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Sharp movements. Fetal movements: how often. Possible causes of changes in the movements of the child

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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. Their palpability is influenced by many factors: 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 duration of pregnancy is 40 weeks. From the first weeks of conception, the expectant mother worries about how the baby feels and whether his heart is beating. You can feel the first physical contact with the fetus no earlier than 18 weeks of gestation. The first pushes made by the baby are invisible to the pregnant woman. They are too soft and you can't feel them. Some women claim that they "hear" the baby from 12-13 weeks, but most likely these sensations are associated with increased intestinal static.

The first movements are marked by the middle of the gestational period (if the pregnancy is the first).

The potential mother feels the presence of the child, talks to him. The fetus, in turn, responds to touch and voice from outside.

Due to the fact that the height and weight of the fetus increases, it becomes in the uterine cavity. Appears, the pregnant woman feels the motor activity of the baby.

Tremors from the womb are a guarantee that the baby is alive.

By the nature of the shoves, you can determine the well-being of the baby and timely identify a possible pathology of development.

At what time does the child begin to move

The first movements are made in the process of embryogenesis. This is an average of 5-6 weeks from the moment of conception. By the end of the first trimester, the growth of the embryo is still small enough to feel its movement.

Painful sensations are accompanied by other clinical symptoms and are associated with the underlying disease of the pregnant woman, for example, or.

Painful tremors in moderate amounts are a sign of the norm, but only if the gestational age is from 35 weeks.

The reason for this is a lot of weight or bearing at the same time.

Discomfort pain gifts may be the result of an uncomfortable position for the baby or mother, or have more serious causes. Painful blows can be confused with contractions.

Too active movements are a sign of the development of a lack of oxygen (hypoxia). Oxygen deficiency excites the nervous system of the fetus, and he, in turn, begins to “rage”, causing pain to the expectant mother.

You can confirm or refute hypoxia with the help of or ultrasound.

The lack of oxygen adversely affects the baby and can lead to severe developmental disorders of the child.

Why keep counting movements

To determine the normal value of the movements, a special test has been developed, during which the shocks are counted.

The methodology is as follows:

  • counting of movements starts from the 28th week of gestation;
  • the expectant mother must refuse to perform any business for this period;
  • counting starts at 9 am and ends at 21 pm;
  • any movements are taken into account (small, light, heavy, etc.);
  • the normal value is 10 or more movements;
  • in order not to go astray in the calculations, it is necessary to keep a card or regular accounting.

A test for the amount of perturbation is necessary to assess the condition of the fetus.

If the fetus moves less than 10 times, this is a serious reason to see a doctor.

The absence of tremors for 12 hours carries an unfavorable prognosis.

What to do if the child does not move for a long time

The baby should not always be in an active state. Normally, during your stay in the womb, the time does not exceed 3-4 hours per day. This means that the baby sleeps more often, occasionally interrupting to chat with mom.

There are several methods for forced awakening of the baby:

  • eat chocolate, candy or sweet drink;
  • drink hot tea;
  • stroke and tap on the stomach;
  • turn on loud music or shine a bright light on your stomach.

The methods are dubious, but sometimes effective.

If the child does not get in touch for more than 12 hours, and the above methods do not help, you can make a crazy act - listen to the heartbeat yourself using a stethoscope.

In a period of 30 weeks or more, it is possible to hear heartbeats, but their quality cannot be assessed.

The most appropriate action would be to seek medical help.

You can also call your attending obstetrician and tell him about the problem.

If the fetus does not move for a long time, most likely it has serious health problems.

Useful video: fetal movement during pregnancy

The child is actively moving in the stomach - is it good or bad? Should this be considered a feature of the baby's temperament or a sign of some kind of pathology? Let's discuss.

Pregnancy is the most exciting time in any woman's life. But along with pleasant emotions, many fears and questions often arise. Expectant mothers are concerned about how the baby feels in the womb, and too active turns and pushes can be a cause for great concern.

How actively should the baby move at different stages of pregnancy? On average, a woman begins to feel the movements of the fetus, starting from the 20th week of pregnancy. After 24 weeks, the movements become stronger, and by the end of pregnancy, the baby's activity decreases.

You can name the following reasons why the child is actively moving in the mother's tummy.

1. Reaction to external factors. With active movements, the baby can show his dissatisfaction with his mother's posture, loud sounds and music, bright light directed at the stomach. Try to change the position of the body, dim too bright lights or turn down the music, and the baby will calm down.

2. Mom's mood. Your baby's restless movements may be a reaction to your anxiety, worry, or fear. Try to be less nervous so that the baby does not worry with you.

3. A certain period of pregnancy. From 24 to 32 weeks, the child's activity is periodic. This is due to its rapid growth, development and desire to learn about the world around it, which is still limited by the walls of the uterus.

4. Daily routine. Sometimes the baby pushes hard in the mother's stomach. After all, he lives according to his own particular regime. Active shocks are noted during wakefulness, and a lull during sleep, which lasts about 3 hours in a row.

5. Hiccups. Sometimes the frequent movements of the baby can be confused with hiccups, which occurs during pregnancy due to the ingestion of amniotic fluid by the baby. Hiccups are an absolutely normal, periodically occurring phenomenon. It should not be a cause for concern about the health of the crumbs.
After 24 weeks of pregnancy, the norm is 10-15 movements per hour (excluding sleep time).

Sometimes it pays to be extra vigilant. For example, if the nature of the child's movements has changed, they have become stronger and more intense, the baby is actively moving without a break for sleep. This may be a sign of a lack of oxygen, that is, hypoxia. In this case, you should definitely consult a doctor who will prescribe cardiotocography (a method for calculating the heart rate and fetal movements per hour) or dopplerography, which is performed using a special ultrasound machine. Upon receipt of indirect evidence of fetal hypoxia, the doctor will most likely advise hospitalization and prescribe treatment to improve the condition and health of the crumbs. But it is more dangerous if the child does not actively move, this almost always indicates oxygen deficiency and intrauterine growth retardation.

Before contractions, the baby usually calms down inside, the movements become rare and less intense. Therefore, they say that childbirth is approaching if the child stops moving a lot. When at 40 weeks the baby is actively moving, this is rather an exception to the rule, since there is very little space in the uterus for the baby. The kid will rather roll over, straighten his legs and arms, but, for example, he will not be able to roll over.

Active fetal movement before childbirth can sometimes indicate oxygen starvation, some kind of discomfort. Try to take a walk in the fresh air, and then listen to the behavior of the crumbs. If active movements have not stopped, then it would be advisable to visit a doctor just in case, since hypoxia is dangerous at any time.

When I was pregnant, I listened with trepidation to my body and waited for the baby to give me the news, when will I feel the first movements of the fetus? And when it happened - at first I did not believe it, and then I was overwhelmed by indescribable emotions! I think that for any expectant mother, the first fetal movements are emotions that will be remembered for a lifetime, they are akin to what you experience when you see two stripes on a test. Memories of pregnancy are long stored in the memory of a woman as the most pleasant and carefree time, full of hopes and slight anxieties. Fetal movements are not only a joyful moment, but also a very good indicator that can tell the doctor about health, development and how the future birth will go, let's talk about fetal movements in more detail.

When do they appear?
The fetus in the mother's stomach begins to move very early - from 8-10 weeks it swims freely, somersaults and pushes with its legs-handles. Only now the mother does not feel it yet, because there is a lot of space inside the uterus, it floats in the amniotic fluid, which softens the tremors. He still has a little strength and is quite a baby in size - only 3 cm. Gradually, the baby grows and closer to the middle of the term, when his size becomes more than 10 cm, and his strength becomes greater, his mother feels his first timid tremors, which makes future parents very happy.

It is usually believed that during the first pregnancy, movements begin to be felt a little later, by about 20 weeks of pregnancy. Since the mother is not yet experienced and takes the movements for intestinal motility or bloating. Those women who are pregnant with their second or third babies. feel movements earlier - sometimes already at 16-17 weeks of pregnancy. the average time for the baby to move. perceived by the mother is 18-20 weeks. Thin women feel movements earlier than chubby ones, but in any case, by 21-22 weeks, movements in all women become distinct. Now, in response to your remarks, the baby will gently tap on you from the inside with a leg or pen.

How does it feel?
Describing movements is not an easy task, it is impossible to unambiguously define them - each mother has her own epithets for this. Some women say that it is like a gurgling in the stomach, others feel jolts or rolling. The first movements are easy to confuse with the process of digestion - many mothers at first think that it is seething in their intestines, although this “seething” is firmly noted clearly in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe uterus. The movements are still irregular - once a woman feels them distinctly. And sometimes there are periods of calm. But while the baby still has a lot of space in the stomach and you should not worry about the irregular movements, distinct movements will be especially important after thirty weeks.

Since then, the movement has been felt as jolts. Movement of the limbs and turning inside the abdomen, the child can calm down for several hours - sleep, and then can actively "warm up" in the mother's stomach. sometimes a mother can even guess by the outlines that it is a baby’s hand or foot. ten or more movements per day are considered the norm, and the activity of the child does not depend on what the woman eats and drinks. However, it seems to many mothers that babies are more active after consuming sweets or after juice, perhaps these products are more to the taste of the baby.

What do wiggles mean?
Always be attentive to the sensations of your body, you should always note the activity of the baby. for you, the excessive activity of your baby or the absence of his movements for a long time should become. If you notice such phenomena, consult your gynecologist. Doctors usually recommend watching the baby move for several days in a row, and note its activity in a notebook. Particularly alarming is the cessation of motor activity for 12 or more hours, since from about 24-25 weeks the child moves in the tummy about 10-15 times within an hour, although it is sometimes permissible to sleep up to two or three hours, almost without moving.

Try to stimulate the baby to motor activity on your own - do some simple exercises from gymnastics for pregnant women, breathe as you need to breathe during childbirth, hold your breath for a few seconds, eat sweet or tasty. Which usually wakes up your belly button. Usually this is enough.
Remember - the movements of the crumbs may not always be the same - once they are more intense, even within one day he behaves differently. The fact is that even in the stomach he has hours of rest. And hours of games and entertainment, by the way, often do not coincide with your biorhythms. Sometimes a mother simply does not notice that the baby is moving if, for example, he only flexes and unbends his limbs, changes the position of the head, opens his eyes or sucks his finger.

After 4-5 months, if you want to appreciate and feel the movements of the baby, do this - eat something tasty, sweet - tea with jam, cake, bun or chocolate. 15-20 minutes after eating, lie down in bed to watch TV or read a magazine, lie still for a couple of hours, usually dense or sweet food in combination with the mother’s lack of movement quickly make the baby express itself - they begin to push the mother, encouraging her to walk and stretch. If in this way it is not possible to persuade the baby to be active, it is possible that he is just sleeping, and repeat your attempts later. If during the day, despite all the attempts you have made to stimulate his activity, the baby still behaves quietly and does not detect himself even with slight movements, consult a doctor. The doctor will carefully examine and listen to you, listen to the baby's heartbeat and, if necessary, do an ultrasound, then everything will become clear.

What if he is very active?
Moms can be frightened not only by the lack of movement, but also by the sudden excessive activity of the baby. Often, babies begin to kick and strike hard if the mother sits or lies in an uncomfortable position, experiences hypoxia, worries, or squeezes a large wreath with the uterus. This occurs due to a lack of oxygen. Which the baby is trying to eliminate in the only way available to him. This, for example, sitting cross-legged, lying on your back, then it is enough to get up to stretch or just change position.

If the activity of the fetus is increased almost constantly - you need to visit a doctor unscheduled, often this means some trouble for the child, but it's too early to panic - first be examined. Sometimes mom just seems that the activity has become stronger and the kicks are more sensitive, because the baby has just grown up. Any normal pregnant woman worries about her belly button! Doctors will recommend that you check the activity of your baby from 28 weeks twice a day in the morning and evening with the help of simple tests.

One of the tests was developed by Prison - it is called "counting to ten." It is very easy to perform and requires absolutely no preparations and costs. Get a special piece of paper, for example, attached to the refrigerator, and every day mark on it the number of fetal movements from 29 weeks of pregnancy - we count at 9 am and end at 9 pm. Not all movements need to be recorded. And only the first and every tenth of them - we indicate its time in the leaflet. These data can then be shown to your doctor at the next visit, less than 10 movements per day should alert you - this may be a sign of fetal hypoxia - lack of oxygen.

The assessment is then carried out in this way - we note the time of counting and record all the movements of the baby. coups, pushes, kicks, if they all fit in 10-20 minutes, physical activity is normal. If it took more time - perhaps the baby was sleeping or resting. If the whole hour he did not move. Have a bite. Lie still and start counting again. If after that he did not begin to be active, it is worth consulting with a doctor. However, it is not necessary to make predictions on the strength or nature of movements - all children are different and not always the baby should move strongly.

If there are twins in the tummy, it can be felt that the whole belly is constantly moving, and the children are doing this very actively. An ultrasound will confirm the activity of the child or both. The activity of the baby will gradually increase until about 32 weeks, and then, due to the tightness of the uterus, it will gradually decrease. By the time of birth, babies can even calm down - preparing for a crucial moment. By the end of the third trimester, the strength and intensity of movements is greater, but their number may decrease. Mom can already clearly guess where the baby was moved with the leg, and where with the handle, the baby can stretch out and rest against the stomach, if the baby’s head is down - the mother will feel quite strong blows of the legs on the ribs and in the right side, if he is head up - the movements will be more often at the bottom belly.
By evening and at night, babies are often active - and this is normal, you should not worry.

What will alert?
It is a very common misconception that the activity of the baby is a sign of lack of oxygen. Most often, the situation is even reversed, in the absence of movements or very low fetal activity, hypoxia is suspected. Although sometimes it happens, the baby just fell asleep. If after thirty weeks the baby moves little, weakly and very rarely, urgently consult a doctor, the doctor will examine you and possibly prescribe therapy to improve blood circulation in the placenta.

To clarify the situation, CTG is often prescribed, which can be performed from 34 weeks. This method allows you to assess the condition of the baby by analyzing his movements and heartbeats. In 30-60 minutes, the doctor will record with the help of sensors the fetal heartbeat and their reaction to movements. After that, an assessment of the child's condition is carried out. If the CTG is unimportant, the mother may even be admitted to the hospital.

What can the unusual "behavior" of the baby mean?
As we said earlier, the main cause for concern for expectant mothers is a decrease in fetal activity, or a sharp increase in it. If you noted this, maybe the baby is hinting to you that it’s enough to lie on the couch or hang around the monitor and it’s time to take a walk or eat? If the movements constantly alarm you, see a doctor. Most likely, everything is in order - but it is better to make sure once again of this. If there are signs of hypoxia, it is necessary to start timely treatment. Hypoxia can occur for various reasons - a complicated pregnancy, your illnesses, anemia, problems with the placenta. However, if they are noticed and treated in time, everything will go well.

About truth and fiction?
Many expectant mothers think that the baby in the stomach, like the mother, should know when it is day and when it is night, respectively, play during the day and sleep at night. Alas, this is not so, and the baby does not distinguish between the time of day, and therefore sleeps when it is convenient for him. Sometimes it happens during the day, and at night, when mom wants to relax, he wakes up in a playful mood, and he cheerfully kicks the half-asleep mother in the ribs!

Sometimes the baby in the mother's stomach can hiccup or cough, this is not dangerous and does not indicate illness - this is training for life outside the tummy. Hiccups are caused by excessive swallowing of amniotic fluid.

By the movements of the baby, many even try to determine the temperament of the child - there are calm babies. Which do not push hard and do not give mom trouble. And there are fidgets who kick their stomach so hard that mom starts to groan! Now is the time to call dad. The voices of male children are often soothing even while they are in the stomach. Remember - babies do not like sharp sounds, loud voices and stress - they react to them with fading.

The first distinct movements of the fetus, as a rule, are felt by women closer to the second half of pregnancy, and multiparous women feel them earlier than mothers who are expecting their first child. This is due to the fact that women who have given birth already know what these sensations are, and women who are pregnant for the first time may at first confuse fetal movements, while they are still not intense enough, with intestinal motility, gas formation in the abdomen, or muscle contractions. In addition, in multi-pregnant women, the anterior abdominal wall is more stretched and sensitive. Fuller women feel fetal movements a little later than lean women.

So, during the first pregnancy, women feel the first movements of the fetus, usually between 18 and 22 weeks (usually at 20 weeks), and multiparous women can feel the movements of the unborn baby as early as 16 weeks.

When expectant mothers begin to feel the movements of their babies, they have many questions and doubts: how often should the baby move? Is he moving hard enough?

It should be remembered that each baby is individual and develops at its own pace, and the norms regarding fetal movements have a fairly wide range.

The nature of the movements

First trimester. In the first trimester of pregnancy, the most intensive growth of the unborn child occurs. First, a group of cells rapidly divides, grows, and develops into an embryo, which attaches itself to the uterine wall and begins to grow, protected by amniotic fluid, fetal membranes, and the muscular wall of the uterus.

Already from 7–8 weeks, during an ultrasound examination, it is possible to fix how the limbs of the embryo move. This is because his nervous system is already mature enough to conduct nerve impulses to the muscles. At this time, the embryo moves chaotically, and its movements seem to be devoid of any meaning. And of course, he is still too small, and the movements are too weak to be felt.

Second trimester. By 14–15 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus has already grown and its limbs have completely differentiated (they have acquired the shape and shape of arms and legs that are familiar to us), movements have become intense and active. During this period, the baby swims freely in the amniotic fluid and is repelled from the walls of the uterus. Of course, he is still very small, so these repulsions are weak and the expectant mother does not yet feel them.

By 18-20 weeks, the fetus grows up, and its movements become more noticeable. Pregnant women describe these light first touches as “fluttering butterflies”, “swimming fish”.

As the fetus grows, the sensations become more distinct, and by 20–22 weeks, as a rule, all pregnant women clearly feel the movements of their baby.

In the second trimester, expectant mothers can feel the “shocks” of the baby in different parts of the abdomen, because he has not yet taken a certain position in the uterus and there is still enough room for him to roll over and rotate in all directions.

What do babies do while in the womb? According to observations made during ultrasound examination, unborn children have many different activities: they drink amniotic fluid (ultrasound shows how the lower jaw moves at the same time), turn the head, twist the legs, handle the legs, touch and grab the umbilical cord.

As the pregnancy progresses, the baby grows and becomes stronger. Light pushes are already being replaced by strong “kicks”, and when the child turns over inside the uterus, it is noticeable from the outside how the stomach changes its configuration. At the same time, the mother may be faced with the fact that her baby "hiccups". At the same time, the woman feels how the child shudders at regular intervals. "Hiccuping" movements are associated with the fact that the fetus intensively swallows amniotic fluid and its diaphragm begins to actively contract. Such movements of the diaphragm are a reflex attempt to push the liquid out. This is completely safe and normal. The absence of "hiccups" is also a variant of the norm.

Third trimester. By the beginning of the third trimester, the fetus can freely roll over and rotate, and by 30–32 weeks it occupies a permanent position in the uterine cavity. In most cases, it is located head down. This is called cephalic presentation of the fetus. If the baby is placed down with legs or buttocks, then this is called breech presentation of the fetus. With cephalic presentation, active movements are felt in the upper half of the abdomen, and with breech presentation, on the contrary, they are felt in the lower sections.

In the third trimester, a pregnant woman may also notice that the baby has certain cycles of sleep and wakefulness. The expectant mother already knows in what position of the body the baby is more comfortable, because when the mother is located in an uncomfortable position for the child, he will definitely let you know about it with violent, intense movements. When a pregnant woman lies on her back, the uterus puts pressure on the blood vessels, particularly those that carry oxygenated blood to the uterus and to the fetus.

Closer to childbirth, movements are felt mainly in the area where the baby's limbs are located, most often in the right hypochondrium (since in the vast majority the fetus is head down and back to the left). Such jolts can even hurt the expectant mother. However, if you lean forward slightly, the baby will stop pushing so hard. This can be explained by the fact that in this position, blood flow improves, more oxygen enters the fetus and it “calms down”.

Shortly before the onset of labor, the baby's head (or buttocks, if the fetus is in breech presentation) is pressed against the entrance to the small pelvis. From the outside, it seems as if the stomach has “dropped”. Pregnant women note that before childbirth, the motor activity of the fetus decreases. This is explained by the fact that at the very end of pregnancy, the fetus is already so large that there is not enough space for active movements and it seems to “calm down”. Some expectant mothers, on the contrary, note an increase in the motor activity of the fetus, since some babies, on the contrary, respond to the mechanical restriction of motor activity with a more rapid nature of the movements.

How often does the fetus move?

The nature of the motor activity of the fetus is a kind of "sensor" of the course of pregnancy. By how intensely and often the movements are felt, one can indirectly judge whether the pregnancy is going well and how the baby feels. Until about the 26th week, while the fetus is still quite small, the expectant mother can mark long periods of time (up to a day) between episodes of fetal movements. This does not mean that the baby does not move for so long. It’s just that a woman may not notice some movements, because the fetus is still not strong enough, and the expectant mother has not yet learned to recognize the movements of her child well enough. But from 26-28 weeks it is believed that the fetus should move 10 times every two to three hours.

Obstetrician-gynecologists have developed a special "calendar of fetal movements." During the day, a woman counts how many times her baby moved, and fixes the time when every tenth movement occurred. If it seems to the pregnant woman that the child has calmed down, it is necessary to take a comfortable position, relax, eat something (it is believed that after eating the fetal motor activity increases) and within two hours note how many times the baby moved during this time.

If there are 7-10 movements, then there is nothing to worry about: everything is fine with the child. If the mother does not feel the baby's movements for 2 hours, you should walk around or go up and down the stairs, and then lie down calmly. As a rule, these activities help to activate the fetus, and the movements will resume. If this does not happen, you should consult a doctor within the next 2-3 hours. The nature of the movements is a reflection of the functional state of the fetus, so you need to listen to them. If the expectant mother has noticed that in recent days the child has become less moving, you should also consult a doctor to check how the baby feels.

By the third trimester of pregnancy, expectant mothers, as a rule, are already well aware of the nature of the movements of their children and can notice any changes in the “behavior” of the babies. For most women, an alarming sign is violent, too active stirring. However, increased motor activity is not a pathology and is most often associated with an uncomfortable position for the expectant mother, when less oxygen is temporarily supplied to the fetus due to a decrease in blood flow. It is known that when a pregnant woman lies on her back or sits strongly leaning back, the fetus begins to move more actively than usual. This is due to the fact that the pregnant uterus compresses the blood vessels, which, in particular, carry blood to the uterus and placenta. When they are compressed, the blood enters the fetus through the umbilical cord in a smaller volume, as a result of which he feels a lack of oxygen and begins to move more actively. If you change the position of the body, for example, sit down with an inclination forward or lie on your side, then the blood flow will be restored and the fetus will move with its usual activity.

When should you worry?

A formidable and alarming indicator is a decrease in motor activity or the disappearance of the child's movements. This suggests that the fetus is already suffering from hypoxia, that is, a lack of oxygen. If you notice that your baby has become less likely to move, or you do not feel his movements for more than 6 hours, then you should immediately contact your obstetrician. If it is not possible to visit a doctor at an outpatient appointment, you can call an ambulance.

First of all, the doctor with the help of an obstetric stethoscope will listen to the fetal heartbeat, normally it should be 120–160 beats per minute (on average, 136–140 beats per minute).

Even if during normal auscultation (listening) the fetal heart rate is determined within the normal range, it is necessary to carry out one more procedure - a cardiotocographic study (CTG). CTG is a method that allows you to assess the fetal heartbeat and its functional state, to check if the baby is suffering from hypoxia (lack of oxygen).

During the study, a special sensor is attached with straps to the anterior abdominal wall on the back of the child in an approximate projection of his heart. This sensor detects the fetal heart rate curve. In parallel, the pregnant woman holds a special button in her hand, which should be pressed when she feels the fetus move. On the chart, this is indicated by special labels. Normally, in response to movement, the fetal heart rate begins to increase: this is called the "motor-cardiac reflex." This reflex appears after 30-32 weeks, so CTG before this period is not sufficiently informative.

CTG is carried out for 30 minutes. If during this time not a single increase in heart rate was recorded in response to movements, then the doctor asks the pregnant woman to walk around for a while or climb up the stairs several times, and then makes another recording. If myocardial complexes did not appear, then this indirectly indicates fetal hypoxia (lack of oxygen). In this case, and also if the baby began to move poorly up to 30-32 weeks, the doctor will prescribe a Doppler study. During this study, the doctor measures the speed of blood flow in the vessels of the umbilical cord and in some vessels of the fetus. Based on these data, it is also possible to determine whether the fetus suffers from hypoxia.

When signs of fetal hypoxia are detected, obstetric tactics are determined by the severity of hypoxia. If the signs of hypoxia are insignificant and unexpressed, then the pregnant woman is shown observation, CTG and Doppler and evaluation of their results in dynamics, as well as the appointment of drugs that improve blood circulation and the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. With an increase in signs of hypoxia, as well as in the presence of pronounced signs of hypoxia, immediate delivery should be performed, since there is no effective drug therapy aimed at eliminating fetal hypoxia today. Whether it is a caesarean section or vaginal delivery depends on many factors.

Among them are the condition of the mother, the readiness of the birth canal, the duration of pregnancy and a number of other factors. This decision is made by the gynecologist individually in each case.

Thus, every woman should listen to the movements of her child. If there is any doubt about the well-being of the fetus, a visit to the doctor should not be delayed, since a timely visit to an obstetrician-gynecologist can prevent negative pregnancy outcomes.