Foetal movements
When you're pregnant, feeling your baby move is an incredibly exciting time.
The first baby movements usually occur between 16-24 weeks and are difficult to describe but can feel like bubbles, light tapping or a swishing feeling - after a while you'll know them when you feel them!
When a baby is unwell, they may conserve energy by slowing down their movements.
This can be the first sign of a problem.
Baby movements in the womb, also known as fetal movements or ‘kicks’, can feel like anything from a flutter, kick, swish or roll. The type of movement may change as your pregnancy progresses.
There is no set number of normal movements you should be feeling – every baby is different. Get to know how your baby moves. From 16-24 weeks on you should feel the baby move up until you give birth. After 32 weeks, the movements will stay roughly throughout the rest of your pregnancy, including during labour.
Feeling your baby move is a sign they are well. If your baby moves less or if you notice a change from their normal pattern, this can be an important warning sign that your baby is unwell.
You should contact us immediately. Do not wait until the next day or next appointment. If you have additional risk factors, you may have an ultrasound scan to check on your baby’s growth and development.
No, you should not try to make your baby move. If you think your baby’s movements have slowed down, stopped or changed contact our team immediately using the contact information on the back of this leaflet.
Do not use any hand-held monitors, dopplers or phone apps to check your baby’s heartbeat. Even if you think you detect a heartbeat, this does not mean your baby is well because it might be your own heartbeat. You need to be checked by a healthcare professional.
If, after your check up, you are still not happy with your baby’s movement pattern, you must contact Triage even if everything was normal last time.
Never hesitate to contact the maternity triage unit for advice, no matter how many times this happens
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 during labour
Do not wait until the next day or until your next appointment to seek advice if you are worried about your baby’s movements.
Fewer movements could mean that your baby is unwell, but usually these checks reveal that everything is OK. Most women who have experienced one episode of fewer movements go on to have a straightforward pregnancy and healthy baby. It is very important that you are checked to make sure everything is OK.
Contact the maternity unit immediately if you think your baby’s movements have slowed down, stopped or changed. There are staff on the hospital maternity unit 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
It is important for your doctors and midwives to know if your baby’s movements have slowed down or stopped. We want to hear from you.