Feeling life – when and how do you feel the first fetal movements?

What does it feel like when the little one starts tumbling around inside your belly – and when can you feel it?

When can you feel life?

It varies greatly from one pregnancy to another when you start to feel the small movements. Some feel them from weeks 13–14, others from weeks 18–22.

Several factors can play a role in feeling movement early in the pregnancy.

First-time mothers often feel it a little later than, for example, women who have given birth before. Those who have been pregnant before can often recognise the feeling from their previous pregnancy and therefore notice the fetal movements earlier.

If you are overweight, this can also affect when you start to feel life.

A placenta positioned on the front wall of the uterus – towards your belly – can also make a difference. The placenta acts a little like a cushion, so you may only feel your baby's movements later in the pregnancy.

What do fetal movements feel like early in pregnancy?

At first it can feel like small bubbles in your belly or fluttering butterfly wings, and you may well wonder whether it is your intestines or your little baby making itself known. It really can feel like wind in the tummy or bowel movements.

There is plenty of room in the uterus and the baby is still small, which is why you cannot see or feel it on the outside of your belly in the first many weeks.

How do the movements feel later in pregnancy?

The movements change from the sensation of bubbles and butterflies to kicks – a real push or nudge from inside. As your baby grows, the force becomes more noticeable and can also be felt from the outside.

Your baby may be doing somersaults, but at some point it will settle head-down in the pelvis. In the last weeks the movements will often feel more rolling and gliding.

Your baby moves more than you think

Already from the early scan, many are surprised at how lively the little one is inside the uterus. Throughout the pregnancy your baby will move far more than you can feel, as you only notice the strongest movements.

What do fetal movements mean?

A baby that moves is usually a sign that the baby is doing well. An active baby has good resources and is getting the oxygen and nourishment it needs. Conversely, fewer movements can be a signal that the baby is not thriving optimally.

What is normal?

Babies are different and move differently. Some babies are very active and you feel them many times a day, while others are quieter. The most important thing is that you are not in doubt that you have felt your baby. Over the course of the pregnancy you will gradually get to know your baby and discover how it moves.

If you feel less movement

If you are not feeling your baby as you usually do, there are a few things to try: drink an ice-cold glass of water or eat an ice cream to try to wake a sleeping baby. Lie down quietly with your hands on your belly and relax for half an hour. If you notice reduced movement over several days, you should contact the hospital you are attached to. Both a scan and a CTG can give a picture of your baby's resources.

Follow your baby's growth and movements with a reassurance scan at Stork Scan →