Baby Movement - Hazelwood,MO

Updated on September 22, 2010
K.B. asks from Saint Louis, MO
8 answers

So this may be me being an overreactive first time pregnant mom, but, I have questions about how often you should feel the baby move. I am 20 weeks pregnant and about a week and a half ago the baby was moving so much I thought it was having a party or something. It was almost distracting. But, now I barely feel it. I'm lucky if I feel it like 6 or 7 times a day. I don't know if I'm paying attention enough or what. My question is, how much movement is normal around this time and when do you really start feeling it move all the time? Like I said before, this is my first pregnancy so I don't know a whole lot and am not sure what to expect.

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So What Happened?

Thank you everyone! My mom told me something similar about the baby possibly being turned inward. We are getting an ultrasound on Thursday (hopefully we get to find out the sex then too) and I plan to ask the Dr. then when I see her. Hopefully everything will look alright though!

More Answers

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K.J.

answers from Chicago on

When I was about 20 weeks, I can remember that the movements were pretty sporadic. That being said, I am a HUGE advocate of counting kicks, especially later on in the pregnancy. My nearly lost my older son who was strangling in his umbilical cord at 36.5 weeks. I didn't feel movement for several hours and, thank God, I went to the hospital and they couldn't get him to move, so they did an emergency c-section.

Definitely ask your OB's office how much movement you should expect at this point. No sense in not asking.

2 moms found this helpful
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B.W.

answers from Pittsburgh on

i was always worried about it too with both my kids. My son would have dance parties in my belly one day and the next day i'd hardly feel much. You are only 20 weeks so the baby is still pretty small and if the baby is turned inwards he/she may be kicking your insides and you won't feel it. The baby is not very strong yet either. The general rule of thumb is if you can count 10 movements in 2 hours during your baby's most active time of the day, not sure when that starts though since you are at just at 20 weeks. Some mom's at 20 weeks aren't even feeling the baby yet.

A.F.

answers from Stationed Overseas on

Most of time when I was pregnant with my son I never really paid attention. He wasn't very active during the day just at night. If you think you aren't feeling him enough call your doctor or ask an OB nurse on the phone. Hospitals have those kinds of things for people who are worried and trust me I was worried all the time since my son was my first born too. :) Good luck.

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K.R.

answers from Dallas on

Well I am 19 weeks right now and I feel about 5 to 7 movements per day at this point, max. They are quite subtle as well.

This is my 3rd pregnancy and I do remember feeling more movement at this stage, especially last time. I just found out that I have an anterior placenta this time (meaning it is in front), which can dampen the feeling of kicks, which explains why I'm not feeling much at all yet. Do you know where your placenta is? Have you had a recent ultrasound?

I wouldn't worry at all. I would say this is very typical for a first-time pregnancy.

Congrats!
K

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D.C.

answers from Dallas on

Feeling the baby move several times a day is normal. You will figure out the baby's schedule and know what times of day he/she will be most active. Don't forget that they sleep alot so you won't feel movement all the time.

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J.K.

answers from Phoenix on

Lay on your left side once a day and count how long it takes to feel 10 kicks or movements. You can even drink some juice to get him active. I did that with all of mine even my fifth that my doctor didn't ask me to do this.. It always seemed like my babies would have mellow periods of time where I'd get worried. I think if you don't feel any movements at all, you should call your doctor. Congratulations to you!!

S.L.

answers from Kansas City on

As the baby grows you'll feel less kicking because he/she is running out of space more than in the early months. I would have your doctor check everything out and if all is fine if you feel movement sometime during the day I wouldn't worry. That's what they told us back in the 'old days' and if you don't feel any movement that day be sure to let the doctor know.

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K.N.

answers from St. Louis on

I always worried about movement with my 3 pregnancies. But remember that at 20 weeks, your little one is still pretty small. You won't have CONSTANT movement till a little later. Also, with one of mine, the placenta was between the baby and the wall facing my front, so the placenta got most of the shock of the kicks and I didn't feel them as strong. If you ever feel like it's been noticeably several hours since you felt ANY movement, drink some oj or eat something with sugar and lie or sit still (preferably on your left side) for 30 minutes and do a kick count. If you feel no movement at all or just a couple kicks, call your ob's office. good luck!

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