What is the role played by fetal activity?

An exciting landmark of pregnancy is when you first feel the sensation of your baby move. These movements are a sign that your baby is healthy and well.

Every baby is unique, it is important for you to get to know your baby’s individual movement pattern. At any point, if you are concerned about your babies movement pattern, please contact your midwife or doctor immediately. Do not wait until the next day.

When will I feel my baby moving?

You will start to feel your baby moving between 16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. The location of your placenta will not affect this sensation. It is more common for women having their second or subsequent pregnancies to feel their baby move earlier.

If you have not felt your baby move by 24 weeks, you should contact your doctor or midwife.

What will my baby’s movement feel like?

The type of movement you feel will depend on what your baby is doing and their stage of growth and development. Each baby is different, with some more active than others.

The first sensations you feel may be a fluttering (like 'butterflies in your tummy'), swishing, rolling or tumbling sensation or a tiny kick. These early sensations are often called ‘quickening’. As your pregnancy progresses, the movements will become more distinct, and you will more easily feel their kicks, jabbing and elbowing.

How often should I feel my baby moving?

There is no set number of movements you should feel. As you start to feel your baby's movements more consistently, usually by 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy, you will get to know what a normal pattern of movement is for you and your baby. You should then consistently feel your baby's movements right up until they are born and even during labour.

Babies tend to move more at certain times of day – they may be more active while you sleep, and sleep while you’re awake. Usually, unborn babies sleep for 20-40 minutes cycles (occasionally up to 90 minutes), and they don’t move when they’re asleep.

Should I track my baby’s movement?

There are no set number of movements a baby should have, so counting kicks or recording on a chart is no longer recommended.

It is important to make time regularly each day to notice your babies’ movements. If you are busy or not paying attention it can be easy to miss this very important signal from your baby. If you are busy or working, it may be helpful to set reminders for yourself to check in with your baby.

Common myths about baby movements

• It is not true that babies move less towards the end of pregnancy.


• Having something to eat or drink does not help stimulate your baby to move.

What should I do if my baby stops moving?

If you haven't felt any movement from your baby by 24 weeks, see your doctor or midwife.

At any stage of your pregnancy, if you are concerned about your baby's movements, contact your midwife or doctor immediately. Do not wait until the next day. A slowing down of movement may be a sign that your baby is unwell.

Your doctor or midwife will invite you into the hospital and check your baby’s heart rate using a CTG Machine. In some instances, you may also have an ultrasound.

What do I do if I have recurring concerns about my baby’s movements?

Remember you are the one who knows your baby’s movements best. It is important that whenever you are concerned about your baby’s movements to contact your doctor or midwife.

Contact your doctor or midwife again even if you have already seen them about your baby’s movements previously.

Speak to a maternal child health nurse

Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.

Movements really do matter. Are you aware of your baby’s movements during pregnancy? Do you know what to do if you notice a change in your baby’s movements that concerns you? 

Being aware of your baby’s movements during pregnancy is one of the simplest things you can do to help keep your baby safe and healthy. Regular and healthy movements are a good sign of wellbeing. It is a myth that babies’ movements slow down or become weaker towards the end of pregnancy.

Your baby's movements are one of the signs that your baby can give you that they are well. Getting to know the pattern of your baby's movements is important - it is a way your baby can tell you that they are well. There is no set number of normal movements. You should get to know your baby's movements and what is normal for them. You will start to feel your baby move between weeks 16 and 24 of pregnancy, regardless of where your placenta lies, and you should feel your baby's movements right up until they are born, even during labour.

A baby's movements can be described as anything from a flutter or a kick, to a swish or a roll and these are signs that baby is well. When a baby is unwell, he or she may try to save energy by slowing down their movements. This may be the first sign of a problem.   If you are concerned about a change in your baby's movements, contact your midwife or doctor immediately. You are not wasting their time.

It's important that this information be shared with partners, family and friends so that they too can understand the importance of fetal movements.

Common myths about baby movements

• It is not true that babies move less towards the end of pregnancy. You should continue to feel your baby move right up to the time you go into labour and whilst you are in labour too.
• If you are concerned about your baby’s movements, having something to eat or drink to stimulate your baby DOES NOT WORK.

Getting to know your baby's movement patterns 

If you would like to get to know your baby’s movements better or if you are unsure if your baby’s movements have changed, the following the steps are provided as a guide. The guide is based on clinical practice guidelines (1). Please remember if you are concerned about your baby’s movement the best thing to do is to contact you midwife or doctor without delay.

Guide to help you to get to know your baby’s movements:

1. Sit or lie down in a quiet place, try to relax, and focus on feeling your baby’s movements
2. It is important to take time to learn the normal pattern of movements for your baby. Ten movements over a two-hour period is often given as an average number of movements for healthy babies. However research is limited and every baby is different. Some babies are very active others are not. Its important to get to know your baby. The easiest way to learn your baby’s normal pattern of movement is to choose a time when baby is usually active and focus on their movements
3. You may wish to record each movement you feel, but be mindful of any changes in strength of the movements as well as the number.
4. If you are still concerned about your baby’s movements after doing this, contact your doctor of midwife that very day or night. Your doctor of midwife might suggest that you take some time to focus on movements, so let your doctor of midwife know that you have already done this. You do not have to wait until the end of the suggested recording period of 2 hours to contact them. 

References

1. Gardener G, Daly L, Bowring V, Burton G, Chadha Y, Ellwood D, Frøen F, Gordon A, Heazell A, McDonald S, Mahomed K, Norman JE, Oats J, Flenady V. Clinical practice guideline for the care of women with decreased fetal movements. Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth. Brisbane, Australia, August 2017.

What if I am concerned about my baby's movements? 

If at any point you are concerned about your baby’s movements, please contact your doctor or midwife. It is very common for pregnant women to have concerns about their baby at some point in their pregnancy. It is part of the natural role of a mother or mother-to-be to do things to look after your baby and your midwife or doctor is there to help you, no matter what time of night or day.

Please don’t feel silly about contacting your doctor of midwife if you want to. And remember that no one knows your baby better than you do. It’s your body and your baby, so trust your instincts.

What happens at hospital? 

If you have contacted your doctor or midwife and your doctor or midwife suggests that you come in to hospital, there are a few things that you can expect to happen.

First, your doctor or midwife will likely ask you questions about any known risk factors or issues you might have had during pregnancy. Then he or she may do a CTG (cardiotocograph)1. This will involve placing an elastic belt around your belly to measure your baby’s heart rate. Your doctor or midwife will also feel your belly to see where your baby is positioned and to check his or her growth.

After this, your doctor or midwife might do an ultrasound of your baby if this has not been done recently (1). You may have had an ultrasound scan in early pregnancy to work out your gestation. Ultrasound scans can also be used to measure your baby’s heart rate and blood flow, and to check on growth.

Your doctor or midwife may also do a blood test.

For some suggestions of questions you may like to ask your care providers, see the below ‘Suggested questions for my care provider’.

References

1. Gardener G, Daly L, Bowring V, Burton G, Chadha Y, Ellwood D, Frøen F, Gordon A, Heazell A, McDonald S, Mahomed K, Norman JE, Oats J, Flenady V. Clinical practice guideline for the care of women with decreased fetal movements. Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth. Brisbane, Australia, August 2017.

Suggested questions to ask my care providers

Suggested questions for my care provider at any time

• Sometimes my baby’s movements are painful, is this common?
• Can you suggest some exercises/movements to help move the position of my baby?
• What types of movements should I expect in later pregnancy, when my baby is getting bigger?

Suggested questions for my care provider if I am concerned about my baby’s movements

• Should I have an ultrasound scan?
• Should I have more frequent antenatal visits?
• How often should I count my baby’s movements, now that I have been concerned?
• Should I have my labour induced? And how do you know when it is best to induce my labour?
• Are there any risks to me or my baby if my labour is induced?

Raising awareness of Fetal Movements

Tommy’s has developed a guide to baby movements in partnership with NHS England on baby's movements in pregnancy.

What is fetal movement in pregnancy?

When does fetal activity increase?

What stimulates fetal movement?