Some moms report that a short burst of exercise (like jogging in place) is enough to wake up their baby in the womb. Shine a flashlight on your tummy. Towards the middle of the second trimester, your baby may be able to tell the difference between light and dark; a moving light source may interest them.
Your unborn baby's first muscle movements were involuntary, but the first voluntary muscle movements occur around week 16. After this point, awake or asleep, they move 50 times or more each hour, flexing and extending their body, moving their head, face, and limbs, and exploring their warm, wet home by touch.
In fact, as far as we can tell, babies spend the majority of their time in the womb sleeping. Between 38 and 40 weeks gestation they're spending almost 95 percent of their time sleeping. Less is known about sleep during early fetal development.
Note the norm for this pregnancy and report to your health care provider immediately if you notice reduced or no movements. Some experts consider ten kicks in two hours to be the minimum number of movements you should feel. If you feel less than that, you should see your obstetrician.
If you feel fewer than 10 kicks in one hour or 20 kicks in 2 hours, call your healthcare provider. Explain that you haven't felt your baby move as much as normal so you did kick counts.
Call your doctor if:
Do not wait 24 hours if there are no fetal movements, you can't feel fetal activity, or if there has been a significant change.
Most women will be aware of baby's movements by about 20 weeks, although this may occur earlier with a second or subsequent baby. You may still have quiet days up until about 26 weeks of pregnancy.
A: It's normal for babies to have quiet periods in utero, and a temporary dip in activity could just mean that your baby is sleeping or he's low on energy because you haven't eaten in a while. However, if you sense an overall slowdown in movement, call your doctor.
Sensation. After around 18 weeks, babies like to sleep in the womb while their mother is awake, since movement can rock them to sleep. They can feel pain at 22 weeks, and at 26 weeks they can move in response to a hand being rubbed on the mother's belly.
Many physicians advise pregnant women to sleep on their left side. Previous studies have linked back and right-side sleeping with a higher risk of stillbirth, reduced fetal growth, low birth weight, and preeclampsia, a life-threatening high blood pressure disorder that affects the mother.
You and Your Baby's Emotional Connection
Research has shown that, during pregnancy, your baby feels what you feel—and with the same intensity. That means if you're crying, your baby feels the same emotion, as if it's their own.
Truth be told, they won't feel much of a sensation due to the bath water itself but they will enjoy the sense of relaxation that flows through your body as a result of the soak. Further, you may find the baby squirming around based on the noise of the rushing water.
One study, published in 2001 in the journal Human Fetal and Neonatal Movement Patterns, found that boys may move around more in the womb than girls. The average number of leg movements was much higher in the boys compared to the girls at 20, 34 and 37 weeks, that study found.
The fetus may be aware of the body, for example by perceiving pain. It reacts to touch, smell, and sound, and shows facial expressions responding to external stimuli. However, these reactions are probably preprogrammed and have a subcortical nonconscious origin.
A late stillbirth occurs between 28 and 36 completed pregnancy weeks. A term stillbirth occurs between 37 or more completed pregnancy weeks.
Research has shown that in the third trimester (after 28 weeks of pregnancy) going to sleep on your back increases your risk of stillbirth. As the link has now been shown in four separate research trials, our advice is to go to sleep on your side in the third trimester because it is safer for your baby.
A stillbirth is the death of a fetus in the uterus after week 20 of pregnancy. The reasons go unexplained for 1 in 3 cases. The rest may be caused by problems with the placenta or umbilical cord, high blood pressure, infections, birth defects, or lifestyle choices.
Drink something.
Chug a glass of cold OJ or milk; the natural sugars and the chilly temperature of the drink are usually enough to spur movement in your baby.
Multiple factors can decrease perception of movement, including early gestation, a reduced volume of amniotic fluid, fetal sleep state, obesity, anterior placenta (up to 28 weeks gestation), smoking and nulliparity.
Get into a comfortable position either sitting down in a comfortable chair or lying on your side. If you lie down, lie on your left side, so your baby will have better circulation.
When will I feel my baby moving? You will start to feel your baby moving between 16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. The location of your placenta will not affect this sensation. It is more common for women having their second or subsequent pregnancies to feel their baby move earlier.
A healthy baby usually kicks at least 10 times per hour. If you don't feel at least five kicks within the first hour, try drinking something cold and eat a snack. Then lie down on your side. It may be helpful to place your hands on your abdomen to help you feel your baby moving.
Many independent prospective studies have now shown that if a mother is stressed, anxious or depressed while pregnant, her child is at increased risk for having a range of problems, including emotional problems, ADHD, conduct disorder and impaired cognitive development.