What week do most women first feel their baby move?

Women usually first feel their baby moving between 18 to 22 weeks of pregnancy. But for those who have been pregnant before, they may notice these movements as early as 16 weeks.

Are kicks a sign that a baby is very active in the womb?

There is no indication that kicks or an overly active baby is a cause for concern unless the pattern suddenly alters. Consistently active babies are usually considered healthy.

When should I start worrying about not feeling any baby movements?

If you don’t feel any movement by 24 weeks or notice a large decrease in movement, particularly after 28 weeks, it’s important to talk to your doctor as soon as possible.

When You Start To Feel The Baby Move: What It Means & Other Things To Know

The early days of pregnancy bring physical changes, emotional adjustments, and multiple trips to the doctor. But there is one intimate moment that most expecting mothers await with bated breath, their first kick. This feeling, which some describe as fluttering, bubbling, or gentle nudging, can be exhilarating, powerful and playful, inducing both joy and relief. The phenomenon, known as quickening, is a pivotal experience of motherhood.

What Is ‘Quickening’ and Why Is It Important?

Quickening is the first sensation of foetal movement felt by a pregnant woman. These movements are among the earliest communicating gestures that a baby makes to the outside world. Initially, they might seem subtle, but these feelings can be significant signs of a maturing and growing baby.Quickening is not only comforting, it indicates that the baby’s nervous and muscular systems are developing. It creates a more physical bond between the mother and the unborn baby, which can make the pregnancy seem more "concrete" and "real". For some, it’s a moving awakening, an intimate moment of understanding that a new life has begun to grow inside.

When Should You Start Feeling Your Baby Kicking?

There’s no set date for when foetal movement begins to be felt. It varies from pregnancy to pregnancy, but there are general timelines based on medical guidance and common maternal experiences.Most women begin to feel the first flutters between 18 to 22 weeks of pregnancy, but this can vary widely based on several factors:

First-time moms usually feel quickening a little later, around 20–22 weeks.
Those who have been pregnant before might perceive the sensation slightly sooner, as early as 16–18 weeks.
Another is the position of the placenta; an anterior placenta (meaning it’s at the front of the uterus) can act as a cushion for those movements, so they’re harder to detect in those early weeks.

These movements might be at first occasional and can feel like:

Gentle flutters
Popcorn popping
Light tapping
A rolling or swishing motion

They become sharper and rhythmic over time.

Baby Movement in Each Trimester: What to Expect

The movement pattern changes quite a lot during pregnancy. Here’s a trimester-wise breakdown of what to expect:

First Trimester

At this stage, you are very unlikely to feel any movement. Even though the baby moves as early as 7–8 weeks of gestation, the movements are too subtle to be felt externally.

Second Trimester

This is around when quickening usually starts. By 20–24 weeks:Most movements are sensed once or twice a day.They can happen at different times, and some mothers notice them more when they’re resting or lying down.The newborn is more active and reacts to outside stimuli, like sound and light. This helps with experiential learning

Third Trimester

Baby movements felt during the third trimester? Here’s what to expect:The movements are grounding, occur more often, and are engaging.You may feel punches, stretches, twists and even rhythmic hiccups.Movement patterns should be established by week 28. Some sort of regular pattern typically emerges that mirrors the baby’s awake periods and resting periods.Towards the end of pregnancy, the movement typically feels different as the baby runs out of space

What Impacts Or Causes The Feeling of Movement

There are a few factors that can influence how soon and how clearly you feel your baby’s kicks:

Body weight: A woman with a higher BMI may feel movements later or less distinctly.
Position: Often, the way you position your body can determine your level of comfort. Lying on your left side is said to help movements feel better and more tolerable.
Activity level: Women who are more physically active might miss subtle movements through the day, but are likely to pick up on them when in a more relaxed state.
Time of day: Many babies are more active in the late evening or late at night when the mother is resting.

What Do Baby Kicks Indicate About the Baby’s Health?

Foetal movements are not just a bonding experience, they’re an important sign of your baby’s well-being. As a rule of thumb, an active baby is a healthy baby. In the language of medicine, it means that the nervous system and the musculoskeletal system are developing normally.The frequency of kicks, particularly a drastic decrease, can be a sign of distress. Hence, once you reach your third trimester, it’s important to pay attention to movement patterns.

Why Kick Counting Can Be a Useful Tool in the Later Stages of Pregnancy

From about 28 weeks, doctors might recommend kick counting to keep track of your baby’s health. It’s a straightforward daily exercise in which you note how long it takes to feel 10 movements.Here's how to do it:

Pick the same time every day, ideally when the baby is usually moving around.
Lay on your side or sit still and listen.
Count each movement, kicks, rolls, jabs and turns all count.
Ideally, you should feel 10 movements in 2 hours, though most will feel them in under 30 minutes.

If there is a decrease in movement or no movement during what would normally be an active period, call your doctor right away.

When to Seek Medical Advice

Although daily signs of movement can vary slightly, some signs should be known and can warrant medical attention:

You do not feel movement by 24 weeks of pregnancy.
A marked decrease in movement frequency during the third trimester.
While doing a kick count, fewer than 10 movements in a 2-hour period
Total stillness for hours in late pregnancy.

Listen to your gut. If something doesn’t seem right, it’s always better to be safe and check in with your healthcare provider

How to Encourage Movement If There Isn’t Any

If you have not felt much movement and you’re worried about why that’s not happening, there are a few things you can try before you call your doctor:

Drink something cold or sugary: An abrupt surge of blood sugar can set the baby in motion.
Lie on your left side: This position increases blood flow and may promote activity.
Lightly poke or nudge your belly: Sometimes a little stimulation prompts a response.
Play music or talk to your bump: Babies can react to sound and familiar voices.

Getting To Know Your Baby’s Rhythm

Every infant is different; some are more active than others. What matters most is that you learn your own baby’s movement pattern and notice what’s normal for your pregnancy. It’s not the kind of movement, but a lack of activity, that is usually more worrisome.Keep in mind that you can have reservations right up until you give birth, and if you’re unsure at all, contact your medical professional. Movements are one of the easiest and most informative ways to monitor a baby’s health in utero.Experiencing your baby’s movement for the first time is an incredible moment; an encouraging reminder that all is growing and progressing with your little one. Though the sensations may feel ephemeral or even foreign when you first encounter them, they quickly settle in as part of daily life during pregnancy. By learning to understand and keep tabs on these movements, you can feel more connected to your baby and more confident that everything is going well.

FAQs on When You Start To Feel The Baby Move: What It Means & Other Things To Know

What week do most women first feel their baby move?Women usually first feel their baby moving between 18 to 22 weeks of pregnancy. But for those who have been pregnant before, they may notice these movements as early as 16 weeks.
Are kicks a sign that a baby is very active in the womb?There is no indication that kicks or an overly active baby is a cause for concern unless the pattern suddenly alters. Consistently active babies are usually considered healthy.
When should I start worrying about not feeling any baby movements?If you don’t feel any movement by 24 weeks or notice a large decrease in movement, particularly after 28 weeks, it’s important to talk to your doctor as soon as possible.