Feeling life

Feeling life is very different per person, per pregnancy and per baby.

WHEN?

On average, you feel the first clear sign of life around the 18th-20th week. Some women feel life earlier, sometimes it is because of a previous pregnancy. If you feel life early, that can also disappear for a while, which is unfortunate but not alarming. The amount of amniotic fluid varies and “the bigger the pool the less likely you are to hit the rim.”

The position of the placenta can also influence the feeling of your baby moving. You will often be told where your placenta is at the 20-week ultrasound. If the placenta is against the front wall of your uterus, you may feel the first kicks a little later than usual.

HOW OFTEN IS NORMAL?

From 28-30 weeks you should feel the baby every day, if this is not the case, contact your midwife. Even if the baby suddenly starts to move a lot less and if you feel worried about this, you can always call. You often feel the baby less or not at all when you are busy yourself. A guideline is that you should feel at least 10 to 15 movements per day. You then count each shift, kick or turn. These 10 to 15 movements are spread over a minimum of 2 to 3 "movement moments" per day.

If you are unsure about the amount of movement your baby is taking, take your time. Lie on your left side on the couch for 2 hours or take a warm bath if you can. In those 2 hours you should feel at least 10 movements. If you don't feel it or if your baby moves less than usual or moves less vigorously, please contact us. When in doubt, follow your gut feeling and give us a call.