7 Interesting Facts About Baby Kicks During Pregnancy

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T h o s e kicks r e m i n d you o f the life inside. T h e y tell y o u that y o u r happiness i s growing i n your w o m b and w i l l soon c o m e out a n d join y o u r lives. T h e baby’s k i c k s make y o u feel s p e c i a l and e n a b l e your p a r t n e r to c o n n e c t with t h e baby. N o t just t h a t . They i n d i c a t e that t h e fetus i s having a healthy g r o w t h .

I n t e r e s t e d to k n o w more a b o u t the a m a z i n g baby k i c k s ? Read h e r e as M o m j u n c t i o n shares s o m e unbelievable f a c t s and a n s w e r s tricky q u e s t i o n s . We a l s o share a kicks c o u n t i n g chart t h a t will h e l p you t r a c k the m o v e m e n t s .

I n t e r e s t i n g Baby K i c k Facts

A f t e r reading t h e s e facts, y o u cannot b u t marvel a t the m i r a c l e called p r e g n a n c y .

1 . Kicks s i g n i f y normal d e v e l o p m e n t and h e a l t h of a baby

2 . The b a b y is l i k e l y to r e s p o n d to e x t e r n a l stimuli

B a b i e s kick i n response t o some c h a n g e s in t h e surrounding e n v i r o n m e n t . Any e x t e r n a l stimuli s u c h as t h e food y o u eat o r different n o i s e s can m a k e the b a b y move o r kick.

R e s p o n s e to s o u n d s : During t h e 20th w e e k , the f e t u s begins t o hear l o w – p i t c h sounds a n d gradually b e g i n to h i g h – p i t c h e d sounds a s the p r e g n a n c y proceeds ( 1 ) . These m o v e m e n t s indicate t h e normal g r o w t h of t h e baby.

R e s p o n s e to f o o d s : The f o o d that t h e mother e a t s during p r e g n a n c y introduces t h e baby t o various f l a v o r s through t h e amniotic f l u i d that s u r r o u n d s the b a b y inside t h e womb. T h e s e flavors c a n make t h e baby m o v e if t h e y like o r dislike t h e m (2).

3 . The b a b y ’ s kicks i n c r e a s e when l y i n g on t h e side

Y o u can f e e l more k i c k s if y o u sleep o n your s i d e . This i s because t h e supply o f blood t o the b a b y increases w h i l e lying o n the l e f t or r i g h t side, t h e r e b y improving t h e i r movements.

P r o f e s s o r Peter S t o n e of t h e Faculty o f Medical a n d Health S c i e n c e s , who l e d a s t u d y published i n The J o u r n a l of P h y s i o l o g y , says ( 3 ) : “ W h e n the m o t h e r slept o n her b a c k , the b a b y became l e s s active, w h i c h conserves o x y g e n . We f o u n d that t h e babies w e r e only i n an a c t i v e state w h e n the m o t h e r was o n her l e f t or r i g h t side. W h e n the m o t h e r changed p o s i t i o n during s l e e p , for e x a m p l e from l e f t to b a c k sleeping, t h e baby q u i c k l y changed a c t i v i t y state.”

4 . Kicks a r e felt a f t e r nine w e e k s

A feeling o f flutter i n the a b d o m e n during t h e early s t a g e s of p r e g n a n c y is a n indication o f baby m o v e m e n t s . The m o v e m e n t s start a r o u n d the s e v e n t h week o f pregnancy, w h i c h is v e r y early f o r the e x p e c t i n g mother t o feel t h e m . Typically, b a b i e s start k i c k i n g after n i n e weeks o f gestation a s they s t a r t moving t h e i r limbs ( 4 ) . The e a r l y kicks c a n be d e t e c t e d during a n ultrasound s c a n . After 2 4 weeks o f gestation, y o u can f e e l the b a b y ’ s kicks a n d hiccups q u i t e often.

5 . Reduced k i c k s might i n d i c a t e the b a b y ’ s distress

O n c e you c o m p l e t e 28 w e e k s , your d o c t o r advises y o u to k e e p a c o u n t of t h e baby’s k i c k s . A b a b y , usually, k i c k s ten t i m e s in t w o hours ( 5 ) . A r e d u c e d fetal a c t i v i t y can i n d i c a t e fetal d i s t r e s s such a s :

M a t e r n a l stress o r nutritional p r o b l e m s . Your e m o t i o n a l and p h y s i c a l state i m p a c t s the b a b y ’ s movements. S i m i l a r l y , inadequate n u t r i t i o n a l supply c a n lead t o improper d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e brain a n d nervous s y s t e m s that c a n reduce t h e fetal a c t i v i t y . Drink a lot o f water o r keep w a l k i n g around i f you d o not f e e l the m o v e m e n t of t h e baby.

P l a c e n t a l abruption. It c a n restrict t h e flow o f blood a n d oxygen t o the f e t u s , impacting i t s development.

P r e m a t u r e rupture o f the a m n i o t i c sac. It c a n lead t o decreased a m n i o t i c fluid a n d slow d o w n the f e t a l movements d u e to s t r e s s or i n s u f f i c i e n t supply o f oxygen.

F e t a l hypoxia: This c o n d i t i o n arises w h e n the u m b i l i c a l cord g e t s twisted, k i n k e d or d e f o r m e d . This c u t s the s u p p l y of o x y g e n to t h e baby.

A n ultrasound s c a n or a non-stress t e s t can h e l p determine t h e baby’s h e a r t b e a t and t h e reason f o r reduced f e t a l movements.

6 . Nothing t o worry a b o u t reduced k i c k s in l a t e pregnancy

U s u a l l y , babies t a k e rest i n the w o m b for 2 0 to 4 0 minutes ( s o m e t i m e s up t o 90 m i n u t e s ) at a time. H o w e v e r , as t h e y grow i n size, t h e i r movements a n d rolling b e c o m e difficult i n the l a t e r stages o f pregnancy. T h e r e f o r e , it i s normal f o r the n u m b e r of k i c k s to r e d u c e . However, d u r i n g this t i m e , you m a y experience p a i n f u l kicks u n d e r your r i b s and j e r k i n g that l a s t s for a few m i n u t e s (6).

7 . Fetal m o v e m e n t indicates f u t u r e behavior

A c c o r d i n g to a study, t h e motor b e h a v i o r of t h e baby i n s i d e the w o m b is l i k e l y to i n f l u e n c e the t e m p e r a m e n t attributes i n the e a r l y childhood ( 7 ) . However, t h i s is n o t the o n l y criteria f o r a c h i l d ’ s behavioral d e v e l o p m e n t .

T h e s e facts h a v e made y o u feel g o o d , haven’t t h e y ? You w o u l d n ’ t have i m a g i n e d your b a b y could b e this a c t i v e and n a u g h t y inside t h e womb!

A f t e r knowing t h e s e facts, w e are s u r e that y o u have s e v e r a l questions a b o u t kicks i n your w o m b . Read o n as w e answer s e v e r a l such q u e s t i o n s .

B a c k to t o p

E x p e r t Tips F r o m A G y n e c o l o g i s t :

D u r i n g the s i x t h month o f gestational p e r i o d , you w i l l start t o feel y o u r baby k i c k i n g in y o u r womb. I n i t i a l l y , one o r two k i c k s / h o u r is a good i n d i c a t i o n that y o u ’ r e pregnancy i s safe.

I f you a r e not a b l e to f e e l your b a b y ’ s kicks, w a i t and c h e c k after o n e hour.

I f you d o not f e e l the k i c k s even a f t e r an h o u r , take s u g a r – b a s e d products l i k e sweet m i l k , chocolate, o r a p i n c h of s u g a r , and l i e down i n the l e f t lateral p o s i t i o n for t e n minutes.

C h e c k for y o u r baby’s k i c k s again. I f they a r e n ’ t coming, t h e n rush t o your d o c t o r immediately.

— Dr. A n u r a d h a Dang, M B B S , MS

S u v i d h a Hospital, J a b a l p u r , India

B a c k to t o p

A n s w e r e d : 7 Q u e s t i o n s On B a b y Kicks

H e r e are t h e answers t o some f r e q u e n t l y asked q u e s t i o n s on b a b y kicks:

1 . When c a n I f e e l my b a b y ’ s movement d u r i n g pregnancy?

Y o u can f e e l the f i r s t baby m o v e m e n t s around 1 8 weeks o f pregnancy. T h e s e movements a r e called ‘ q u i c k e n i n g ’ . In t h e first p r e g n a n c y , you e x p e r i e n c e the m o v e m e n t s towards t h e 20th w e e k , while i n the s e c o n d and s u b s e q u e n t pregnancies, y o u can n o t i c e the s i g n s around t h e 16th w e e k (8). T h e baby m o v e m e n t patterns c h a n g e as t h e pregnancy p r o c e e d s , making y o u notice a b o u t 16 t o 45 m o v e m e n t s in a n hour.

2 . What i f the b a b y ’ s movements a r e reduced?

D o not i g n o r e any n o t i c e a b l e change i n your b a b y ’ s movements. S p e a k to y o u r doctor, w h o will r e c o m m e n d a s o l u t i o n based o n the s t a g e of y o u r pregnancy ( 9 ) :

Ar o u n d 24 w e e k s : If y o u do n o t feel m o v e m e n t s by t h e 24th w e e k , then c o n t a c t your d o c t o r . An u l t r a s o u n d scan h e l p determine y o u r baby’s w e l l – b e i n g .

B e t w e e n 24 a n d 28 w e e k s : You w i l l be a d v i s e d a p r e n a t a l check-up t h a t includes c h e c k i n g your b l o o d pressure, m e a s u r i n g the s i z e of t h e uterus, a n d testing t h e protein l e v e l s in y o u r urine. Y o u will a l s o have a n ultrasound s c a n .

O v e r 28 w e e k s : A f u l l antenatal c h e c k – u p is a d v i s e d and t h e fetal h e a r t b e a t is m o n i t o r e d for a t least 2 0 minutes. A n ultrasound s c a n will b e done t o check t h e amount o f fluid i n the s a c , size o f the u t e r u s , growth o f the b a b y , and t h e risks a s s o c i a t e d with s t i l l b i r t h .

3 . When s h o u l d I b e concerned a b o u t the b a b y ’ s movement?

Y o u should w o r r y if:

y o u have l e s s than t e n movements i n two h o u r s .

t h e r e is r e d u c e d response t o w a r d s the e x t e r n a l stimuli l i k e loud n o i s e or f o o d .

t h e r e is a gradual d e c r e a s e in t h e movements f o r two c o n s e c u t i v e days.

3 . Why d o babies k i c k more i n the w o m b at n i g h t ?

B a b i e s develop a unique p a t t e r n of m o v e m e n t s inside t h e womb. D u r i n g the d a y , you m i g h t be e n g a g e d in v a r i o u s activities. S o , when y o u r movements s t o p at n i g h t while y o u are s l e e p i n g , the f e t u s might b e c o m e alert a n d begin k i c k i n g .

A l s o , the f e t u s starts r e s p o n d i n g to s o u n d s . So, t h e baby m a y observe t h a t there i s silence o u t s i d e and h e n c e move d u e to t h e changes i n the e x t e r n a l environment.

4 . When a m I n o t likely t o feel m y baby’s m o v e m e n t ?

Y o u cannot f e e l your b a b y ’ s movements w h e n you a r e active.

I f your p l a c e n t a is p o s i t i o n e d at t h e front o f your u t e r u s , you m i g h t not f e e l the m o v e m e n t s .

I f your b a b y ’ s back i s at t h e front o f the u t e r u s , you w i l l feel f e w e r kicks t h a n when i t is l y i n g at t h e back.

5 . Do I need t o keep a count o f the k i c k s every d a y ?

I f your p r e g n a n c y is p r o c e e d i n g normally, t h e n there i s no n e e d to k e e p a c o u n t of y o u r baby’s m o v e m e n t s . But i f you d o not n o t i c e movements f o r some h o u r s or a day, y o u need t o monitor t h e kicks a f t e r a m e a l or w h e n you s l e e p , or a t the t i m e when t h e baby i s usually a c t i v e .

D r . Manik P a n s e y MBBS, M S , Anant H o s p i t a l , Jabalpur, I n d i a , advises p r e g n a n t women t o maintain D M F C (daily f e t a l movement c o u n t chart), a n d check i t at a fixed t i m e every d a y , ideally a t 8am.

6 . What d o I d o if m y baby i s not k i c k i n g ?

I f you h a v e noticed r e d u c e d movements t h e n you m a y do t h i s :

H a v e a c o l d drink o r snacks a n d keep y o u r feet u p . The c o l d n e s s and t h e sugar i n the f o o d can c a u s e the b a b y to r e s p o n d .

T h e baby m i g h t respond t h r o u g h hiccups, r o l l s , kicks, t h u m p s or p o k e s .

7 . How d o I c o u n t the k i c k s ?

H e r e is a daily k i c k count c h a r t you c a n maintain t o record t h e number o f kicks p e r day ( 1 0 ) .

D a i l y Kick C o u n t s by W e e k of P r e g n a n c y

Days	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

F e e l i n g the k i c k s of y o u r baby i s a m a j o r milestone i n pregnancy. I t indicates t h e well b e i n g of y o u r baby, a n d is r e a s s u r i n g to y o u that a l l is w e l l with y o u r pregnancy. N o wonder, y o u r doctor a s k s about t h e movements i n all y o u r monthly v i s i t s . Therefore, k e e p feeling y o u r baby’s k i c k s , and i f they h a v e slowed d o w n or s t o p p e d , call o n your d o c t o r after t h e initial e x a m i n a t i o n at h o m e .

B a c k to t o p

W h e n did y o u first f e e l your b a b y ’ s kicks d u r i n g pregnancy? S h a r e your e x p e r i e n c e in t h e comment s e c t i o n .

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