There's no set number of movements you should feel each day – every baby is different. You do not need to count the number of kicks or movements you feel each day. The important thing is to get to know your baby's usual movements from day to day.
Ultimately, there's no such thing as excessive fetal movement. Babies will often have their own activity levels. There are certain trends that most pregnancies follow, such as the fetus being the most active after a meal; although this may not be the case for every pregnancy.
Even a sudden *increase* in movements - anything you might describe as wild or frantic or crazy - could potentially be a sign that your baby is in trouble! As always, DO NOT DELAY in reaching out to your healthcare provider - or better yet, go right in to be checked out! - if you ever have ANY concerns.
Fetal movements in utero are an expression of fetal well-being. However, a sudden increase of fetal movements is a sign of acute fetal distress, such as in cases of cord complications or abruptio placentae.
Fluttering, butterflies, or bubbles. You'll probably start to feel your baby move sometime between 18 and 22 weeks. At first, these small movements feel like fluttering or "butterflies." Some women say that they feel like gas bubbles. These first flutters are sometimes called "quickening."
The most common signs of fetal distress are: Changes in the fetal heart rate (lower or higher rate than normal). The fetus moves less for an extended period of time. Low amniotic fluid.
Three indicators of abnormal movements include: Not feeling your baby move as much as you usually do. Not feeling baby kicks, punches, or wiggles in the same places as you typically do. Seeing or feeling your baby's movements decrease over time.
In the womb
During pregnancy, your baby feels safe and secure in the cozy living quarters of your uterus, and the motion of you going about your day is soothing. So, Dr. Bennett recommends starting to massage your belly in the second trimester when you're relaxed, such as while you're doing yoga.
Your baby's movements may start to feel more sustained or slower due to lack of space. But they should still feel hard, strong and powerful in the weeks leading up to the birth (Raynes-Greenow et al 2013) and you should feel your baby wriggling around !
It feels like a frantic, shaking kind of feeling, usually lasting a few seconds and returning every 5 minutes or so for around 30 minutes.
Very active baby before labor
Some women experience their baby moving a lot in the run-up to labor. One theory for this is the increase in Braxton Hicks contractions. As your body prepares for labor and birth, you might start to experience a greater frequency of Braxton Hicks contractions.
A number of ultrasound and animal studies have shown that the fetus has a circadian pattern that involves increased movement in the evening, and this is likely to reflect normal development.”
You also may notice your baby stretching and kicking the legs. This movement strengthens leg muscles, preparing your baby to roll over, which usually happens by 6 months of age.
Researchers in Scotland compared fetal responses when pregnant women spoke to their babies or rubbed their bellies. "Overall results suggest that maternal touch of the abdomen was a powerful stimulus, producing a range of fetal behavioural responses," the researchers write.
Stretching – As your baby continues to grow, it begins to get a bit cramped. So when he/she moves or stretches, the mother feels a vibration.
Some women find it comforting to feel their baby moving around, but for others, it makes it difficult to fall asleep. You can try having a light snack, walking around the house, or talking to your baby to soothe them back to sleep.
Around 21 to 24 weeks, you may start to feel some jerky movements inside your belly. You might even see them on the outside. Repeated jerky movements usually mean that your baby has the hiccups. Hiccups are perfectly normal.
Some of these symptoms as outlined by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) include lack of fetal movement, low maternal blood pressure, and falling or erratic fetal heart rate.
Lie down and place a hand on your uterus. If your entire uterus is hard during the cramping, it's probably a contraction. If it's hard in one place and soft in others, those are likely not contractions—it may just be the baby moving around.
The baby will keep moving until the labor begins, and this movement will continue during the early labor. However, the movement pattern may change. Instead of kicking the womb, the baby may squirm or shuffle. The feeling of the baby's movement provides assurance that the baby is doing well.
Fetal hiccups were defined as regular sharp oscillations - which occurred at 2-4 second intervals, more than 15 times per minute - on the maternal abdomen.