Tricks for Getting Your Baby to Move in Utero

ByUtkarsha Gupta
Updated:6 Feb 2025, 8:30 am
Medically reviewed byMs Lamnunnem Haokip

Eating a snack, lying down, or talking to your baby can all help to encourage foetal activity. While these activities can help stimulate your baby, it is critical to watch frequent movements, especially during the third trimester. If you detect changes in your movement patterns, see your doctor for reassurance.

Pregatips
Every pregnant mother longs for the moment when she feels her baby kick. However, there are things you may do to encourage movement from your baby during the second and third trimesters. Try these tips for getting your baby to move.

Remember, that they aren't reliable or scientific methods for getting your baby to kick. During some prenatal appointments, pregnancy doctors, midwives, nurses, and ultrasound technicians may recommend or even try most (if not all) of these techniques.
However, if you are concerned about a change in foetal movement, you feel something noticeably different once you start counting kicks around week 28 of pregnancy during your third trimester, or it takes longer than two hours to count 10 movements of any kind, consult your practitioner for a check-up as soon as possible to make sure everything is okay with your baby.If you discover that you haven't felt your baby move today, don't freak out; it's conceivable that you were simply unaware of the baby's activity. First, spend a few minutes sitting or lying down and focusing solely on your infant. Are you experiencing any movement? The sensation of movement may be slight, or your baby may be in a position that makes it a little harder to feel.If this causes your baby to move, time how long it takes you to feel ten foetal movements and begin counting your kicks. If you haven't felt 10 after an hour, try a baby-moving technique (such as resting on your side, eating a sweet snack, or drinking juice) and wait another hour to see if you can count 10 movements.Call your doctor right away if, after two hours, your kick-counting score isn't what it should be or if you still don't feel any movement. Generally, there will be no issues, however, your provider will examine your baby's heartbeat and recommend an ultrasound if needed.

FAQs on Tricks for Getting Your Baby to Move in Utero

  1. What causes the foetus to move so much?Your baby's movements may simply be natural and healthy. Babies are most active after eating a meal, and moms with a full stomach are more likely to feel the baby's movements because there is less overall room for them to manoeuvre.
  2. Is it ok if the baby does not move for a day?Decreased motions cannot be checked at home; you must visit the hospital promptly. A shift in movement might be an early warning, that your baby requires assistance.
Disclaimer: Medically approved by Ms Lamnunnem Haokip, Senior Tutor/Lecturer (OBG), Sharda School of Nursing Science and Research, Sharda University

Related Stories

  1. Guide to Nutrition During Pregnancy: What to Eat and What to Avoid?
  2. Tricks for Getting Your Baby to Move in Utero
  3. Understanding Early Pregnancy Cravings: What’s Safe to Eat?
  4. Managing Stress and Anxiety during Pregnancy
  5. Nutritional Needs for Women in the Early Stages of Pregnancy
  6. What to Do About Shortness of Breath During Pregnancy?

Pregnancy Week-by-Week

1 WEEK2 WEEK3 WEEK4 WEEK5 WEEK6 WEEK7 WEEK8 WEEK9 WEEK10 WEEK11 WEEK12 WEEK13 WEEK14 WEEK15 WEEK16 WEEK17 WEEK18 WEEK19 WEEK20 WEEK21 WEEK22 WEEK23 WEEK24 WEEK25 WEEK26 WEEK27 WEEK28 WEEK29 WEEK30 WEEK31 WEEK32 WEEK33 WEEK34 WEEK35 WEEK36 WEEK37 WEEK38 WEEK39 WEEK40 WEEK

More topics on pregnancy