As the weeks go by, you'll gradually feel stronger and more frequent movements, and you'll come to recognize your baby's unique pattern of activity. If you don't feel your baby moving by 22 weeks, tell your doctor or midwife. You may find that your baby becomes more lively as the day goes on, kicking, squirming, and somersaulting the most in the evening when you're relaxed.
Some moms notice their baby moving a lot right after they eat, especially if they have a sugary treat. But studies haven't found a link between what you eat and your baby's activity level. Your amniotic sac now contains up to 26 ounces of fluid. This gives your baby plenty of space to move around freely, so you may feel like your little one is doing elaborate acrobatics routines in your womb.
Limb movements may feel punchy, while whole-body movements may be smoother. You may even notice your baby jumping at sudden noises, or you may feel repetitive jerking movements when your baby gets hiccups.
Your baby is likely to be making smaller, sharper, more definite movements, such as strong kicks and pushes. As your baby grows and has less room to move, you may notice that the type of movement you feel changes, perhaps becoming slower but lasting longer.
As you approach your due date, your baby will get larger and won't have enough room for dramatic somersaults. After they move to a head-down position in preparation for birth, you may feel kicks in new places, like underneath your ribs on one side or the other.
Your baby's movements may feel slower, but also harder and stronger. Jabs from their arms and kicks from their legs may feel uncomfortable or even painful. It's normal to notice a change in the types of movement you feel in late pregnancy. But you should still be feeling your baby move right up until and even during labor itself.
At first, noticeable kicks will be few and far between. You may feel several movements one day and then none the next. Although your baby is moving and kicking regularly, many of their movements just aren't strong enough for you to feel yet.
But those reassuring kicks will become stronger and more regular later in the second trimester or early in the third trimester. Don't worry if your experience is different from your friends'. This is not a reliable way to check your baby's health.
Even if you hear a heartbeat, this does not mean your baby is well. If your baby is not well, they will not be as active as usual. This means less movement can be a sign of infection or another problem. The sooner this is found out the better, so you and your baby can be given the right treatment and care.
It's not likely your baby can move too much. The important thing is to be aware of your baby's usual pattern of movements. Any changes to this pattern of movements should be checked by a midwife or doctor. It's often benign. Postpartum diarrhea after a C-section is normal. Sharing our experiences of pregnancy and infant loss can help us heal. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Can my baby move too much? A decrease in fetal movement. The takeaway. Parenthood Pregnancy Pregnancy Health.
Do Babies Sleep in the Womb? Read this next. Medically reviewed by Carolyn Kay, M. Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. Medically reviewed by Fernando Mariz, MD.
Activity levels the last few weeks before delivery vary widely. Some babies move a bit less, but don't be surprised if yours keeps up an energetic pace until it's time for your face-to-face introduction. If there's a noticeable decrease at any point, always check with your practitioner. Here's when you might notice decreased movement:. The rocking motion of sex and the rhythmic uterine contractions that follow orgasm often lull babies off to dreamland. Other babies become more active after sex.
Once you start feeling your karate kid's kicks and chops, don't panic if you go several hours — or even a day or two — without noticing any movement. At this stage and with your baby still quite tiny, it's normal not to feel regular movement.
Your baby now has a fairly regular cycle of sleep and wakefulness. Sometimes a lull in activity just means deep slumber and soon you'll appreciate that ability to sleep soundly. By month 9, however, it's crucial to note changes in activity. Count fetal movements a few times a day throughout your third trimester, and report any sudden decreases to your doctor. In all these cases, you should be able to perk things up with a snack. If you don't feel 10 movements within two hours, contact your practitioner right away.
He or she might bring you in for some monitoring just to make sure everything is okay. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations.
Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy. The educational health content on What To Expect is reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts to be up-to-date and in line with the latest evidence-based medical information and accepted health guidelines, including the medically reviewed What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.
This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice.
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