Future mother 

When the baby begins to move less in the stomach. When the baby begins to move in the abdomen during pregnancy. The little "cosmonaut" is always on the move

Fetal movements are unforgettable feelings that a woman experiences during pregnancy. From the moment of confirmation of the fact of pregnancy, the woman is looking forward to when the child begins to move. The first fetal movement appears already at the 8th week of pregnancy. It is reflex, appears with the beginning of the work of the children's nervous system.

Such motor activity is not felt by a woman - the fetus has not yet grown to the desired size. The pregnant woman begins to feel movements much later, when the child reaches the required size. According to the first movements, the doctor calculates and records the approximate date of birth in the exchange card.

At what time does the movement appear?

From the 12th week of pregnancy, when the placenta is formed, the fetus increases in size and gradually occupies the uterine cavity. By week 16, he reacts to external stimuli (loud sounds, bright lights) and actively makes movements in response to them. But not all women feel tremors at this time. AT Normally, noticeable fetal movements appear before the 24th week of pregnancy. This range of appearance of perceptible activity is determined by the following factors:

  • What is the pregnancy.

During the first pregnancy, movements are determined at a later date by about 20 weeks. With repeated pregnancies - from 16 weeks. With multiple pregnancies, movements appear much earlier. Some women claim that they felt active movements from the 14th week of pregnancy.

  • Individual threshold of sensitivity.
  • The physique of the expectant mother.

If a woman is thin, then she feels movements and pushes better. With a dense physique, sensitivity decreases.

  • Attachment of the placenta.

If it happened to the anterior uterine wall, then the tremors will begin to be felt later.

  • Fetal position.

When the child is located with his back to the anterior wall of the uterus, the movements are felt less. Distinct tremors are felt when the child's limbs come into contact with the uterus along the front surface.

  • Lifestyle of a pregnant woman.

If a woman leads an active lifestyle during pregnancy, then she may not notice the movement of the fetus. In a calm state, the situation changes.

  • The emotional state of a woman. With positive emotions and a desire to feel her child faster, a pregnant woman pays close attention to all changes in the body, picks up even the weakest shocks.

What does a woman feel when she moves?

Recognizing the first movement can be difficult. These tremors are perceived by a woman as rumbling in the stomach or intestinal peristalsis. Those pregnant women who managed to recognize the movement compare this phenomenon with the movement of the wings of a butterfly, if it is placed between the palms and a closed space is created. For some pregnant women, the movements of the fetus resemble tickling, bursting of bubbles, or gurgling in the stomach.

The first movements of the baby in the abdomen may resemble stroking. The movement of the fetus during pregnancy in early pregnancy is often felt as a pulse in the abdomen. In the later stages, the children's part of the body that makes the movement is clearly defined. It can be an arm, leg, head or buttocks. Movements often bring inconvenience and pain - shocks occur in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe liver, stomach, diaphragm, and bladder.

Normal fetal movements

For 9 months, the child grows and develops, body size increases, and by the end of pregnancy, he is in cramped conditions. During pregnancy, the number of movements also changes. The child is in motion most of the time, the lull falls on the period of sleep.

By the 20th week of pregnancy, fetal movements reach 200 times per day. At 26-30 weeks - about 600 movements.

In the future, the number of active movements decreases, and before childbirth they become rare. It is worth noting that the pregnant woman does not feel more than half of the movements. On average, movements occur 10-15 times in one hour. During the period when the child sleeps, they are normally absent up to 3 hours. Fetal mobility depends on the following factors:

  • Physical stress experienced by a pregnant woman. The calmer the woman behaves, the more actively the fetus performs movements.
  • The nature of the diet of a pregnant woman. If the woman is hungry, the baby moves more and the tremors are felt more strongly. When eating sweets, the movements become more active.
  • Times of Day. The maximum activity in the fetus appears in the evening and at night.
  • Incorrect body position of a pregnant woman. In this case, the fetus begins to move strongly and often, causing pain in the woman.
  • Psycho-emotional state of a woman. With strong tension (stress, fears), the fetus may be overly active or, conversely, calm down.
  • Surrounding sounds, bright light cause an increase in motor activity or, conversely, its subsidence.

Fetal movements before delivery

Approximately 2 weeks before childbirth, motor activity decreases, the nature of movements changes. This is due to the cessation of growth of the uterus, cramped conditions in the womb. The child is gaining strength before the birth. During this period, it descends into the small pelvis with the presenting part. The woman feels light, shortness of breath disappears, it becomes easier to breathe. Strong movements of the fetus are replaced by complete calm, and vice versa. A few days before the birth, activity may not be determined at all or be too violent.

Counting methods

The deviation of the number of movements from the average values ​​up or down is noted as an unfavorable sign. Such changes indicate oxygen starvation in a child (hypoxia) - chronic or acute, a change in the amount of amniotic fluid. The number of tremors decreases due to the excess volume of amniotic fluid, an increase in tremors is associated with or hypoxia. You can calculate the number of movements using three methods based on the creation of graphs or tables:

  • Pearson's method.

Active movements are counted over a 12-hour period (9 am - 9 pm). It is necessary to create a schedule in which to fix the time from the beginning of the count to the tenth movement of the fetus. Normally, he will make ten movements within one hour. If the fetal movements have not reached ten in an hour, you need to try to provoke them: stroke your stomach, eat chocolate or candy, turn on pleasant music or sounds of nature. Then restart counting. If in the future the child remains passive, you should consult a gynecologist.

  • Cardiff way.

The calculation of active movements is carried out for 12 hours. The pregnant woman must independently choose the time to start the count. The graph records the starting time of counting and the tenth movement of the fetus. If the tenth movement appeared before 12 noon, no further calculation is carried out. If ten shocks are not recorded in a 12-hour time interval, it is necessary to visit a doctor for examination.

  • Sadowski method.

The movement of the fetus during pregnancy is calculated by this method during the period of its activity (7 hours–23 hours). The chart marks the time when the counting began, the woman takes a horizontal position on her side. If the child has made ten active movements in 60–120 minutes, the counting stops. If the movements have not reached ten times during this period, it is necessary to undergo an additional examination by a gynecologist.

Movement during pregnancy with twins or triplets

With the development of multiple pregnancy, physical activity is felt stronger, and the tremors become more intense. A multiple pregnancy makes itself felt earlier than a single pregnancy, at about 14 weeks. The tremors of the fetus that has taken a position near the anterior wall of the uterus will be pronounced. To calculate motor activity, the Sadowsky, Cardiff or Pearson method is used, but the values ​​obtained are multiplied by the number of children in the womb.

Fetal movements during pregnancy are a vital sign. He makes it clear that the child is alive and growing. But do not panic if tangible tremors do not appear by the 16th week of pregnancy. To calm down, you can undergo an unscheduled ultrasound examination and make sure that the pregnancy is developing and the child is growing. If the movements felt good, and they became much less, or they stopped altogether, you should immediately consult a doctor for an examination. This will help prevent adverse effects.

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The first movement of the fetus during pregnancy; one of the most anticipated moments of a young mother. The blossoming of new life in the womb begins to be felt in the second trimester. It is very important to fix the first intrauterine push. He will tell the mother and the gynecologist about the exact date of the baby's birth. If this is the first pregnancy for a girl, it is worth expecting a child 20 weeks after the first sensations of stirring.

The fetus begins to move at 8-9 weeks. But these movements are not felt by the expectant mother in any way, due to the fact that the embryo is too small. To see how the future baby accidentally touches the walls of the uterus, only ultrasound will allow. Active fetal movement during pregnancy begins at 16-24 weeks.

Thinner expectant mothers feel light tremors much earlier than fuller women. In addition, early stirring in many is due to a high threshold of sensitivity. So don't worry if your toddler is running late. This means that he simply did not gain the desired body weight. With the increase in size, every movement of the baby is felt better.

How to recognize movement

There is no general description of fetal movements. Both doctors and mothers define these feelings differently. Some describe it poetically, likening the movement to the flapping of a butterfly's wings. Someone says that the sensations are like stroking or tickling from the inside. Other tremors resemble gurgling. Every woman is different. But it happens that this “gurgling” brings unbearable pain due to the strong activity of the fetus.

Why do some women move the fetus with more force, while others have less? Many explain this by the fact that the character of the unborn baby is already formed during pregnancy. Mom feels a mobile toddler already at such early stages of his life. But for the most part, very active stirring informs a woman about some intrauterine problems, so it is very important for a pregnant woman to control these sensations.

Too sharp and prolonged jolts “say” that the baby does not like something. If the child’s behavior does not change when changing positions, and the movements of the fetus bring pain for several hours, consult a doctor.

To calm the frisky behavior of the fetus, it is necessary to change the position. With such lunges, the baby reacts to the uncomfortable position of the mother, especially when lying down. For example, it is contraindicated for pregnant women to lie on their back for such a period! It is worth turning over, and the little one calms down.
If the movements are too rare and sluggish, it is recommended to eat something sweet. Carbohydrates with blood flow will quickly reach the child and recharge it with new forces.

The number of movements at various stages of pregnancy

From about 25 weeks, the fetus, according to the norms, should move at least 10 times per hour. Your baby, just like you, takes some poses and changes positions. Hence the "bubbling" feeling. If you begin to feel rhythmic jolts, don't worry, the baby is having hiccups. This process will not cause any harm to the child, you will soon get used to it. During this period, hiccups can be repeated several times a day.

Be sure to lead. In the future, you can refer to it to understand why your child is moving. Write down every little thing from 21 weeks. Recognition of your voice, the voices of other family members, the reaction to loud sounds, to a pleasant melody - your little one already feels all these sounds with you.
Sometimes the movements may disappear altogether. This means that the fetus fell asleep. Such phenomena usually do not last more than three hours. It is also not uncommon for your unborn child to make itself felt at night. The nascent life itself decides at what time to be awake and at what time to rest.

A baby can perform up to 500 different movements per day. This is mainly observed from 28 to 32 weeks. You won't feel any movement. Many factors influence their palpability: the amount of amniotic fluid, the thickness of the abdominal wall, the position of the fetus and placenta, as well as the mobility of the child and the sensitivity of the pregnant woman herself.

From the 32nd week, activity begins to decrease, but from that moment on, its position in the uterus is already determined by the movement of the fetus. It's just that the size of the baby at this time increases greatly, and the uterus - slightly. If the baby is in the breech presentation, you will feel the main shocks in the lower abdomen. If the tremors are above the navel - head presentation.

At the end of the last trimester, fetal movements become rare, but do not disappear completely. If the mother does not feel any movement within 12 hours, you should consult a doctor.

Symptoms and methods for determining hypoxia in the fetus

Too much lethargy or violentness of the baby's body movements in most cases indicates oxygen starvation. The causes of hypoxia are different: cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, fetal malformations and much more. To identify the disease, an ultrasound or cardiotocography is performed.

The cardiotocography procedure is an examination of the heartbeat. For an hour, the device measures your baby's heart rate. The norm is considered to be a changing rhythm from 120 to 160 beats per minute. In severe hypoxia, the mark drops to 90 beats. If this disease is detected for a period of more than 30 weeks, the woman is given a caesarean section.

To identify such violations on their own, a pregnant woman needs to use the "Count to 10" technique. From about 28 weeks, between 9 and 21 hours, a woman should count the movements. The tenth in a row is recorded in a special card. If within 12 hours the number of shocks exceeds 15, or vice versa, the fetus is inactive, consult a specialist.

Fetal movement during second pregnancy

The first baby starts to move at 20 weeks. But what if you are expecting a second or third baby? This period, according to women, begins a little earlier. It is difficult to say exactly when the first movement will occur. Each organism is individual. Someone gains weight very quickly, someone slowly. The time limit for the start of movement is still 16-24 weeks. But when your baby shows himself - it's up to him.

Obstetricians claim that the mother feels the first movement during a second pregnancy 2-3 weeks earlier. But this only means that the feelings of the pregnant woman are aggravated, and the lived experience helps to more accurately determine the movement.

It happens that a nulliparous girl is misled by her own intestines. This is normal. In the first months of the birth of a new life, the whole organism is rebuilt. 15-20 weeks is a time of rapid change in the functionality of the intestines, which is very easy to confuse with the activity of the baby. A woman giving birth is able to distinguish peristalsis from the tremors of a child.

Remember, your main task during any pregnancy is to maintain a good mood, enjoy every movement, control your health and monitor nutrition. Pregnancy is fleeting, not many have the opportunity to repeat such an experience. Arrange family evenings, the unborn child will be happy to listen to a fairy tale from dad or a lullaby from mom. Don't miss the most touching moments.

The information presented in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials of the article do not call for self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and give recommendations for treatment based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.

The future mother with special trepidation refers to the motor activity of the baby in her tummy. After all, with these movements, the baby not only reports that it is successfully growing and developing, but also seems to be communicating with its mother. When do fetal movements begin during pregnancy? And what should you keep in mind, what should you pay attention to when the baby starts to move? Let's figure it out.

First fetal movement

Many pregnant women look forward to the moment when they feel the movements of their baby. After all, then their connection with the child becomes stronger, as they already feel it physically. When does fetal movement begin? This question requires a rather lengthy answer, since there are many nuances that we will try to figure out.

The first movement of the fetus is observed around the eighth week of pregnancy, when the baby acquires arms and legs. But the expectant mother does not feel these movements, they are still too weak, and the baby is so small that it lacks the walls of the uterus. She will feel them much later. When - depends on her "experience of the expectant mother."

During the first pregnancy, a woman begins to catch fetal movements at about the twentieth week. A future mother, waiting for her first baby, is not always able to immediately understand that this is a baby moving. She may feel like it's rumbling in her stomach. But over time, she will learn to distinguish between the movements of the baby and will not confuse them with anything. The first movements of the fetus during pregnancy, mothers feel differently. One feels like a popcorn grain is exploding inside her. The other is that she is gently stroked from the inside. The third will compare the movements of the baby with the fluttering of a butterfly. The fourth will say that a small fish seems to be swimming inside it. Fifth - that something is quietly rolling. Comparisons can be made ad infinitum.

The first movement of the fetus during the second pregnancy, the expectant mother, who already has the experience of bearing a child, feels earlier than during the first. This happens around 18 weeks. But perhaps even earlier.

Also, when a pregnant woman feels the movement of the fetus, her complexion affects. Thin women feel the baby's pushes earlier and more distinctly. The same applies to expectant mothers who lead an active lifestyle. If we talk about a certain average period in which a woman should feel the first movements of the baby, then this is the time from 16 to 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Be sure to fix in your memory the date when you felt the first movements of the crumbs. You will need to tell her doctor. He will make the necessary calculations and determine the approximate.

Also, according to the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe most active movement of the baby, you can determine it in the future. For example, if a mother feels the strongest tremors in the lower abdomen, it means that the baby’s legs are there, and we are talking about breech presentation. And if active movements are observed in the area of ​​the diaphragm, then the baby is head down.

Is active fetal movement good or bad?

How active should the baby's movements be? When the baby is awake, he is constantly moving. The expectant mother feels the most frequent movements of the fetus, as a rule, in the evenings and at night, and also when she is at rest. This can be explained by the fact that when a woman moves, the baby sways inside her tummy, and he is pleased. And when the expectant mother lies or sits, then the child is at rest. And he still wants to swing! And he starts to push his mother, informing her that she should not stay too long in one place. But over time, mutual understanding will be established between the baby and his mother, and the baby will rest with her. The child will even establish a certain regimen. It will be useful for a woman to keep a diary in which she will write down when the baby moves and when she sleeps. After all, if any failures are noticeable in the regime, she will be able to consult a doctor in a timely manner, who will determine whether everything is in order.

On average, at 20 weeks, the baby moves about 200 times a day. The most active fetal movement occurs between 28 and 32 weeks of pregnancy. Then the baby moves about 600 times a day. Then the baby grows up and no longer moves so freely inside the mother, so the number of movements decreases. Of course, a woman does not feel all these movements. In general, it is normal if the expectant mother feels about 10-15 movements per hour. When the baby is sleeping, he does not move. Therefore, if there is no activity for several hours (up to four), this is not a reason to panic. The baby is resting, and when he wakes up, he will set the heat again! But if the baby has not moved for about 6 hours or his activity has generally decreased significantly, you need to call an ambulance or go to an urgent appointment with a doctor. After all, this may indicate fetal hypoxia. If the baby moves very actively, then you should consult a doctor. Making somersaults inside the mother's tummy, the baby runs the risk of becoming entangled in the umbilical cord. An experienced doctor will definitely give advice, following which you can "persuade" the child to become calmer.

With his movements, the baby is also able to demonstrate his attitude to various events. For example, if his mother “treated” him with something tasty by eating lunch or a treat, the baby expresses his approval with strong pushes. But if a woman has not eaten for a long time, and the baby also needs nutrients, he will also remind her that it is high time to eat by active stirring.

The baby can push hard if mom has taken some kind of position in which it is uncomfortable for him to be in her tummy. The baby is able to respond to a stressful mother or loud sounds around her either by a complete cessation of movements, or, on the contrary, by active stirring.

Also, many babies begin to "dance" inside their mother's tummy when she listens to music that they like. Most kids like classical calm music.

The most anticipated, and therefore unforgettable, is the feeling of stirring under the heart of a new life. Future moms and dads are waiting for him with trepidation. Also gynecologists. You will definitely be asked to write down the date of the first movement, and they will already be guided by it to the date of birth. If you are expecting the first baby, then he will be born 20 weeks after the first movement (usually childbirth occurs at the 40th week of pregnancy), and if the second or third, then 2-3 weeks later. At least there are such statistics, but not all women fall under it. As a rule, the first fetal movements occur between the 16th and 24th weeks of pregnancy.

Although in fact the fetus moves already at the 8th week, but since it is still too small, you do not feel it. But later, when the baby grows up, his "gymnastics" will make itself felt with all its might.

How to know that this is a stir?

It can be difficult and easy to understand at the same time. Doctors describe this phenomenon in very different ways, and mothers themselves cannot find the right words. You have to feel the movement yourself. And it’s not a fact that, having felt, you will correctly explain the experienced state to your girlfriend “by position”.

A gynecologist (male) told me poetically about the movement: “Imagine that a butterfly has landed in your hands. You hold her, and she beats her wings in her hands.

Mom's explanations were more prosaic: something would gurgle.

I was impatiently waiting for butterflies in my stomach, but I still got a “gurgle”. But he was the most pleasant and most unforgettable of all the “gurgles”.

Each woman perceives in her own way. For some, this is the splashing of a fish, the fluttering of a butterfly, and for others, intestinal peristalsis. But in both cases, we are talking about the confirmation of a new life. Many pregnant women perceive themselves as a mother after the first movement.

It happens that impatiently waiting for the first stirring, with the same impatience, mommy waits for its termination. Babies in the tummy are so active that their movements cause unbearable pain to a pregnant woman.

What determines the mobility of the child in the womb?

Many believe that the character of the baby is already formed in the tummy. Here is the answer for you: a too mobile toddler will make itself felt right away. Although this is not always the case. Often the movements of the baby are not evidence of his temperament, but of well-being, development and health. Therefore, the task for a pregnant woman is very responsible: to analyze every step of her little one, to learn to understand and feel it. Any deviations from your joint normal life should be recorded.

The rate of movement during pregnancy

There are no single "normal" indicators. Although it is generally accepted that, starting from the 25th week of pregnancy, the baby should move at least 10 times per hour.

What do fetal movements indicate?

Movement is life. And even in the womb. Have you already observed your little one with the help of ultrasound? This is a little man with arms, legs, a heart ... With a bad and good mood, in a comfortable, or not very, position. So how can he tell you about all this? Naturally - pushes.

A very common occurrence. Experts say that it does not pose any danger to the baby and does not cause him discomfort. But here mommy will feel it in the form of rhythmic shocks inside herself. These episodes can occur up to several times a day.

Remember. This will also help you understand why your baby is moving. Often it requires your attention as early as 21 weeks. Recognizing your voice, the voice of dad, distinguishing between loud sounds and gentle melody, reacting to light, he will naturally let you know about his feelings and preferences. Undoubtedly, many mothers who have already taken place return with nostalgia to their “pregnant” days. We remember very well how the baby calmed down in the womb if the mother was upset or angry ... And how carefully he reminded himself when the storm of emotions subsided ... And who does not remember the “dance” nights! Barely dragging her legs to the bed, the expectant mother plunges into the long-awaited relaxation, and ... it wasn’t there! In the stomach, the period of wakefulness begins! The kid still lives according to his schedule and is not going to take into account your adjustments.

A baby can perform up to 500 different movements per day. Of course, you won't hear everything. After all, the perceptibility of movements depends on many factors: the amount of intrauterine fluid, the thickness of the abdominal wall, the position of the child and placenta, the mobility of the baby, the sensitivity of the mother.

Starting from the 32nd week of pregnancy, by moving the baby, you can determine the position of the fetus in the uterine cavity. If he is in a breech presentation, you will feel tremors in the lower abdomen. And if the little one “stomps” above the navel, then the presentation is head. By the end of pregnancy, the baby is also preparing for the birth. His movements are already rarer, but by no means absent.

The absence of any movements for more than 12 hours is a serious reason to see a doctor.

In addition, you will need to consult a gynecologist if the child's movements are too rare, lethargic or, conversely, violent, painful. In any case, this indicates the suffering of the fetus. Most often, this condition is caused by oxygen starvation. That's just experts disagree on how to distinguish this pathology. Some believe that during hypoxia the fetus becomes too violent, while others - on the contrary. However, regardless of how your baby lets you know that he is not getting enough oxygen - take into account his signals. After all, hypoxia often causes fetal death. The causes of hypoxia are very different: diabetes mellitus, anemia, cardiovascular disease, fetal disease, and much more. Only a doctor can confirm or refute such a diagnosis. To do this, ultrasound is usually performed, heart sounds are heard, and CTG is also performed.

Cardiotocography is a very informative method for assessing the condition of the fetus. During this examination, the baby's heartbeat is recorded for 1 hour. The norm is not monotonous, but variable heart rate, which ranges from 120 to 160 beats per minute. In severe fetal hypoxia, the heart rate is up to 90 beats per minute. In this case, an immediate caesarean section is performed if the pregnancy is more than 30 weeks.

Many doctors recommend that pregnant women do fetal movement tests themselves. D. Pearson's test is widespread: "Count to ten." It should be carried out from the 28th week of pregnancy. From 9 o'clock in the morning to 9 o'clock in the evening they count the movements. The time of the 10th perturbation is recorded daily on a special card. If your baby is inactive, contact your doctor.

Usually violent or weak stirring lends itself to “persuasion” and “training”. It is believed that the baby reacts sharply to the uncomfortable position of the mother. Especially recumbent. And as soon as she rolls over, the child calms down.

If, on the contrary, you need to stir up the little one, they recommend eating something sweet. After all, carbohydrates are the first and very quickly into the bloodstream. The kid gets a portion of dessert and it makes him cheer up.

Still, your main task is to maintain a good mood. Never panic count every flip and push. Enjoy communication with your angel. Give him as much attention as possible, take care of your health, watch your diet, daily routine. Have family get-togethers. The kid will be happy to listen to a fairy tale from dad, a lullaby from mom. Let the stirring of your unborn baby bring only joy. After all, this state is fleeting and nothing can return it to you. Don't miss the most touching moment of your life!

Specially for- Tanya Kivezhdiy

Most women will be able to clearly feel the first movement of the fetus approximately in the second half of pregnancy.

In nulliparous women, this happens, as a rule, later than in those who are expecting a child for the second or third time. This is because women who have already given birth know what the sensations should be, and for the first time, pregnant women can mistake gas formation in the abdomen, intestinal motility or muscle contractions for the movements of the fetus.

In addition, the anterior abdominal wall in women whose pregnancy is not the first is more sensitive and stretched. Also, thinner women may feel the first movements of the fetus a little earlier than full ones.

Thus, primiparas most often feel the first movements between 18th and 22nd weeks (the average term is the 20th week of pregnancy), and multiparous women feel fetal movements for approximately at 16 weeks.

When pregnant women feel the first tremors of their babies, they have a large number of questions about how often the baby should move, or what “intensity” of movements should be considered correct.

It should be noted here that the development of each baby is individual, and the pace of development is different for each, therefore, the norms regarding fetal movements are rather arbitrary and have a wide range of fluctuations.

The nature of fetal movements depending on the duration of pregnancy


 First trimester

During the first trimester of pregnancy, the growth of the unborn child is characterized by a particularly pronounced degree of intensity. Of course, at these stages, the expectant mother will not feel the first movements, since the embryo formed from a group of dividing cells is still very small. At this stage, the embryo is firmly attached to the wall of the uterus and is protected from harmful factors by the membranes, amniotic fluid and myometrium - the muscular wall of the uterus.

Starting from the 7th-8th weeks, with the help of ultrasound, the first movements of the limbs of the embryo can be observed. This happens due to a sufficient degree of maturity of the baby's nervous system to conduct a nerve impulse to the muscles. The movements of the embryo during this period are rather chaotic and not strong enough for the mother to feel them.

Second trimester

By the beginning of the 14th - 15th weeks of pregnancy, the size of the fetus is already much larger, and the limbs have differentiated. The movements of the baby became more active and intense. This period is characterized by the free "swimming" of the baby in the amniotic fluid. Despite the fact that on ultrasound you can see how the baby is repelled by the legs from the walls of the uterus, the pregnant woman cannot feel these “repulsions”, since they are still very weak.

By 18-20 weeks, the fetus grows noticeably, so its movements are now more noticeable to the mother. They represent the first light touch that pregnant women compare to the "flutter of butterflies."

As the fetus grows, you can feel its movements more clearly, and by about the 20th week, all pregnant women can clearly feel the first tremors of their baby.

During the second trimester, expectant mothers can feel the baby moving in various parts of the abdomen, since he has not yet taken a certain position in the uterus. At the same time, on ultrasound during this period of time, you can see how the future baby drinks amniotic fluid (at the same time, movements of the lower jaw can be seen on ultrasound), knocks with legs and arms, goes through the umbilical cord and turns the head.

With an increase in the gestational age, the tremors become stronger, and when the baby turns inside the uterus, you can notice from the outside changes in the shape of the abdomen. During this period of time, the expectant mother may even encounter what her baby is doing. "hiccup" movements, felt by her as a child's shudders at regular intervals. Their appearance is due to the intensive ingestion of amniotic fluid by the fetus and contractions of its diaphragm. It should be said that both the presence and absence of "hiccups" are variants of the norm.


third trimester

In the third trimester of pregnancy, the fetus freely rotates and turns over in the uterine cavity, and by the 30th - 32nd week it occupies a permanent position in the womb - in most cases, this is the location of the fetus head down (the so-called head presentation of the fetus). When the baby is positioned with legs or buttocks down, his presentation is called pelvic.

If the baby has a head presentation, then the mother will feel his active movements in the region of the upper half of the abdomen, if it is pelvic, then the movements will be felt in the lower sections.

During the third trimester, a pregnant woman may notice that the baby has certain cycles of wakefulness and sleep. Also, the expectant mother already knows what position she needs to take for the greater convenience of the baby: when taking an uncomfortable position for the child, his movements will be more violent and intense.

Closer to the time of childbirth, more active movements are noted in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe location of the baby's limbs - more often in the right hypochondrium. The shocks can be so strong that they can cause pain in the mother (especially when lying down - compression of the umbilical vein causes a shortage of blood flow to the baby and the development of hypoxia).

However, when bending forward, the shocks become smaller in strength, which can be explained by the improvement in blood flow in this position and the supply of more oxygen to the fetus.

Before the immediate moment of childbirth, the motor activity of the fetus becomes less. This can be explained by the large size of the fetus by the end of pregnancy and the smaller amount of space for performing "active" movements.

However, some future mothers, on the contrary, may experience an increase in the motor activity of the fetus, which can be explained by a more “violent reaction” of the baby in response to the restriction of free space for movements.

Normal frequency of fetal movements


 The motor activity of the fetus can serve as a kind of "sensor" of the course of pregnancy. For example, depending on the intensity and frequency of movements, it is possible to determine whether the pregnancy proceeds safely or not.

Until the 26th week of pregnancy, due to the small size of the fetus, a woman most often notes large periods of time between episodes of movements, the average duration can last up to a day. This is due not so much to the reduced motor activity of the baby, but to its weakness, as well as the mother’s lack of skill and experience in recognizing the movements of her child due to the short period.

Starting from the 26th - 28th weeks of pregnancy, the average rate of fetal movements is frequency 10 times over 2 - 3 hours.

Obstetricians and gynecologists have developed a special movement frequency calendar fetus. Throughout the day, a woman should count the number of movements of her baby with a constant fixation of the time of every tenth movement.

When the child “calms down”, the woman should relax, take a comfortable position, you can eat something (it was noticed that eating is a kind of “stimulator” of the fetal motor activity). For 2 hours it is necessary to monitor the frequency of the baby's movements: if it is 7-10 times, there is no reason to worry. If there are still no movements, then you need to walk slowly, you can go down and up the stairs, then lie down. If even after this the fetus is not activated, and the movements do not resume, then within the next 2-3 hours you need to see a doctor.

You should also consult a doctor if the pregnant woman has noticed less physical activity of the child in recent days. This may serve as an unfavorable prognostic sign of fetal development.

By the beginning of the third trimester of pregnancy, women in most cases know the nature and frequency of movements quite well. Rapid and too active stirring, in equal measure, as well as a decrease in motor activity in comparison with previous movements, is an alarming sign for most women.

However, very often an increase in the baby's motor activity is not a sign of pathology, but of the uncomfortable position of the expectant mother, which impedes the flow of blood, and with it oxygen, to the fetus. That is, in the position of a woman sitting, deviating strongly backward, or lying on her back, the pregnant uterus squashes the blood vessels that provide blood flow to the placenta and uterus. The baby, feeling a lack of oxygen, begins to move in a more active mode. After a change in body position, for example, after bending forward, the fetus will move with normal activity, as blood flow is restored.

Causes for concern


 The main cause for concern is the decrease / disappearance of the child's motor activity in comparison with previous indicators.

This testifies in favor of hypoxia (lack of oxygen) of the fetus. In the absence of movements during the last 6 hours, you should immediately contact an obstetrician - gynecologist either at an outpatient appointment, or in the absence of such an opportunity - by calling an ambulance team.

When conducting an examination, the doctor should first of all, with the help of obstetric stethoscope listen to the fetal heart rate: the rate per minute is from 120 to 160 beats.

After a normal auscultation, even if the fetal heart rate is within the normal range, a procedure such as CTG - cardiotocographic examination of the fetus. This technique allows you to assess the heart rate of the fetus and, depending on this, its functional state in order to check the absence or presence of hypoxia in the baby.

The very technique of the procedure involves attaching a special sensor to the anterior abdominal wall - approximately at the projection site of the fetal heart. This sensor is able to determine the curve that reflects the fetal heartbeat. In parallel, the pregnant woman, using a special button, fixes the time when she feels the fetal movements: this is displayed on the fetal heart rate graph using special marks.

During a normal pregnancy, fetal movements and heart rate increase "synchronously" - due to the so-called "motor-cardiac reflex" that appears after 30-32 weeks of pregnancy. In connection with these physiological features, CTG for up to 30-32 weeks of pregnancy is not sufficiently informative.

The average duration of CTG is about 30 minutes. In the absence of registered increases in heart rate during this period of time that occur in response to movements, the pregnant woman should engage in moderate physical activity, for example, walk around the room. After that, another recording is made.

In the absence of myocardial complexes, an doppler study. Its main purpose is to measure the blood flow velocity in the umbilical vessels and determine the presence or absence of hypoxia.

If during the examination signs of fetal hypoxia were found, then the subsequent obstetric tactics depend on the severity of hypoxia.

In the case of minor and unexpressed signs of hypoxia, a pregnant woman is shown to be further monitored by a doctor, conducting cardiotocographic and Doppler studies with an assessment of the results in dynamics, including the appointment of drugs that stimulate blood circulation and oxygen delivery to the fetus.

In the case of an increase in the symptoms of hypoxia, immediate delivery is indicated, because to date there is no adequate medical treatment aimed at eliminating the baby's hypoxia. Immediate delivery is performed by caesarean section; delivery through the natural birth canal is also possible, which depends on the general condition of the mother, concomitant pathology, the readiness of the birth canal and the duration of pregnancy.

Thus, every expectant mother should listen to the frequency, strength and dynamics of fetal movement. If she has any doubts about the well-being of the fetus, she should not delay a visit to the doctor in order to prevent possible negative outcomes of pregnancy in a timely manner.