Published
May 3, 2022
Top 3 Irregular Baby Movement Symptoms
Medically reviewed by
Feeling you baby move is one of the most exciting parts of your pregnancy! It makes the whole experience that much more real. Fetal movements are one of the primary ways that doctors monitor a baby's health in the womb, so it's a good idea to keep tabs on your baby's movements in utero.
How do I tell if my baby is moving regularly?
Your baby starts to move around eight weeks, but you probably won't feel anything until closer to 22 weeks of pregnancy.
You may mistake the early sensations of your baby moving for gas. Still, you'll recognize the difference once your baby starts moving more regularly. If you've been pregnant before, you'll probably recognize these sensations as baby movements more quickly. By the third trimester, there will be no mistaking your baby's movement. You may even see an elbow or foot moving across your belly.
Increased baby movement before labor
As you approach your due date, your baby will take up more space and won't have as much room for dramatic movements. They'll (hopefully) drop into a head-down position in the pelvis in preparation for birth, and you may notice movement patterns change.
It's normal to notice changes in the types of movement your baby makes as your pregnancy progresses. Some babies move less before labor, and some keep up an energetic pace. Regardless, you should still be able to feel your baby move up until (and possibly through) delivery.
If you're unsure whether your unborn baby is moving enough, ask your doctor or midwife to do a fetal movement monitoring to watch for changes in fetal activity with ultrasounds at 15-30 minutes intervals during active labor or by listening for the baby's heart rate on a Doppler machine.
How often should my baby move?
Three indicators of abnormal movements include:
- Not feeling your baby move as much as you usually do.
- Not feeling baby kicks, punches, or wiggles in the same places as you typically do.
- Seeing or feeling your baby's movements decrease over time.
If you notice any of these three symptoms, call your health care provider, who will be able to determine what's going on and the best next steps.
What causes reduced fetal movement?
There are a few things that can cause a baby to move less, including but not limited to:
- Placental problems
- Low amniotic fluid
- Reduced blood flow
- Babies who are in the breech position
- Preterm labor
- Intrauterine growth restriction
- Maternal health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or infection
How your health care provides assesses decreased fetal movement
If your health care providers thinks there may be cause for concern based on your observations, they will likely ask you to come in for monitoring.
A non-stress test (NST) is the most common test used when there is decreased fetal movement. During a non-stress test, the baby's heart rate is monitored to see how it responds to the their movements. This test gives more detailed information on your baby's heart rate pattern to get an accurate diagnosis.
If the NST reveals any cause for concern, your health care provider will likely perform more tests like an ultrasound to determine the next best steps. You may be admitted to the hospital for observation and/or treatment.
If the non-stress test has reassuring results, your physician will likely send you home to do kick counts.
Note: Fetal dopplers and other fetal heart monitors only tell you that your baby's heart is beating. They can't tell you, for example, whether there is a problem with the placenta or if your baby is in other physiological distress. You should not rely on these tools alone to tell if your baby is okay.
How to do a kick count at home
When counting baby kicks, you're looking for about ten movements in an hour. A movement can be any tap, push, or roll.
We recommend that you have something to eat or drink and then sit or lie down somewhere quiet where you can focus exclusively on feeling the baby and counting kicks.
If you feel fewer than ten movements in one hour, do another kick count after the next meal. If you still don't feel the baby move in one hour, contact your healthcare provider.
Reduced fetal movement can signal something wrong, but it does not need to cause immediate alarm. Contact your health care provider for the next best steps.
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