Fetal movement actually refers to the activity of the fetus. As the fetus continues to grow, the amplitude of fetal movement will also increase. Many expectant mothers may also experience pseudocontractions due to frequent fetal movements. When the fetus moves, it means that the baby is awake. So, is it normal for the fetus to move all night? Let's take a look together.
1. Physiological reasons
(1) After a meal, the blood sugar level in the expectant mother's body increases, and the baby, thanks to the mother's blessing, has the strength to "eat and drink enough", so fetal movement will become significantly increased compared to before the meal.
(2) When taking a shower, under warm water, the blood circulation of expectant mothers is smoother and their body and mind are more relaxed. This pleasant emotion will be conveyed to the baby, so the activities of the fetus become more frequent.
(3) In the late stage of pregnancy, the fetus can already hear the mother's voice. They like to communicate with their parents through dialogue, so when the expectant mother speaks to the fetus, the baby will respond and express their feelings through frequent fetal movements.
(4) When the fetus is stimulated by music, it becomes more fond of "activities", which is a way for the fetus to express joy.
(5) Usually, fetuses are more active at night, partly because they are more energetic at night, and partly because expectant mothers can calm down and feel the baby's fetal movements at this time.
2. Pathological reasons
Expectant mothers need to be vigilant that not all cases of frequent fetal movements in late pregnancy are normal. If fetal movements, which were previously rare, suddenly become more frequent, attention should be paid because this may indicate that the fetus is experiencing hypoxia or is being invaded by some diseases.
When a fetus experiences hypoxia, it becomes restless and active, and the frequency of fetal movements increases in the early stages of hypoxia. When intrauterine hypoxia continues to worsen, fetal movement gradually weakens and the frequency decreases, which is a precursor to fetal danger. If appropriate rescue measures are not taken at this time, the fetus may experience disappearance of fetal movement, even disappearance of fetal heart rate, cardiac arrest, and death. General hypoxia can be seen in conditions such as placental abruption, placenta previa, and umbilical cord entanglement around the neck.
The above is the encyclopedia introduction about whether it is normal to have fetal movements all night. In short, if the fetus moves frequently, expectant mothers should remember to count the movements. Once abnormal movements are detected, they need to go to the hospital for relevant examinations as soon as possible. Additionally, expectant mothers should be reminded that counting fetal movements every day can help detect any discomfort in the child in a timely manner.
