There's Something Alive in There! 9 Months of a Healthy Pregnancy

First, you find out you’re pregnant, then you get to experience all sorts of things like weight gain, bloating, breast enlargement and other body changes. Some women experience nausea, vomiting and exhaustion. Some women don’t feel different at all. All the while, you’re looking for a clear sign that really says, “Hey, I’m pregnant!” Early pregnancy can feel like nothing, or like you ate a bad burrito and got on a roller coaster. None of these feelings are defining. That’s why the baby’s first kicks, also known as quickening, are so exciting! Finally, evidence that something real and beautiful is growing inside of you!

Baby’s movements and when they occur

In a healthy pregnancy, a baby starts to move at 12 weeks, but a baby’s first movements can only be felt as early as 13 weeks into the pregnancy and usually only by experienced mothers. Most pregnant women can’t feel the baby move until they are between 16 and 25 weeks pregnant. The first kicks probably won’t even feel like kicks. Many women describe the feeling as a flutter, a bubble or a little nervous twitch. Some women say it just feels like gas, and it usually takes an experienced mom to tell the difference between her little bundle of joy and her body digesting the yogurt she just ate, at least in the very early stages. No matter what it feels like to you, it’s the first time your little guy or girl is communicating! Pay attention to when the baby moves.

Very early on when the baby is still tiny, the movements are also tiny, so you’re most likely to feel your baby move when you are still. Try to feel your baby’s movements when you’re lying down for bed at night, or when you first wake up in the morning. Later on, you might notice your baby moves more when you eat spicy food or play loud music. Maybe your baby will be prone to the hiccups or move a lot more when you drink a cold glass of water.

By the 26th week your baby might be very active, heaving your stomach from side to side, flipping over and trying their best for a spot on the Olympic swim team, or they might make smaller slighter movements, but a lot more of them. These movements might be the first clue to your baby’s personality! What’s even more exciting is that other people should be able to feel your baby move as well by placing a hand gently on your expanding waistline. As you get further along in your pregnancy, your baby might start to move less. This isn’t a sign that something is wrong, but rather that your baby’s space is getting a little tight. Most doctors agree that as long as you feel 10 movements within a two hour period, everything is going just fine. Once he or she starts to fill in the available area, there’s simply no room to make the large movements you’re used to feeling. Your baby is still moving, but their movements need to be smaller because there’s nowhere to go. Luckily, this helps send a signal your body that it’s time for the baby to head on out and meet you in person!