A child's movements are a way for him to communicate with his mother and with the outside world. In moments of excitement or joy, a woman often feels a more active baby stirring.
The movements of a baby are not only an indicator of its condition, but also the unique sensations that a mother experiences during this happy period of her life, during pregnancy.
You've known for a long time that you're pregnant, and you're talking to your baby mentally, or maybe even out loud, but most moms can only really feel that the dearest person in the world lives inside you after the first thrusts.
1. When the baby starts to move
Normally, the baby begins to move from the 8th week of pregnancy, when arms and legs appear. It's just that his size is so small and his strokes are so weak that Mom doesn't feel it. The first noticeable movement of the baby for a woman, as a rule, appears at 20-22 weeks of pregnancy, when the baby's spinal cord and brain are formed, and its movements become regular. If a woman has already given birth, then the muscles of the uterus are more stretched and the tremors can be felt earlier – starting at 16-18 weeks. In addition, she is already familiar with these feelings and can recognize them faster.
Expectant mothers describe the baby's first tremors in different ways: someone compares them to the fluttering of a butterfly, someone feels undulating movements, pulsation, slight tickling or bubbling in the intestines. As the baby grows, his movements become more recognizable. By 24 weeks of pregnancy, they are already beginning to resemble the movements of a newborn. It is from this age that the baby communicates with her mother in the language of movements and reacts sensitively to changes in her emotional state with her movements: when her mother is nervous, worried, or, conversely, rejoices and laughs, the baby can move more actively or calm down for a while.
The baby moves most actively in the mother's stomach during the period from 24 to 32 weeks of pregnancy. By the time of delivery, the motor activity of the baby decreases slightly, as it becomes cramped in the uterus.
The obstetrician-gynecologist will tell you how to count the number of movements of the baby, and what number is considered normal. If you notice any deviations from these indications, tell your doctor. Most likely, you will have to undergo additional examinations - listening to heart tones, ultrasound or cardiotocography.
2. When not to worry
- it's too early. Some pregnant women start to panic when they don't feel any movement inside themselves at 20 weeks. If the last ultrasound scan did not reveal any abnormalities, there is no reason to worry. Wait: the baby can make itself felt at both 23 and 24 weeks. Some women, especially those expecting their first child, may only recognize the movements at 25 weeks, as they simply do not attach importance to a slight flutter or gurgling in their stomach. And you should really listen to the movement from the 30th week of pregnancy.
- baby is asleep. It's not surprising that you don't feel fluttering inside your stomach all the time. The baby, like you, has his own rest regime. It can subside for 3-4 hours, and then make itself felt. And don't forget that all babies are different - some are active, others behave more calmly in their mother's tummy. If your stomach is growing, and the obstetrician-gynecologist hears the baby's heartbeat during the examination, it means that the baby is growing and developing.
- just like mom. If the expectant mother leads an active lifestyle, works or plays sports, the child often adjusts to this rhythm, which is why his tremors go unnoticed. Lie down and relax. You'll see, the baby will immediately start kicking.
At the age of 4-5 months, there are days when the baby has not made a single tangible push. In this case, its activity must be stimulated. Eat or drink a glass of milk, then lie down for an hour or two. The child will appreciate the calories offered and the calm state of the mother and, most likely, will start pushing.
Women with pronounced subcutaneous fat subjectively feel fetal movement to a lesser extent than thin women
3. What to pay attention to
- The tremors are too weak. If you used to feel your baby regularly, but now his tremors have become noticeably weaker or have completely stopped, this should alert you. An alarm signal is a complete cessation of physical activity for 12 hours or more. Consult a doctor immediately.
- The tremors are too strong. If the baby is kicking too violently, try to change the position in which you are sitting or lying down – it may be uncomfortable for the baby. If the baby does not stop and causes you severe pain with its sharp and frequent movements, consult a doctor. Previously, it was believed that excessive fetal movement could be a sign of hypoxia, but at the moment this diagnosis can only be made by a doctor. The causes of hypoxia are various diseases that complicate pregnancy (anemia, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, fetoplacental insufficiency, Rhesus conflict).
Active movements of the baby may be associated with the uncomfortable position of the mother for the child. It is not recommended to lie on your back for a long time, as large vessels can be squeezed, which leads to impaired blood flow and the child reports increased motor activity. The most comfortable position for mom is lying on her left side.
How to assess the baby's condition?
To assess the vital activity of the fetus, doctors use several methods:
-
stress test or cardiotocography (CTG). This is the most objective and informative method for assessing the condition of a growing baby. As planned, it is performed at the 34th week of pregnancy, but if necessary, it can be performed earlier. With a normal pregnancy, the study is performed once a week. CTG is a recording of fetal heart rate using a fetal monitor device. To perform the test, an ultrasound sensor is attached to the woman's abdomen, and the baby's heartbeat is recorded on a paper tape for 30 minutes, after which the resulting curve is evaluated. The baby's condition is determined by the frequency and rhythm of heart contractions and changes in heartbeat depending on the movements. Unfavorable signs are: the absence of a heartbeat response or its decrease in response to the fetus' own movements, a monotonous rhythm and a decrease in the heart rate below 110 beats per minute.
-
If CTG receives a low score, then a fetal biophysical profile (BFP), including ultrasound and CTG, can be used to determine the child's condition in more detail starting from the 3rd trimester. The following parameters are evaluated: cardiac activity, respiratory movements of the chest, muscle tone and the amount of amniotic fluid. All this allows us to draw a conclusion about the reasons for the decrease in the baby's movements. If a state of severe hypoxia is established, an emergency caesarean section is performed. If there is no threat to the child's life, then follow-up and repeated stress tests are continued.
Pearson's Fetal Movement Test "Count to Ten"
Starting from the 28th week of pregnancy, mark the number of noticeable movements of the baby on a special card every day. Start counting at 9 a.m. and finish at 9 p.m. During these 12 hours, the baby should push you at least 10 times. It is this number of movements per day that is considered normal. You enter the time of the 10th movement into the card. A small number of tremors - less than 10 per day - may indicate fetal oxygen deficiency and is a reason to consult a doctor.
Was this information helpful?
Questions and answers
How to lose weight correctly
I am 53 years old, my weigh is 116 kg. In 1988, my metabolism was probably, disturbed following the first childbirth. I gained weight, and since then I have been trying to fight with it periodically. I eat a lot of sweets however glucose is now normal and it always was. With age, my legs and back started to hurt me,
it is hard to “move” myself. I have undergone an examination in the district hospital, but nothing special was found. What tests and examinations I should bring to the doctor to get a diagnosis and treatment? Thank you!
...more Unfortunately, doctors not always can find the cause of excess weight. But this does not mean that there are ways to deal with it. Of course, it is not easy, but you definitely should try! At the first consultation it is desirable to have blood tests results, obtained no more than 6 months ago, total cholesterol,
glucose, glycated hemoglobin. Notes in the diary of blood pressure for 1-2 weeks are also important. Most likely, the doctor will arrange some additional examinations at visit, but everything is very individual and it's better to discuss all details with the doctor personally. You surely have to bring the results of previous all examinations with you.
...more 
Novikova Polina
08 September 2016
Question about ultrasound
I am 36 years old. Thyroid gland ultrasound: topography: position is regular, the right lobe is enlarged W-24 mm, t-22 mm, l- 51 mm, the volume is 12.90 cm3, left lobe enlarged, W -23 mm, t-23 mm, l-56 mm, volume is 14,90 cm3, isthmus thickness is 5 mm, the total volume is 27.09 cm3, alignments are even,
echostructure is inhomogenous, echogenicity is normal, focal masses are not seen, lymph nodes are not seen, conclusion; ultrasound signs of diffuse changes in the enlarged thyroid gland. TSH 2.10 mcIU/ml (normal range 0.30-4.00). The doctor prescribed Iodocomb 50/150 for 3 months. I have been taking the medicine for 2.5 months, but TG does not seem to diminish in size and I feel discomfort (it’s like a need to stretch my neck). Whether the treatment prescribed is correct? Are any additional tests needed? Should I have my thyroid gland diminished for those 2.5 months or it is too early to talk about it? Thank you!
...more It's hard to advice any treatment by correspondence. The cause of the thyroid gland enlargement is still unclear based on the results provided. The most common cause is iodine deficiency and Iodocomb treatment is appropriate in this case. Another cause is a chronic autoimmune thyroiditis which requires different
treatment. Endocrinologists at EMC will advise you and decide on the types of treatment and necessary doses.
...more 
Russ Irina
08 September 2016
Arthrosis
My left jaw started to hurt me after giving birth. The pain was accompanied by a crunch, clicks, discomfort when chewing. Arthrosis was diagnosed at local institution. What should I do?
The symptoms of pain and the crunch may occur following precipitating factors. It can be a trauma of the maxillofacial area, ENT-organs infections, sitting with mouth open for a long time when visiting the dentist, hypothermia, overload. Perhaps, pregnancy and childbirth were such a factor in your case. The treatment
goal in arthrosis is to reduce the load in temporomandibular joint. Treatment depends on the cause or the complex of causes that triggered the arthrosis. This may be due to the anatomical mismatch between the articular head size and the glenoid fossa. This also can be due to the long-term overload resulted from irregular bite and muscle imbalance. If increased tone of the masticatory muscles has led to increased abrasion of teeth, method of treatment with the restoration of the chewing surfaces and cutting edges of all teeth is optimal. But before that, splint therapy (mouth guards) is mandatory, which ensures the optimal position of the articular heads in articular fossae. Treatment is designed depending on the cause of changes in the joint. If the irregular bite is present pre-treatment by the orthodontist may be worthwhile.
...more
Problems with teeth
I have a huge problem with my teeth - all the teeth were treated, metalless ceramics were fixed in some places, a few teeth need to be removed. The treatment was carried out abroad, but the caries problem was beyond control, despite regular professional hygiene and specially selected tools. What range of dental
examinations, in addition to specialist’s consultation, I can count on in EMC Moscow?
...more Various dental diagnostic methods are available in our Dentistry Department: computed tomography of all teeth of both jaws, which gives a three-dimensional image and allows the doctor to more accurately diagnose; orthopantomography gives a flat image of all the teeth; the targeted x-ray tooth image. Tooth extraction
is performed surgically, mostly under local anesthesia. Diagnostic and treatment methods are determined individually by the attending doctor on consultation. Thank you for your message!
...more
How soon I may drive after LASIC?
When can I ride a car after LASIK?
Eyesight recovery is quite fast. Visual acuity is almost completely restored next morning, and most people can drive a car and get to work.
.webp)
Elias Raid
08 September 2016
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
