Baby Movement

One of the greatest joys of pregnancy is feeling your baby move inside you. It's a positive sign! The first time a woman feels her baby move is different for every woman. It can also be different from one pregnancy to another.

When You First Feel Your Baby Move
Many women describe the first feelings of fetal movement as a gas bubble or fluttering in their abdomen. It may be something you notice for a few days before you realize what it is. Movements become more common and occur fairly frequently-that's how you'll know that what you're feeling is your baby moving. You'll feel the movement below your belly button.
Some women feel movement as early as 16 weeks, but if it's your first baby, it may be 19 or 20 weeks before you are sure you feel the baby move. At first you probably won't feel your baby move every day; that's normal. As your baby grows, movements become stronger and probably more regular.

Babies' Movements Are Different
The movement of every baby is different. One baby may move less than another. If your baby has been very active, then is very quiet for a long while, you may want to discuss it with your doctor. He or she will determine if there is cause for concern.
Some women complain their baby is extremely active during the night, and it keeps them awake. There really isn't much you can do about it, but you can try changing your position in bed. Avoid exercising just before bed-it may cause your baby to move more.

Taking acetaminophen or relaxing in a warm (not hot) bath may help. Between 20 and 32 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus can move between 200 and 500 times a day, kicking, rolling and wiggling!
Occasionally you might feel pain or pressure from your enlarging uterus. For relief, rest on your opposite side for a while. For example, if you feel pressure under your right ribs, lie on your left side.

Women sometimes ask if some of the pressure they feel low in their pelvis means the baby is falling out of the birth canal. Your baby can't "fall out" of the birth canal. If you experience this sensation, what you are probably feeling is the pressure of your baby as it moves lower in the birth canal. If this occurs, tell your doctor about it. A pelvic exam may be done to check how low the baby's head is.

Monitoring Baby's Movements
A doctor may ask a pregnant woman to monitor the baby's movements if she has had a difficult pregnancy, a previous stillbirth or a medical condition, such as diabetes. Recording the movements at certain times each day may provide the doctor with additional information about the baby's status.