You should start to feel your baby move between around 16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. If this is your first baby, you might not feel movements until after 20 weeks. The movements can feel like a gentle swirling or fluttering. As your pregnancy progresses, you may feel kicks and jerky movements.
If you have not felt your baby move by 24 weeks, tell your midwife. They'll check your baby's heartbeat and movements. You should feel your baby move right up to and during labour.
There's no set number of movements you should feel each day – every baby is different. You do not need to count the number of kicks or movements you feel each day. The important thing is to get to know your baby's usual movements from day to day.
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If your baby is not well, they will not be as active as usual. This means less movement can be a sign of infection or another problem. The sooner this is found out the better, so you and your baby can be given the right treatment and care and could save your baby's life.
The important thing is to be aware of your baby's usual pattern of movements. Any changes to this pattern of movements should be checked by a midwife or doctor.
Call your midwife or maternity unit straight away if:
- Your baby is moving less than usual
- You cannot feel your baby moving any more
- There is a change to your baby's usual pattern of movements
They'll need to check your baby's movements and heartbeat. Do not wait until the next day – call straight away, even if it's the middle of the night.
For more information about baby’s movements take a look at Kicks Count.
