What is the earliest can you feel your baby's first movement?

Answer 1

When should I start to feel my baby move?
You probably won't feel your baby kick until sometime between 16 and 22 weeks, even though he started moving at 7 or 8 weeks and you may have already witnessed his acrobatics if you've had an ultrasound.

Veteran moms tend to notice those first subtle kicks — also known as "quickening" — earlier than first-time moms. (A woman who's been pregnant before can more easily distinguish her baby's kick from other belly rumblings, such as gas.)

Your build may also have something to do with when you'll be able to tell a left jab from a hunger pang. Thinner women tend to feel movement earlier and more often than women who carry more weight.

What does it feel like?
Women have described the sensation as being like popcorn popping, a goldfish swimming around, or butterflies fluttering. You'll probably chalk up those first gentle taps or swishes in your belly to gas or hunger pains, but once you start feeling them more regularly, you'll recognize the difference. You're more likely to feel these early movements when you're sitting or lying quietly.

How often should I feel movements?
At first the kicks you notice will be few and far between. In fact, you may feel several movements one day and then none the next. Although your baby is moving and kicking regularly, many of his jerks and jolts aren't yet strong enough for you to feel. But later in the second trimester, those reassuring kicks will become stronger and more regular.

If you're tempted to compare notes with other pregnant women, don't worry if your experience differs from that of your friends. Every baby has his own pattern of activity, and there's no correct one. As long as your baby's usual activity level doesn't change too much, chances are he's doing just fine.

Do I need to keep track of the kicking?
Once you're feeling kicks regularly, pay attention to them and let your practitioner know right away if you notice a decrease in your baby's movement. Less movement may signal a problem, and you'll need a non-stress test or biophysical profile to check on your baby's condition.

Once you're in your third trimester, some practitioners will recommend that you spend some time each day counting your baby's kicks. There are lots of different ways to do these "kick counts," so ask for specific instructions.

Here's one common approach: Choose a time of day when your baby tends to be active. (Ideally, you'll want to do the counts at roughly the same time each day.) Sit quietly or lie on your side so you won't get distracted. Time how long it takes for you to feel ten distinct movements — kicks, twitches, and whole body movements all count. If you don't feel ten movements in two hours, stop counting and call your midwife or doctor.


Hope this is Helpful!

Answer 2

It totally depends on what size you are. If you are small, you may feel them earlier than 4 months. I was really small and felt my baby move probably at 3 months. Just the flutters though. Actual kicking, not until i was 20 or so weeks. You'll love it when it happens and you will know when it happens. They felt more like muscle spasms in my tummy. Twitching.

Answer 3

I am 39 weeks preg with my third child and the earliest I felt this last one is around my 15th week and then it was just a fluttering feeling. But by my ultrasound at 19 weeks, she was kicking.

Answer 4

My first pregnancy I felt the fluttering at 4 1/2 months and didn't even know what it is was until my Dr. asked me was I feeling something. With my second he skipped the fluttering and was kicking and punching at 4 months.

Answer 5

Usually about 4 months.

Answer 6

You can usually feel your baby moving around week 16 if not sooner. It depends on how sensitive you are to the goings-on in your body.

Answer 7

i felt my son move at around twenty weeks just the flutters though the real movement kicked in at 25 weeks. enjoy your pregnancy and remeber everyone body is different

Answer 8

I felt my baby as early as 4 mos. I think thats normal though 4-5 mos.

Answer 9

Ive been told 4 months, on average. i guess its all different. Im 11 weeks now with my first but this is what I am expecting.

Answer 10

a lot of women say 4 months is the norm.. but some women (who've been preggers before or who are extremely thin) can feel it from about the middle of the 3rd month..