Child movements

Nicole Wendler holds a PhD in biology in the field of oncology and immunology. As a medical editor, author and proofreader, she works for various publishers, for whom she presents complex and extensive medical issues in a simple, concise and logical manner.

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The first child movements await pregnant women, but also fathers and siblings often longingly. With every step, the unborn child becomes more real and the bond with the little being in the belly stronger.In addition, expectant mothers find it comforting to see the baby regularly. This is why many women are quickly worried if their stomach is quiet for a few days. But this does not always have serious reasons. Read everything you need to know about child movements here!

First child movements on ultrasound

Especially at the beginning of pregnancy, there is not much to suggest from the outside of the growing new life in the stomach. From about the 8th week onwards, the beating of the tiny heart can be recognized in the ultrasound (sonography), and a short time later you can follow the first child movements on the screen. Then it will take a few more weeks before you will feel it too.

Feel the first child movements

For the pregnant woman, the first child movements can often only be perceived as tickling or tingling. Especially with first-time women, it can happen that bowel activities are confused with child movements. Over time, however, it becomes clearer and clearer. Fathers and siblings have to wait a little longer until the kicks and impulses can also be perceived from outside. If this is initially only noticeable by laying on the hand, you can often later observe how an arm or a leg moves as a small bump across the mother's stomach.

When do you feel the first child movements?

The first noticeable child movements occur between the 18th and 20th week of pregnancy. But sometimes they show up two weeks earlier or later. The frequency and intensity can also vary. The reason for this are individual differences:

Position of the placenta: weaker children's movements with anterior placenta
Amniotic fluid volume: the more amniotic fluid, the later you will feel the child's movements
Thickness of the abdominal wall: the thinner the abdominal wall, the earlier you feel the child's movements
Temperament of the baby

Child movements in the course of pregnancy

Your baby will develop stronger bones between the 15th and 18th week of pregnancy. Women who have already been pregnant can already notice the first child movements during this time. However, these are still very weak.

Between the 19th and 22nd week of pregnancy, the offspring are still quite small, but extremely active. He still has enough space to let off steam. During these weeks, the majority of pregnant women feel the first child movements.

In the 23rd and 24th week of pregnancy, the child's inner ear is fully developed and your baby reacts to external noises and stimuli. Now a loud bang can startle your baby. Child movements can now also follow external contact and music: the baby draws attention to itself by kicking and boxing.

In the last third of pregnancy, the child's movements increase again, sometimes at night. Your baby now has no more space for major gymnastics or somersaults, which is why kicks or bumps tend to become more of a stretching or pulling.

No Child Movements: Not always a cause for concern

It is a calming and pleasant feeling when the little creature in the stomach regularly draws attention to itself through its movements. Once they have gotten used to it, many women quickly become concerned if they do not notice the boxers and kicks for a few days. However, this is often subjective. Small, short children's movements that only last a few seconds are quickly lost in everyday life. You can feel your child much better and more often when they are in action for more than 20 seconds. However, if you yourself are on the move a lot and are busy, the more intensive children's movements can go unnoticed or simply fail to appear.

In addition, there are always days when your child is lazy or simply more tired than usual. If you are still concerned about the child's lack of movement, your gynecologist can quickly use an ultrasound to clarify how your child is doing.

Allow the baby to sleep

Sometimes there is not enough time in everyday life to pay enough attention to the tummy and baby. When calm returns, many women want to get in touch with their child. But the little creature already has its own sleep-wake rhythm, which is also important for its development. However, the more advanced the pregnancy, the more your baby will react to external stimuli - both pleasant and unpleasant. Your voice, music or a gentle stroke of the stomach can trigger child movements as well as vibrations, noise and stress. You should spare your child the latter as much as possible.

By the way: the unborn child often reacts to pleasant stimuli such as soft music or caressing the abdominal wall while sleeping.

Count child movements?

You can often read that the number of daily child movements indicates the baby's well-being or insufficient supply. According to this, the child should be fine with more than 10 registered movements per day. However, studies have shown that this counting method does not provide clear results and does not reduce the risk of intrauterine fetal death. Rather, the rate of unnecessary hospital admissions, examinations and planned deliveries is increasing. So you can confidently do without counting the child's movements. Instead, treat yourself to rest and relaxation and listen to your stomach.

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