One of the best feelings during pregnancy is when you feel your baby kick for the very first time. This is the first movement your baby makes, and it is called the quickening. You usually feel it when you're about to reach the halfway mark in your pregnancy term. It feels great because this is the first time you will feel a connection directly with your baby. Many women have questions about quickening in pregnancy. They want to know when they should expect this to happen and what to do if they don't experience it by the second trimester. Keep reading to learn more about it.
When Will You Feel Quickening in Pregnancy?
Your baby starts moving in the womb by 8th week of your pregnancy, but you don't usually feel it during the first trimester, because their fetal movements are usually too subtle and they are also too small to be noticeable. You are more likely to feel quickening in pregnancy when you enter your second trimester. This usually occurs during 16 to 22 weeks of pregnancy, which can also change from person to person.It may take a bit longer than 22 weeks if this is your first pregnancy and you may start noticing your baby's movement early in your pregnancy if you've been pregnant before. This may also be due to the fact that second-time moms are more able to identify their baby's acrobats – they can also differentiate between a baby's flutters and other belly rumblings, such as hunger pangs and gas.
Can Anything Affect the Time to Feel It?
While you will experience quickening in pregnancy during your second trimester, certain factors can affect the time to feel it. For instance:
- Weight of mother: If you gain excessive weight and your body shape changes considerably, you may take longer to notice your baby's kicks and movements. Women who gain less weight during pregnancy may feel their baby's movements earlier.
- Position of placenta: The time when you feel quickening in pregnancy may change with a change in the position of your placenta. Located on the front wall of your uterus, the placenta cushions your baby's movements and may make it difficult for you to notice those kicks due to its position.
What Does Quickening Feel Like?
What you feel during quickening may be completely different from what others feel during their pregnancy. Some women say it feels like popcorn popping, while others say they feel as if a goldfish is swimming around. Those first gentle taps may sometimes feel like hunger pangs and gas, and you will experience the more regularly if they're your baby's movements.
Why Does Your Baby Move?
Babies in the womb will continue to develop and feel the need to stretch their limbs from time to time. These movements will become more obvious by the end of your second trimester. There will be more of punching, kicking and rolling movements from your baby – they are all normal and natural. Your baby may also respond to your emotions and noise as well. They will tell you by kicking or punching that you're sitting in an uncomfortable position. Certain foods may also make your baby a bit more active.
How Often Should You Feel the Baby Move?
Most women worry about quickening in pregnancy, but you don't have to worry too much about it. You cannot compare it with others because every baby will have a different level of normal fetal activity. Generally, this will be a bit sporadic in the beginning, as you may only feel several gentle flutters one day. They sometimes move quite often, but the movements are so gentle that you cannot feel them. Those kicks will become stronger by the end of your second trimester though.
Your baby's movements will become more frequently as you enter your third trimester. There will also be a noticeable pattern in your baby's movements. It is even possible for mothers to tell the difference between active and inactive periods. After 28 weeks in pregnancy, your baby will move more often and you may even experience about ten movements in a two-hour period. You need to bear in mind that even though there will be a pattern in how your baby moves, you may notice a change by the end of your third trimester. You must see your doctor if you notice your baby's pattern of movement changing all of a sudden.
What If You Don't Feel Its Movement?
If you don't experience quickening in pregnancy on time or you think there is less movement than expected, this should always worry you much. Your baby may just not be as active as other babies during pregnancy. Still, it is a good idea to talk to your doctor and share your concerns. Contact your doctor immediately if you've been 25 weeks pregnant and haven't yet felt any movement. It is also a good idea to go to see your doctor if you don't feel at least 10 movements in a couple of hours if you are used to feel it in the third trimester.