-10 cm, the expectant mother will feel her baby. Mostly the child begins to kick at the bottom, and as he grows up, he reaches higher and higher.

Diagnostics of the child's health status by perturbations

Fetal activity should not be excessive and painful., this is a sign of a depressed state of the fetus. How to determine when the number of movements of the child is off scale? A woman should be alerted that the child went out at an uncharacteristic time for him, especially if she did not eat anything unusual, was not nervous and the environment could not negatively affect the baby. In such cases, you should definitely see a doctor and undergo the necessary examinations.

On average, after 25 weeks, a baby makes about 200 movements per hour, a mother can feel 10-15 strongest shocks.

You can count the number of movements as follows:

Time yourself an hour.
Lie in a position that is comfortable for you and your baby.
Count any movements.
If the result is a number close to 10-15, then your baby feels great. If the figure differs significantly in one direction or another, contact your obstetrician-gynecologist.

Remember that a baby, like an adult, needs rest and often sleeps. Therefore, choose the waking phase of the child to count the tremors. You should be alerted by the absence of movement for more than four hours in a row, in this case you should definitely check the child and his health.

Pay attention to the WHO recommendations on this issue. Daily counting of fetal movements has an insignificant effect and practically does not affect the determination of intrauterine hypoxia, but the rejection of it significantly reduces the anxiety of the pregnant woman.

Frequent tremors of the fetus - is it good or bad?

Unfortunately, increased perturbation is the only way the baby communicates with mom, and he uses it to tell mom about important things. The kid begins to actively move when his mother's behavior gives him pleasure:

The girl is talking to the unborn child, he really likes her mother's voice, and he makes it clear to her with somersaults.
The woman lay down to rest, the baby wakes up and is active, wanting to communicate with his mother.
When a pregnant woman eats something sweet, glucose penetrates the placenta and gives the baby additional energy.

Or, on the contrary, the baby scaredly shoves his mother with his foot when he demands to stop something:

Mom is in an uncomfortable position for the child, there is little space for him or important blood vessels are pinched, and the baby desperately lets his mother know that it is time to lie down or sit down more comfortably.
The pregnant woman is in a stuffy or smoky room, the child has little oxygen - urgently for fresh air.
Loud noise, music, or screaming can also irritate a child.

More often please yourself with healthy food, clean air and gentle words, then worries about health will be unnecessary.

Learn more about the timing of fetal movement during the first and second pregnancy from the video: