Feeling your baby move for the first time is one of the most exciting moments of pregnancy. Those early flutters can make everything feel more real and offer reassurance that your baby is growing and developing.
If you are early in your pregnancy, you may be wondering when those first movements will begin, what they feel like, and whether you can do anything to notice them sooner. Here is what to expect and what can influence when you feel your baby move.
Key Takeaways
- Most women feel baby movements between 16 and 22 weeks
- Early movements are called quickening
- Several factors can affect when you first feel movement
- Baby movements become more consistent in the third trimester
What Is ‘Quickening’?
Quickening is the term used to describe the first movements you feel from your baby during pregnancy. And they are a great sign that your baby is growing and strengthening. Your baby starts to move at 12 weeks of pregnancy or sooner, but you cannot feel them just yet because the baby is too tiny and its movements are too soft. As your baby and uterus get bigger, you are more likely to notice their movements.1,2
When Will I Feel My Baby Move?
Most women begin to feel their baby move during the second trimester, though the exact timing can vary. You may not recognize what you feel initially because the movements are small and subtle. Early on, you may mistake them for gas, cramping, or muscle twitching for fetal movements.1
However, you will soon begin recognizing and differentiating your baby’s movements and noticing their patterns. For example, most women are likelier to feel their babies move in the evening or at nighttime. Some women notice more movement on an empty stomach, while others feel it more after eating.3
When Can Others Feel Your Baby Kick?
A trained healthcare provider can often feel fetal movement at around 20 weeks of gestation, but it may take longer for your partner, family, or friends to sense those little nudges. It can also take plenty of patience to feel kicks on the outside when they are still so inconsistent, but very soon, those jabs will be felt or even seen simply by resting a hand on your belly.1
What Does Quickening Feel Like?
Early movements can feel very different from the stronger kicks you will notice later in pregnancy. Many moms describe their baby’s first movements as feeling like flutters, tapping, or popping. Because your baby is still relatively small at the time of their first movements, you will not be feeling big jolts or kicks yet!
Factors That Affect When You Feel Your Baby Move
Several factors can influence when you first notice these movements. You may feel your baby move for the first time in the second trimester, which is a broad range. But some factors may affect how early or late you first notice your baby’s movement.
Number of Pregnancies
One study showed that second-time moms felt baby movements an average of 1-2 weeks sooner. This may be because they are more familiar with what fetal movements feel like. It could also be because the uterus may be stretched from a recent pregnancy and more sensitive to movement sooner.2,4
Placenta Location
Your placenta can be attached anywhere inside your uterine wall. An anterior placenta is attached to the front of your uterus. This placement can delay quickening by about a week. This may be because the front of your uterus is more sensitive to movement and feeling, and your placenta is blocking it. This does not mean your baby is not active, but just that you may not be able to feel it quite as soon.4
Body Mass Index
A body mass index above 30 can delay feeling your baby move by about a week. This is perhaps due to body fat dampening the touch sensation of the abdominal wall.5
How to Get Your Baby to Move During Pregnancy
While you can rest assured that you will feel your baby kick eventually, if you are eager to feel them moving soon and are within that 16-22-week window, here are a few tricks you can try to get your baby to move during pregnancy:
- Drink ice water
- Have a sugary snack or drink
- Move around and then stop
- Tap or rub your belly
- Sit, relax, and pay attention
- Shine a flashlight on your belly
- Play music or read a book
Related: How to Get Your Baby to Move During Pregnancy
When Will Baby Movements Become Consistent?
As your baby grows, their movements become easier to recognize and more predictable. While you may feel your baby move as early as 16 weeks, the movements may not be predictable or consistent for many weeks. During the second trimester, your baby is still tiny, and their awake times and movements are variable and unpredictable.
Around the start of the third trimester, your baby develops patterns, consolidated sleep, and even a “schedule.” At this point, your baby may have predictable calm and active periods throughout the day.6
Consider Kick Counts
Once you notice your baby moving more consistently at certain times of the day, you can consider starting kick counts. You can either be generally aware of your baby’s daily movements to note any apparent decrease or more formally count at least 10 movements within a 1-3-hour period at the same time each day. Many providers recommend this starting in the third trimester or after 28 weeks.1
In addition to helping catch issues early, taking time each day to focus on your baby’s movement can aid in attachment and bonding, especially in second-time moms and moms over the age of 35.7
Related: Kick Counts: How To Track and Why It’s Necessary
It can feel like a long wait to notice your baby’s first movements, but it will happen. Once you begin to recognize those early flutters, you will start to notice patterns and stronger kicks over time.
These movements are more than just exciting. They are a reassuring sign that your baby is growing and developing, and they can help you feel more connected throughout your pregnancy.
