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:
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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.
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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.
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