Do You Feel Your Baby Kicking?

Prenatal

oi-Anwesha

By Anwesha Barari

Thursday, December 8, 2011, 15:14

The first incidence of your baby kicking inside your womb is probably the most cherished moment of your pregnancy. You will remember it for the rest of your life even after your child passes out as a graduate! So it makes sense to understand the basics of fetal movement that is the phenomenon that makes you feel your baby kick.

There are some standard questions and doubts in every first time mother's mind regarding the implications of these gentle kicks. Lets start with the most basic one.

What Does A Baby Kick Feel Like?
In the beginning you might mistake it as your stomach gurgling or lurching with hunger pangs. You can also brush it off as gas movements. But slowly you will be able to distinguish a gentle shove that happens due to your baby's movement in the womb. The intensity varies but the 'popping' movement is very distinct.

When Should the Baby Start Kicking?

• Usually it is in between 16 to 22 weeks into your pregnancy that you feel the first real 'kick'. The baby technically has kicked before because fetal movements start from the 7th week itself but these kicks are too weak to pass the shock absorbing amniotic sack.
• If you are a first time mother then you may not be able to segregate these kicks from normal rumblings of your stomach so do not get anxious if you cannot feel your baby's kicks at the earliest.
• It has been observed that leaner women feel the kicks faster and harder because they have less padding insulation from body fat layers. Although this is not a hard and fast rule it can be relied upon in most cases.

How Often Should The Baby Be Kicking?

• That is a difficult question. It depends on the nature of the baby and your ability to feel the baby kicks actually.
• If it moves more, it is an active baby and your chances of vaginal birth are high. If it moves sparingly then it is lazy or otherwise obstructed so let your doctor know about it.
• In your second trimester the kicking frequency is erratic. One day it may kick like a soccer player and the next day stay quite. But in the third trimester these kicks will be more regular. You will be expected to 'count' the kicks to keep a track of the baby's movements.
• If there is a sudden drop in the number of kicks then you need to notify your doctor immediately. If the baby stops moving then it is an indication that it has some problem or hindrance in the womb.
• Try to get focused from your 7th month as you will not be able to pick up the 'kicks' if you are distracted. Most often you can feel the kicks better lying down.

Use these pregnancy tips to understand your 'baby kicking' in a better way.