The date of the baby's first movement. At what stage are the first fetal movements felt during the first and second pregnancies?

The most wonderful time is pregnancy. 9 months when the baby turns from an egg into little man. Isn't it wonderful to watch and feel all the changes happening to him. What's it worth? the first movement of the fetus, when a woman is filled with inexplicable feelings of the presence of life in her womb. But with his movements, the baby can tell how he feels. Let's talk about the first movement of the fetus. When does it happen? How does mom feel? How to recognize problems?

When should you expect the first fetal movement?

It should immediately be noted that the first movement of the fetus at the first and second next pregnancies different both in time and in sensations. The embryo begins to move long before the woman feels it for the first time, but its movements are still very weak and insignificant, so the mother does not feel them.

First fetal movement during first pregnancy

Emotional contact with the mother is the first movement of the fetus. After all, the first push indicates the presence of life inside. Usually pregnant women expecting their first child, not yet knowing what to expect from the first movement, “listen” to the baby long before the first “somersault” is due. Medical canons “say” that the first “pushing” that a woman feels during her first pregnancy varies from the twentieth week.

But quite often the little one is “delayed” in reminding himself, which puts the pregnant mother into a hysterical state. But there is no need to worry, since a fairly large percentage of children begin to move sensitively at 23 weeks. And the reason for the delay may be:

• plumpness, according to medical observations, plump mothers feel the first movements later than thin ones;
• physical activity, since the first movements of the fetus are weak tremors, then when active image life, the mother simply does not feel them, but begins to feel them for the first time when the baby increases his activity.

It is no exception when pregnant women feel the first tremors at 17–19 weeks for the first time. This is also considered normal.

Subsequent pregnancy and first fetal movement

In subsequent pregnancies, the period when the mother feels the first movement of her little one begins much earlier. According to medical standards, this is 18 weeks, but many repeat pregnant women claim that they felt the first push at 14–17 weeks. This sensitivity is due to the fact that the walls of the uterus, which has already carried a child, become more sensitive, and mothers, knowing what to expect, will not miss this moment.

How does mommy feel when she first moves?

All pregnant women feel their baby for the first time in their own way. Many people talk about light stroking from the inside, some compare the first push to a rising ball of gas, like in champagne or to the trembling of a fish in water. Gradually, these light movements are replaced by active tapping, which become more regular. By week 30, even dad will be able to feel the movements of the fetus by placing his hand on his stomach. Now he reacts to stimuli in the form of music, stroking, voices. The larger the embryo becomes, the more clearly the fetal movements are felt, which sometimes even bring discomfort or pain. Now all dissatisfaction with an uncomfortable position or hunger is expressed through kicks, which mom will learn to recognize over time.

When does the baby start to move?

When the embryo reaches 2 cm at 7–8 weeks, it makes its first movements. Because nervous system is already ripe for conducting impulses into tissue. But since it is floating freely in the uterine cavity, the pregnant woman does not feel its movements.

By week 12, shoots are formed that will soon become arms and legs. The belly-dweller moves them chaotically, but there is so much space that these movements are still imperceptible.

Closer to the 15th week, everything in the uterine cavity less space, because the belly is growing quickly. His thrusting becomes more active. Time is running, it grows, resting against the walls of the uterus, and after 18 weeks the mother is ready to feel the first movement of the fetus for the first time. You can read about how the fetus develops in the mother’s tummy in the article:.

From the moment of the first push and progressively, the mother will feel all its movements more and more strongly. Just on last weeks pregnancy, the baby will calm down slightly, since there will be no room left in the uterine cavity for somersaults.

What standards exist for fetal movements and activity?

Scientists have calculated that by 20 weeks the baby in the belly makes about 200 movements per day. The belly dweller only calms down when he sleeps. The older the baby gets, the more he moves, and by the 30th week you can count up to 600 movements. After 32 weeks, activity decreases due to cramped conditions. Of course, the mother cannot feel all the movements, but according to medical standards she should feel the following:

• after 28 weeks – 8–10 movements per hour.

The exception is sleep, which usually lasts up to 4 hours at a time.

“Talk to me, Mom...” or what can the tremors in your stomach tell you?

The third trimester is characterized by the fact that the pregnant woman notices a certain “regime” in the behavior of her belly. Cycles of sleep and active tumbling appear. The technique of talking through pushes is actively used by the baby, and he:

1. Shows its activity in the evening, when the mother is resting in a relaxed state. Also, the baby is “bored” at night and does not allow the mother to sleep. Typically, a belly dweller's favorite time to sleep is between 4 and 9 am.
2. Feels psycho-emotional state women. Yes, when stressful situations or in moments of fear, the child freezes for a short amount of time or begins to pound in the stomach with increased activity.
3. At physical activity The mother's fetus loves to sleep. After all, the rocking movements that he feels in his stomach are conducive to this. But he will have time to “play” and “tumble” at night.
4. If hungry, then the mother feels active tremors and somersaults, which subside 15–20 minutes after eating.
5. There is a reaction to sounds. Thus, during the experiment, it was found that to classical melodies, babies sway gently in their stomachs, but to the sounds of rock, they actively push with their arms and legs.
6. Mothers are also “punished” for uncomfortable posture. The blows can even be painful. There is an interesting article about which sleeping positions to give preference to each semester:.

How and why to count fetal movements?

We already know that the child speaks to the mother through his movements, so monitoring them is simply necessary. After all, he talks about his condition, good or bad, through tremors. Rare and weak fetal movements may indicate developmental abnormalities. In order to be calm and confident that everything is fine with the baby, the mother needs to count the movements. For this there is special techniques.

Cardiff technique

From the 28th week, a schedule/diary is kept in which daily movements are recorded. It is considered from nine o'clock in the morning to nine o'clock in the evening. During this period, the pregnant woman should note 10 movements. If the tenth shock occurred before the allotted time, then further shocks need not be counted. In cases where the baby is active less than 10–8 times, you should consult a doctor.

Pearson method

According to the Pearson method, a diary is also kept from the 28th week, in which the time of the beginning of movements is recorded every day. It can be:

• tremors;
• coups;
• bulging, etc.

After you count 10 such actions, write down the end time of counting. If the time between the first and last recording is an hour +/- 15 minutes, then everything is fine. If the gap is longer, then wait until the baby sleeps for 3-4 hours, and then provoke him into active somersaults (eat sweets, take an uncomfortable position, etc.) and repeat the calculations again. If the result does not change, go for a consultation with your gynecologist.

Sadowski method

The Sadowski method is completely identical to the Pearson method, the only difference is certain time and posture for counting. For measurements, the evening time is chosen, when the fetus is most active. The woman, lying on her left side, recording the time, counts all the pushes, revolutions, etc. Having counted 10 such actions in an hour, you can not worry and rest calmly, but if after 2 hours 10 movements have not been counted, then you should sound the alarm.

What pathology can movement counts tell us about?

A decrease in the baby's activity may indicate hypoxia. What kind of pathology this is, you can read in the article:. After contacting your gynecologist, he should listen to your heartbeat using an obstetric stethoscope. The norm is 130-150 beats per minute. Even if the gynecologist assures that everything is within normal limits, it is better to play it safe and do a cardiotocographic study, it will help to objectively assess the heartbeat and find out whether hypoxia is present or not.

In conclusion, about folk signs - how to find out the due date based on the first movement of the fetus?

Today, modern calculations and ultrasound examination can determine the date of onset of labor with an accuracy of up to a day. About methods for determining deadlines, see the article: But our grandmothers used a different technique. They added 20 weeks to the day on which the first fetal movement occurred and obtained the estimated date of birth. The technique worked for centuries, until modern world no progress came. Enjoy the time you spend with your child, it goes by so quickly.

What does a woman feel when her baby moves for the first time and how can she recognize this moment? Undoubtedly, all expectant mothers ask these questions. Therefore, let's look at the main signs that indicate the child is moving.

In most cases, when the fetus moves, the woman feels small tremors. However, on early stages During pregnancy they are not very pronounced. In this case, the expectant mother feels only some movements of the fetus. As a rule, women begin to feel the movement of their baby between 19 and 21 weeks of pregnancy.

It is quite difficult to unambiguously describe the feeling a woman experiences when her baby moves for the first time. Some expectant mothers note that this feeling has many similarities with increased intestinal motility. Other women say that the baby's movement is similar to a butterfly fluttering, objects rolling, or a swimming fish. In any case, such sensations are completely painless for the mother herself and do not cause her discomfort throughout longer period pregnancy.

Only as the child grows more rapidly can a woman feel the baby’s movements, more pronounced than in the first months of pregnancy. The activity of fetal movement is associated with the time of day, the movements of the mother and her physiological rhythms. Having learned to recognize the baby's movements, the mother can even control their activity, regulating their eating patterns, as well as sleep and wakefulness.

For a woman, especially a first-time mother, the first movement of her baby is an extremely touching moment in her life. At this moment, for the first time she can feel a living person inside her, which for many expectant mothers is an incentive to take a more responsible attitude towards their pregnancy.

Due to the individuality of each woman’s body, expectant mothers feel the first movement of their child in completely different ways. The timing during which the first fetal movement occurred may also differ. This depends on the woman's body type and whether the woman is primiparous or multiparous.

It is noteworthy that women carrying their first pregnancy begin to feel fetal movement much later compared to women who have already given birth before. This is explained by the fact that in primiparous women, the uterine walls are much less sensitive.

The first movement of the fetus is an exciting event for every mother.

The nature of the child's movements

How your baby's movement patterns can help to the expectant mother diagnose your child’s condition, and what signs should cause particular concern? Every woman needs to know this in order to take the necessary measures in time, and also to better understand her child.

It is noteworthy that the embryo first begins to move in the seventh week of pregnancy. However, these movements are so small that the expectant mother cannot recognize or feel them. Most often, the fetus begins to move from the 14th to the 26th week of pregnancy. In the event that at twenty within a week pregnancy, a woman does not feel any fetal movements, perhaps the doctor will advise her to undergo ultrasound examination to make sure the child is developing normally.

Women describe the first movement of the fetus as pushing, kicking, shaking, hitting or fluttering. However, in some cases, first-time mothers may mistake the baby's movement for movement in gastrointestinal tract. The intensity of the expectant mother’s perception of the child’s movements largely depends on her weight and constitutional characteristics.

Experts have noticed that women with overweight bodies can feel their child very weakly, and, conversely, skinny women notice pronounced signs of fetal movement. Also, it depends on the activity of the pregnant woman. During the period of movement, the expectant mother may not recognize the subtle signals given by her baby. In turn, in a state of complete rest, a woman has an ideal opportunity to listen to the movements of the child.

Around the 28th week of pregnancy, the frequency of fetal movements increases. At this time, expectant mothers may notice almost constant movement of the child. A woman needs to learn to control the activity of the fetus in order to The biological clock the woman and child were the same.

If a pregnant woman accidentally takes an incorrect position from an anatomical point of view, the child may suddenly and sharply begin to move. This usually occurs when a woman lies on her back or crosses one leg over the other in a sitting position. As a rule, when the position changes, the expectant mother stops feeling the violent movement of the child. However, if the frequency of movements does not decrease within several hours, the woman should urgently consult a doctor to diagnose and prevent a fetal condition such as oxygen starvation.

The condition of the fetus can be determined by the nature of the movements.

Frequency of baby movements

Many modern pregnant women are wondering what frequency of fetal movement is considered normal. Such experiences are quite justified, since too rare or too frequent movements may indicate a problem.

Once the pregnancy reaches 24 weeks, the baby can move up to 15 times per hour. However, sometimes the movements stop for several hours, which should not bother the expectant mother, since at this time the child is simply sleeping. The only reason to immediately consult a doctor is complete absence any fetal movements within twelve hours.

If a woman notes that the nature and frequency of the child’s movements have somehow changed over the past few days, this is also serious reason to contact an obstetrician-gynecologist. Any change in fetal activity that has not been observed before should alert the expectant mother.

In order to reliably assess the frequency of a child’s movements, there is special test Pearson. After the gestational age exceeds 32 weeks, the expectant mother should regularly record the time of every tenth fetal movement. It is recommended to choose the time interval from 9 am to 9 pm for such observation.

If the number of marks is less than ten, this may indicate the child’s development oxygen deficiency, which, of course, should not be ignored, since such a condition can lead to the death of the fetus. A pregnant woman should consult a doctor as soon as possible with this problem.

Many expectant mothers also note that the number of movements of their baby increases noticeably in the evening, which is quite normal occurrence. Also, a woman should be aware that the child is most active between the 24th and 32nd weeks of pregnancy. However, as the third trimester approaches the end, the baby's movements may decrease. This is especially true immediately before childbirth. However, it should be remembered that the intensity of the child’s movements must be the same as before in order to be able to say that everything is fine with the child.

Thus, a simple procedure for counting the number of fetal movements can tell the expectant mother a lot of important things about the condition of her baby.

It is necessary to control the frequency of fetal movements

Baby moving in the third trimester of pregnancy

What should a woman pay attention to? Special attention in the third trimester of pregnancy? Let's consider the most important points for a woman during this period of time.

The third trimester begins around the seventh month of pregnancy. At this time, the child is almost fully formed. On at this stage its organs and systems complete their development, and a rapid increase in the height and weight of the fetus occurs, compared to the first months of pregnancy. Due to the fact that the child at this stage becomes stronger and stronger, the expectant mother may notice an increase in the intensity of kicks and movements.

It is noteworthy that at the beginning of the third trimester of pregnancy, the fetus can still rotate quite freely in the uterine cavity, taking on a variety of positions. However, upon reaching 30 or 32 weeks, the fetus is already quite large and by this time it has assumed its permanent position.

In most pregnancies, the baby is positioned head down in the uterine cavity. This position, called cephalic presentation of the fetus, is the most anatomical and allows the baby to easily pass through birth canal. However, in some cases, conditions such as breech presentation of the fetus occur. In this case, the baby is positioned feet down, which makes natural delivery difficult or impossible.

In order to give the fetus the position necessary for the natural course of childbirth, special techniques are used in obstetrics, with the help of which the doctor carefully changes the position of the fetus by applying pressure in certain places of the abdomen.

Already at the beginning of the third trimester of pregnancy, the expectant mother can determine by her feelings what position the baby is in. As a rule, in the case of cephalic presentation, a woman feels active movements of the baby in the upper part of the uterus. If the fetus is located in the uterus with its legs down, the woman feels active movements in the lower abdomen during pregnancy.

When the third trimester of pregnancy begins, the expectant mother can already recognize the sleeping and waking patterns of her baby. Moreover, she already knows what positions she needs to take during sleep so that the child does not experience oxygen starvation. It is known that when a woman is lying down blood vessels the uterus contracts slightly, to which the child, as a rule, responds with intense movements.

In the third trimester, the mother already knows the baby's routine

Diagnosis of a woman’s condition by the nature of the child’s movements

How can a woman diagnose her condition and the condition of the child based on the nature of the child’s movements, and also notice in time the presence of any abnormalities during pregnancy? This question is asked by many women who know the harmful consequences inattention to the signs that the human body gives.

If there are any deviations in the child’s behavior, the woman should contact an obstetrician-gynecologist for additional examination. If the expectant mother cannot quickly get to the doctor, it is necessary to call ambulance specialists who will listen to the fetal heartbeat. Normally, it should be from 120 to 160 beats per minute. After this, the doctors will send the woman to medical institution for further diagnostic procedures.

Even if no abnormalities are noted in the fetal heart rate, the doctor prescribes the woman to undergo a cardiotocography study (CTG), which will determine whether the child is experiencing oxygen starvation. During the examination, the doctor attaches a special sensor at the level of the anterior abdominal wall of the woman's abdomen. The expectant mother holds a button in her hand, which she presses every time she feels the baby move. This information is displayed graphically and the doctor can determine the condition heart rate baby. It should be noted that the CTG method is most effective during pregnancy from 30 to 32 weeks.

The constant movement of the baby and the increase in size of the woman’s belly indicate normal course pregnancy. The expectant mother should remember that the only way It is the movement of a child that tells about its condition. Therefore, a woman should approach the assessment and diagnosis of the child’s movements with maximum responsibility.

First of all, based on the nature of the fetal movement, a woman may independently suspect that the fetus is malpresented, which often entails the need for surgical delivery. This will allow her to apply for qualified assistance as soon as possible. medical care. With timely treatment, the position of the fetus can be changed using special obstetric techniques, after which the woman will be able to give birth to a child naturally.

Why expectant mothers need to listen to their baby's movements

What benefits do they provide? modern woman basic medical knowledge? How can an expectant mother prevent mass with their help? undesirable consequences for yourself and your child? In order to answer this question, it is necessary to consider the main problems that may arise with the health of the woman and baby during pregnancy.

One of the most dangerous conditions for the child is hypoxia, which occurs due to disruption of normal blood flow to the placenta, as a result of which the fetus begins to experience oxygen starvation. First of all, this threatens the appearance of various disorders in the child’s nervous and cardiovascular system. If a child does not receive enough oxygen for a long time, this can have a certain effect on both mental and physical health. physical level fetal development. At the same time, women should remember that similar condition occurs with equal probability both in early and later later pregnancy.

To protect her child from prolonged oxygen starvation, a woman should regularly monitor the frequency and nature of the baby’s movements. To prevent the occurrence of such a complication, from the very beginning of pregnancy a woman should move enough, eat rationally, and also devote enough time to sleep and rest. Also, the expectant mother should constantly monitor her weight. Excess body weight provokes shortness of breath in a woman, which is extremely harmful for both the baby and the mother herself. To avoid overeating, caloric intake daily ration a pregnant woman should not exceed 1600 kcal/day.

Another complication of pregnancy that a woman can independently identify is malpresentation of the fetus. Listening carefully to changes in the child's movement pattern, the woman malpresentation will immediately notice changes in your body. Most common cephalic presentation the fetus in which labor proceeds most naturally. At breech the fetus, the baby is located in the uterine cavity with its legs down, as a result of which the expectant mother constantly feels strong activity in the lower abdomen. This should alert the woman and force her to see a doctor for a medical examination.

The most dangerous thing in obstetric practice is oblique presentation fetus when the baby's body is located at right angles to the body of the uterus. With such a presentation, as the child grows, his movements cause discomfort and even pain to the woman. In this case, self-delivery is not possible.

In order to prevent the occurrence of pelvic or oblique presentation of the fetus, during pregnancy a woman must perform a complex special exercises which will allow the fetus to be accepted into the uterus correct position. It is important to note that these exercises should only be prescribed by an obstetrician-gynecologist. Unauthorized and especially unnecessarily intense exercises are extremely contraindicated for a pregnant woman.

By the nature of the movements, the mother can determine the position of the fetus

In order to stay healthy and successfully carry a pregnancy to term, a woman must follow all the doctor’s recommendations, be under the supervision of a local obstetrician-gynecologist, and also eat a healthy and varied diet, just go for a walk. fresh air and maintain a sleep-wake schedule. She should also monitor the nature of her child’s movements, which can tell a lot about his well-being.

Fetal movements are the most touching and most emotional moment of the entire pregnancy. This is especially true for the first movements. Any mother anxiously awaits the hour when the baby makes its presence felt for the first time. As a rule, this happens by the time the woman has become accustomed to her new position and is looking forward to meeting the baby. The mystery and solemnity of the moment also lies in the fact that no one else in the world has been awarded such an honor except the mother: to feel her baby for the first time.

Incredibly, the fetus begins to move already from the 8-9th week. However, it is still too small, when “swimming” it rarely touches the walls of the uterus, and the mother does not feel these movements. The opinion that some foods can “wake up” a baby is most likely wrong - the baby’s activity does not depend on the food the mother consumes. It is believed that the baby's distinct movements can be heard for the first time on average - he stretches out his arms and legs, touching the walls of the uterus. But everything is very individual, and the timing may vary significantly. Thin women usually feel the first movements before plump ones. It also depends on what kind of pregnancy you are having: most multiparous women feel the first movements of the baby already at 18 weeks or even earlier. In general, women feel fetal movement when repeat pregnancies about 2-4 weeks earlier than the first. This happens mainly because the woman is already familiar with this sensation, and the muscles of the uterus are already prepared for it. And first-time mothers may not feel the baby even at 24 weeks. If the doctor assures you that the pregnancy is progressing normally, you and the baby are in perfect order, then there is no need to worry about the lack of movement. Very soon they will become regular and distinct, and you will definitely recognize them. In the meantime, you can try this method. Drink a glass of milk in the evening, lie down on your back and lie down for a while. It is believed that this position is very uncomfortable for the child, and it is quite possible that he will let you know about this with his kicks.

Usually, your family and friends can experience the joy of the movements. The shocks become strong enough to be felt by other people. But will the baby want to communicate with “strangers”? If only you got used to their voice and frequent touches of the hand.

As the period of movement increases, the crumbs should increase intensity and strength. At week 20, the fetus makes an average of 200 movements per day, and between 28 and 32 weeks their number reaches its maximum: 600 movements. Before birth, the child has already grown enough, there is very little space in the tummy, so the number of movements gradually decreases, although their strength remains the same or even increases.

Studies show that by the end of the term, the child’s activity increases from 8 pm to 8 am - during the day the baby sleeps, lulled by the movement of the mother.

What does a child do in the mother's womb?

What do the movements of a baby in the womb look like? Women who are looking forward to this moment are afraid of missing it, so they want to have a very accurate idea of ​​​​what is coming. But for each of them, the child’s first movements evoke different associations: for some they resemble the fluttering of a butterfly or the splashing of a fish, while for others they resemble stroking, tickling, or the most common kicks. They are often compared to intestinal peristalsis.

For now, the child has only one task: to grow. But this a very complex process, preparing small organism To independent life. And for this, the baby needs to learn a lot. You can often see him sucking his thumb. But the child can do a lot more! Already from the ninth week of pregnancy, the fetus can swallow amniotic fluid, and this is a complex motor process. He smacks his lips, stretches, moves his limbs. At 17 weeks the fetus begins to squint. At 18 weeks, she fingers the umbilical cord with her hands, clenches and unclenches her fingers, touches her face and even covers her face when there are sharp, loud and unpleasant sounds.

The language of movements - how to understand the baby?

The movements are not just a sign of life inside the mother. This is a way of communication between her and her child. The language of the movements has great mystery, since it is understandable only to these two. Based on the nature and intensity of the movements, the mother is able to understand whether the little one is happy, playing or indignant. Already from 16 weeks, the baby is able to respond with movements to sounds (primarily to the mother’s voice).

As a rule, children move most actively in a state of mother's calm. As soon as a woman lies down or sits quietly, the baby immediately begins to frolic. But during mother’s physical activity, children usually sleep.

It's already starting to show up small character. For example, children react differently to loud sounds: some calm down, others, on the contrary, “rage”. Almost everyone is indignant when the mother takes an uncomfortable position (lying on her back, sitting cross-legged) or working a lot. There is an opinion that the baby's excessive movements are a sign of fetal oxygen deficiency. But too sluggish and weak movements should be a cause for concern and a mandatory consultation with a doctor. To assess the baby's condition, a special fetal movement test is used.

On a note

• With stones in gallbladder baby's movements long term may cause discomfort in the mother.
• If a pregnant woman has a scar on the uterus after a cesarean section and she feels pain in the area of ​​the scar when the baby moves, then she should bring this to the attention of an obstetrician-gynecologist.
• The expectant mother may sometimes feel a pulsation in her abdomen. This is the pulsation of blood in the umbilical cord or blood vessels of the woman. If this phenomenon is not permanent, then there is no need to worry.

Especially for- Elena Kichak

The most trembling and exciting moment during pregnancy is, perhaps, the movement of the baby in the mother’s belly. It directly indicates the development and growth of the child. In addition, by the beginning of fetal movement, the approximate due date of birth can be determined. What are the first movements during pregnancy? Let's look at it in this article.

Why is the baby moving?

According to observations during ultrasound, it was revealed that babies do not just “swim” in amniotic fluid, but make a variety of movements. In particular, they can:

• Drink amniotic fluid, while moving the lower jaw;
• Turn your head;
• Grasp the legs with your arms;
• Knock your feet;
• Handle and grab the umbilical cord.

The baby's movements during pregnancy are good sign, which talks about the development and growth of the fetus.

At what week of pregnancy can you feel movements?

The first movements of the fetus during pregnancy occur already at 7-8 weeks, however, due to its small size, it does not come into contact with the walls of the uterus. Therefore, at the beginning of pregnancy, a woman does not feel the movements of her unborn child.

The baby's first movements are usually felt between 18 and 22 weeks. At 18-20 weeks, the tiny person stretches out his arms and legs, touching the wall of the uterus. Many women describe their baby's movements as "swimming fish" or "butterflies fluttering" in their stomach. By 21-22 weeks, the baby’s movements become more distinct and sometimes quite strong. The fetus has not yet taken a certain position in the uterus, so the tremors will be felt in different places belly. By week 24, tremors can be felt by others. By the beginning of the 3rd trimester, the fetus turns over and rotates. By 30-32 weeks, it occupies a certain position in the uterine cavity, most often head down. Its activity decreases some time before birth - the baby is preparing to be born, taking the position most convenient for leaving the mother’s womb. And that's quite normal.

But a woman can feel the first movements during her second pregnancy from the 16th week. This happens mainly due to the fact that she is already familiar with such sensations. In addition, the muscles of the uterus are already prepared for the baby’s kicks. It was revealed that mothers with a dense build recognize the baby’s movements later than thin mothers.

In addition, the period at which a woman feels the first movement of the baby also depends on the thickness of the walls of the uterus and their sensitivity. Therefore, the norms regarding fetal movement are characterized by a fairly wide range. Remember that every child develops at his own pace. Don't expect him to do everything according to schedule. If, based on ultrasound data and weight gain, the doctor claims that fetal development is normal, then do not worry if you do not yet feel its kicks.

Is it possible to calculate the due date based on the first movement during pregnancy?

Using the mother's sensations regarding the baby's movements, you can determine the approximate date of birth based on the first movement. To do this, you must add 20 weeks, which is half the gestation period, to the number of the first movements during pregnancy. However, this calculation method can only be used if you are pregnant for the first time. If this is not your first experience, then 22 weeks should be added to the original date. The number on the calendar that you see as a result of these simple calculations will be the expected day of birth.

Of course, you shouldn’t completely trust the results of determining the due date based on the first movement, since all the mother’s feelings regarding the movements of the fetus are quite subjective. Many women confuse the first movement with normal intestinal peristalsis or mistake gas formation and other gastrointestinal processes for baby movements.

Only a doctor can unambiguously determine the due date, taking into account the dates last menstrual period, conception, the baby’s first movement, the size of the uterus, the results of blood tests for hCG and ultrasound. Only taking into account all this data can the date of birth be established.

From the first days of pregnancy, the expectant mother begins to be interested in questions related to the motor activity of the fetus: “At what stage does the baby begin to move?”, “When will I feel the first movements?” In addition to them, a pregnant woman may be bothered by intense or, conversely, weak movements of the baby. These and others important questions discussed in the article.

First movements

The baby's first movements begin at the embryonic stage of development (pregnancy 8-10 weeks). It is impossible to feel it, but you can clearly see them on the first ultrasound examination. The embryo has a size of 4-7 cm and its movements are uncontrolled (unconscious) nervous twitches associated with the growth and development of the baby and his central nervous system.

During this period, the embryo is deep in the pelvis, and it is still very small, so if the pregnant woman feels like something is “twitching” in her stomach, then these are probably signs of flatulence or simple nerve impulses radiating to the lower abdomen.

How long should I wait?

An indicator such as “the first fetal movement” carries important information for the leading gynecologist, indicating proper development child and his general state health. A woman can feel such sensations starting from the second trimester of pregnancy. Specific dates depend solely on individual characteristics pregnant.

The following factors are also worth considering:

• Figure of a woman. If a pregnant woman has a thin build, then she can feel the baby’s movement from the 20th week. The more weight a woman has, the less sensitive the first movements will be.
• Number of births. If a woman has already given birth, then the second and subsequent pregnancy can be felt at a slightly earlier stage (from 18 weeks). This is due to the fact that the woman giving birth already knows exactly how the baby is pushing, plus under such circumstances the woman becomes more sensitive.
• Active lifestyle. When a woman during pregnancy leads active life: does household chores, goes to work, gets carried away interesting hobbies, which are associated with high mobility - during such periods she simply does not have time to pay attention to the first tremors of her baby.

Typically, average pregnant women begin to feel fetal movement at 18-22 weeks.

There are cases when the expectant mother does not feel the first kicks of the baby even at 23-24 weeks. But this does not mean that the pregnancy is pathological. However, you should notify your obstetrician-gynecologist about this (to eliminate risks). Most often, a woman simply has low sensitivity or the baby prefers daytime rest, and at night, while mommy is sleeping, she tumbles.

Feelings and duration by week of pregnancy

This section will examine fetal movements starting from the 18th week and ending at the final 40th week. The data presented may differ slightly from real sensations pregnant, since each expectant mother has a unique body and the reaction with sensitivity may vary partially.

From 18 to 19 weeks - slight slight twitching, sensations of increased flatulence. You can feel 5 or more of these “kicks” per day. The duration is approximately 2-10 seconds in one short period of movement. If you look closely at the lower abdomen, you can see how the skin twitches in places during movement - it is in this place that the baby sends its first signs of tangible activity to the mother.

From 20 to 25 weeks- at this time, the movements become more noticeable, and they can no longer be confused with gases, but their intensity is still not great.

From 26 to 30 weeks– during this period the baby becomes much larger and all his movements are felt very clearly. With active vigor of the fetus, the stomach can “shake.” In some cases, with sudden movements of the baby, the mother may feel even slight discomfort, especially if the child “kicks” her in the bladder. The number of movements is approximately 10 times a day. With breaks for the child to sleep (1-3 hours).

From 31 to 36 weeks- on this period The fetus begins to move and “shove” the most. He has already grown well, and most of his organs are already mature. This is almost complete healthy child and his movements are already conscious: sometimes he turns over in his sleep, sometimes he is awake - playing with his arms and legs. May stretch (the abdomen sharply stretches to one side for 3-10 seconds), hiccup (rhythmic twitching for 1-10 minutes).

From 36 to 40 weeks - During this period, the fetus may slightly reduce its activity. The baby becomes very large and has practically no room left for somersaults. At this stage, the child can remain in one position for half a day and at the same time put pressure on some organ. The pregnant woman probably began to notice that her rib was aching, her stomach was aching, or she was “shooting” in the liver area. In such situations, you need to somehow force the baby to move; the pregnant woman can eat chocolate, stroke her belly and talk to him, or go for a walk. But despite the child’s calmer behavior, movements should be felt at least 10 times a day.

Norms of physical activity

Every pregnant woman different dates thinks about whether the child moves too little/too much? Suddenly he felt sick in his stomach? To help the expectant mother understand his condition by the baby’s movements, the norms are presented below motor activity fetus:

If for some reason a pregnant woman notices deviations from the norm, then on the same day she needs to visit a gynecologist, or call ambulance to determine the reasons for increased or decreased fetal activity.

Under no circumstances should you remain idle. Since in case of deviations, the life of the fetus may be at risk and it risks dying within a few hours.

Methods for counting movements

To determine in more detail the norm of fetal motor activity, we came up with several options for counting movements. These methods should be used only when the expectant mother suspects the possibility of any deviations in the activity of her baby. Also, such calculations are used “as planned” in some clinics by leading gynecologists for a more detailed study of the condition of the fetus. They require that a pregnant woman keep a diary of the child’s activity every day, starting from the 28th week until the birth.

D. Pearson

This method involves counting every tenth movement. This is how it is done.

A woman counts her child’s movements every day from 9 am to 9 pm. As soon as the pregnant woman has counted 10 movements, it is necessary to mark with a cross approximately at what hour she felt the baby’s 10th kick.

Let's take an example of part of this table:

If the child moves 10 times throughout the day, then everything is fine with the fetus and nothing bothers the child.

If a pregnant woman recorded less than 10 movements (for example, on November 15, the fetus made 8 movements per day, i.e. less than expected), then we enter this in the “Number of movements” line, indicating exactly how many times the baby moved during the day (accordingly, a cross on that day we don’t put it). It is important to show these indicators to the gynecologist within 1-2 days. Perhaps the child is suffering from hypoxia.

During the counting process, absolutely all the baby’s movements are recorded, even barely perceptible twitches.

Around Cardiff

The Cardiff method of counting movements assumes the same scheme as the Pearson method (fixing the range of fetal movements for 12 hours), but you can start counting movements at any time. The calculation results are similar.

The norm is when the baby makes about 3 movements per hour.

According to Sadowski

This method involves counting and recording movements after eating. The main rule is that you should start counting movements after eating for 2 hours. If in the end the pregnant woman counts less than 4 movements within two hours, then she urgently needs to report this to the gynecologist.

Pain during fetal activity: normal or pathological?

Throughout pregnancy, a woman may feel painful sensations in a stomach. In some cases, these pains may be within normal limits, but to a greater extent they indicate pathology. Pain when the child moves may also indicate normal development baby, or for deviations in the development of pregnancy.

• If a pregnant woman feels pain when the fetus moves before the 30th week and the pain is recorded exclusively in one place, then this is a reason to report this information leading obstetrician-gynecologist. He will order an ultrasound internal organs pregnant woman, clinical and biochemical blood test, general analysis urine, etc.
• If a pregnant woman sometimes feels pain during the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy when the child actively moves or when there are sharp kicks to any area of ​​the abdomen, then this is not a deviation. These feelings are quite normal, because the uterus, as it grows, compresses all the organs in the abdominal cavity, and sharp kicks from the fetus can cause the expectant mother discomfort and moderate pain.
• If pain began to occur in the later stages (from 30 until childbirth), then there are 2 options: either the child is large and, with active movement, touches and pinches neighboring organs, or there may be a pathology that must be clarified by a gynecologist.

In any case, if you begin to feel pain in your stomach, be sure to tell your doctor, even if you think that the child just kicked you hard.

Features in multiparous women

As mentioned above, multiparous women begin to feel the first movements earlier than primiparous women. But this does not mean at all that if there are no movements at 17-20 weeks, then a multiparous woman needs to sound the alarm. Each pregnancy, be it the first or the fifth, has its own characteristics and the sensation of movement in some pregnancy may be early, or it may be late.

So that the expectant mother does not have doubts and fears, it is better to go for an ultrasound once again and check how the baby is doing in the womb. Moreover, this study is safe for the baby.

Causes for concern

If a pregnant woman observes the following abnormalities, she should urgently visit a doctor or call an ambulance:

1. When the fetus moved, sharp pains lower abdomen.
2. During a very active movements there is blood or brown discharge.
3. The child has stopped moving: does not respond to stroking, to eating sweet pregnant foods, or to sounds - for 6 hours.
4. If a pregnant woman feels unusual movements for the baby: twitching and shaking, similar to nervous tic(not to be confused with fetal hiccups), constant turning from side to side for several hours on end.
5. The child has no rest time (sleep) throughout the day.

The doctor will be required to send you for tests (fetal ultrasound, Doppler, fetal CTG), and also prescribe additional tests (blood for coagulogram, for TORCH infections, smear for STIs, blood for antibodies, etc.). Perhaps the woman’s blood circulation in the placenta has worsened due to blood thickening, inflammatory process or there is a Rhesus conflict.

Fetal movement during pregnancy is a very detailed indicator of the condition of the child in the womb. If you carefully monitor them, you can significantly reduce the risks of complications, and you can also simply enjoy communication with your unborn child.