Fetal movement

The first fetal movements are often felt near the 20th week of pregnancy. Sometimes, the initial movements are subtle and may go unnoticed. At first, it's normal for the baby's movements to be a bit irregular. Early in the third trimester, however, you'll notice more regular and forceful movements.


Frequency of fetal movement
The frequency of your baby's movements will steadily increase as your pregnancy progresses, typically peaking between 26 and 32 weeks. The movement will also develop a characteristic pattern, including cycles of rest and activity. Toward the end of the pregnancy -- when your baby simply has less room to move inside the uterus -- the movements may not seem as strong. If you're a busy, active person, keep in mind that you may not always be aware of your baby's movements.
Your baby's activity can be affected by various factors, such as his or her sleep patterns and sounds from outside the womb. Your baby will sleep off and on during the day for 20 to 40 minutes at a time. When the baby's asleep, you may not notice any movement. Many women notice an increase in activity after dinner or later in the evening.


Monitoring fetal movement
To monitor your baby's activity, your doctor may ask you to begin keeping track of fetal movements beginning at about 32 to 34 weeks, or even sooner in some cases. This may be especially valuable if your pregnancy is at risk due to a problem such as high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, Rh incompatibility, multiple gestation or placental abnormalities.
To complete a "kick count," simply lie on your left side and count how often you feel the baby move for a certain period of time. Each kick, flutter, swish or roll you feel counts as one movement. Hiccups should not be counted. Your doctor will let you know when you should notify him or her about a change in the baby's movements -- fewer than 10 movements in two hours is often used as a guideline. You may also be asked to compare the number of movements in a certain period of time to an average for your baby.

A decrease in movement or a sudden violent increase could indicate that your baby isn't receiving enough oxygen. In this case, notify your doctor immediately. Your baby's heart rate and activity may need to be monitored.