Fetal movement refers to the movement of the fetus in the mother's body. For many expectant parents, feeling their baby's fetal movements is a very novel thing. Especially the first fetal movement of a baby, it often attracts the attention of family members. So, when does a baby's fetal movement usually start?
Fetal movement usually begins at 7-8 weeks of pregnancy. But at this time, the pregnant mother cannot feel it yet and needs to use ultrasound to observe. After 20 weeks of pregnancy, pregnant women can basically feel fetal movement. The fetal movement of pregnant women is about 20 weeks, and multiparous women may feel it earlier than primiparous women.
Fetal movement generally increases gradually with the progression of pregnancy, reaching a peak around 32-34 weeks of gestation. Most pregnant women will feel more obvious fetal movement at this time. After 38 weeks of pregnancy, due to normal circumstances, the amniotic fluid of the fetus will gradually decrease, and the fetal activity space will also gradually shrink. Therefore, at this stage, fetal movement will gradually decrease, and normal fetal movement is generally around 3-5 times per hour.
The frequency, speed, and strength of fetal movements are all a reflection of the health condition of the fetus. At different times during pregnancy, the frequency and amplitude of fetal movements also vary. In general, pregnant mothers tend to have more fetal movements in the mother's body after meals, during showers, and before going to bed at night.
