Fetal Movement: What Pregnant Women Should Know

Feeling your baby move is one of the most meaningful and memorable parts of pregnancy. Those early flutters often bring reassurance, joy, and a powerful sense of connection. As your pregnancy progresses, your baby’s movements become an important way to understand their well-being.

At Women’s Health Associates in Overland Park and Leawood, KS, we want to provide clear information about what fetal movement should feel like, how to monitor it, and when to contact your healthcare provider. Understanding these patterns helps you feel informed, confident, and supported throughout your pregnancy.

As Dr. Kimberly Matthews, MD often shares with patients, “Your baby’s movement pattern is their own way of communicating with you. Paying attention to it is one of the most valuable things you can do for your pregnancy.”

When You Will Start Feeling Your Baby Move?

You’re watching the calendar. You’re paying attention to every twinge and wondering, Was that it? Totally normal. For most women, the very first noticeable fetal movements (aka: quickening) happen between 16 and 25 weeks. That window varies based on your pregnancy history, your body type, and how closely you’re tuned in.

First-time mom? You’ll probably feel movement a little later, closer to the 20 to 25-week mark. Your uterus and abdominal muscles haven’t stretched before, so it’s easier to miss the early, subtle signs. You might even shrug off soft flutters thinking it’s gas or digestion.

Been pregnant before? You’ll likely recognize those baby movements earlier, even as soon as 16 weeks. Your body’s been through pregnancy already, and you remember how those first signs felt. That familiarity helps you pick up on the tiny shifts that others might miss.

When it finally happens, quickening usually feels like this:

A butterfly flutter in your lower abdomen
Gentle twitching, like popcorn popping just under your skin
A soft rolling or swirling sensation

These early movements are brief and erratic. Sometimes you’ll feel something and then… nothing for a while. That’s okay. At this stage, babies are small, and their movements don’t always reach the surface with enough force to feel again right away.

By weeks 24 to 28, things ramp up. Movements become more pronounced, more frequent, and easier to spot. Kicks, punches, rolls, and hiccups show up with more consistency. Some of them might even catch you off guard.

Here’s the shift to watch for: Around this time, your baby’s movements settle into a routine. You’ll start to notice patterns—times of day when they’re more active (usually after you eat or when you’re resting), and positions that trigger motion (like lying on your side).

This is when fetal movement moves from something magical to something useful. You’re getting a read on your baby’s normal. That’s your baseline, and as you move into the third trimester, it becomes a tool you can use to track their health with confidence.

Bottom line: Don’t stress if it hasn’t happened yet. That first kick is coming. And once it does, it’ll open the door to a whole new level of connection and awareness in your pregnancy.

Understanding Different Types of Fetal Movements and What They Feel Like

Once you’ve felt that first flutter, every new sensation has you wondering, Was that the baby? It’s not a bad question. Fetal movement can show up in different ways as your baby grows, and knowing what’s normal will help you read the signals without second-guessing yourself.

What Movements Feel Like (And What You're Actually Feeling)

Early on, the baby's movements are subtle. You might notice:

Fluttering: Think butterfly wings or tiny bubbles brushing from the inside.
Popcorn pops: Quick, light taps that feel like tiny muscle twitches.
Rolling: A slow, shifting sensation as your baby changes position.
Jabs and Kicks: More distinct thumps—like someone flicking or tapping from inside.
Hiccups: Rhythmic, repetitive little pulses usually felt in one spot.

It takes a while to get the hang of distinguishing a baby from gas, digestion, or muscle spasms. Here’s the trick: fetal movement tends to be localized and increasingly familiar. If it keeps happening in the same area and builds a pattern, you can feel pretty confident it’s not your next meal reacting. It’s your baby practicing body control.

How Movement Changes Across the Trimesters

In the second trimester, movements come and go. You’ll go hours or even days between flutters. That’s normal. Your baby is still tiny, and if the placenta sits in front (anterior), it softens the impact of small kicks.

As you head into the third trimester, movement gets stronger and more predictable. Your baby has grown, space is tighter, and their reflexes are firing more consistently. You’ll start to notice:

Firmer kicks and jabs, especially when you’re resting
Stretching or pressing against the uterine wall
Rolling sensations as baby shifts positions
Defined active periods, usually after meals or at night

Don’t be surprised if some of those moves take your breath away—or make you jump. A well-placed kick to the ribs or bladder can definitely catch you off-guard. That doesn't mean something's wrong. It just means your baby is doing what they're supposed to: moving, growing, exploring their tiny world.

What matters most? Not just that your baby is moving, but that those movements become consistent in timing and feel. Getting familiar with your baby’s normal sets the groundwork for what’s coming next: tracking kicks and knowing when to check in with your doctor.

Monitoring Your Baby’s Movement: Kick Counts and Tracking Techniques

Once you’re in the third trimester, fetal movement tracking becomes less about curiosity and more about awareness. This is where kick counting comes in. It’s simple, easy to do at home, and gives you a way to stay in tune with your baby’s activity patterns without overthinking every little shift.

How to Do Kick Counts (The Straightforward Way)

Pick a time your baby is usually active. After a meal or in the evening when you’re winding down are good bets.
Get into a comfortable position, ideally lying on your left side or sitting still. Distractions matter—put your phone down. This is about honing in on the baby, not multitasking.
Start a timer and count every distinct movement your baby makes—kicks, rolls, jabs, flutters. Stop when you get to 10.

What Normal Fetal Movement Looks Like

The key is knowing your baby's usual. Not every baby will have the same intensity, speed, or rhythm. Some are active in big bursts. Others have a steady, gentler style. You're looking for consistency with your own baby, not comparing across pregnancies or people.

Organizations such as ACOG and Count the Kicks encourage expectant parents to monitor fetal movement regularly. Track once a day, about the same time each day. Keep a note of how long it takes to reach 10 movements. If things slow down or seem off, you’ll have a reference for what's changed.

What If Movement Feels Low?

If your baby seems quieter than usual, give this a shot before getting worried:

Drink something cold or sugary (like juice)
Lie on your left side and focus on baby only
Turn off distractions and gently press or nudge your belly
Talk, sing, or play music close to your bump

Sometimes babies are just napping or less active at certain times. You checking in when something feels off is the whole point of tracking.

When to Speak Up

If you don’t feel 10 movements within two hours, or your baby’s pattern seems noticeably different for more than a day, call your healthcare provider. Seriously. Don’t wait. You’re not being dramatic. You’re doing what you’re supposed to.

You know your baby better than anyone else right now. That connection gets stronger the more you pay attention. Tracking movements is about building that trust with your body—and with the little person you’re growing. It doesn’t take long, and it can give you clarity, peace of mind, and a real sense of control during a time when everything else feels like it’s changing day to day.

What Can Cause a Decrease in Movement?

Not every slowdown is a problem. Some common reasons for less movement include:

Baby’s sleep cycle: They nap regularly, often for up to an hour at a time.
Your position: If you’re upright and busy, you might not notice subtle movements.
Your own activity level: Movement and noise can lull your baby to sleep while you’re up and about.
Placental position: An anterior placenta can soften what you feel and make kicks less obvious.

Also, late in pregnancy, when your baby takes up more space, movements tend to shift from kicks to rolls and stretches. They’re different, not gone.

When Should You Worry?

If your baby’s usual pattern changes, and that change sticks around for more than a few hours, you need to act. Every baby is different, but consistency is the goal. If your active baby goes quiet or your slower-starter stops making their usual effort, that’s a sign.

Warning signs to take seriously:

You don’t feel 10 movements in 2 hours during your baby’s active time
There’s a noticeable drop in movement frequency or strength
Movements stop completely for more than a few hours

These aren’t overreactions. They’re reasons to check in. You’re not a bother, and you’re not being “too careful.” You’re watching your baby’s behavior and responding to changes. That’s exactly what your provider wants you to do. Some things you can do if you notice less movement are:

Lie on your side, eliminate noise, and focus
Drink something cold or eat a snack
Touch or poke gently at your belly
Try a kick count session and give it the full two hours if needed

If nothing’s happening or the pattern still feels off, call your doctor. Don’t wait until your next appointment. Don’t “sleep on it” to see if it changes tomorrow.

Common Myths About Fetal Movement (and What’s Actually True)

Myth: “If I don't feel movement overnight, that’s bad.”
Reality: Not necessarily. Your baby sleeps too. Less movement during the night is usually normal, especially if you’re asleep too.

Myth: “Movement doesn’t matter until the third trimester.”
Reality: It matters throughout pregnancy. You just can’t reliably track it until later on.

Myth: “If my partner can’t feel it, it’s not happening.”
Reality: External kicks take longer to show up. Internal flutters are real, even if no one else can feel them.

If you have questions, ask them. You’re not being annoying. You’re being an engaged parent. Fetal movement is one of your earliest cues that your baby’s okay in there. Paying attention and speaking up when something feels off isn’t overreacting—it’s exactly what you should do. As Dr. Matthews emphasizes, “You are the expert on your baby’s normal movement pattern. If something feels different to you, that is reason enough to contact us.”

Next Steps for Expectant Mothers

By now, you know that fetal movement isn’t just a sweet quirk of pregnancy—it’s one of the most reliable ways to understand how your baby is doing. Feeling those kicks, rolls, and jabs is more than a bonding experience. It’s your body’s way of giving you real-time updates on your baby’s well-being. When you stay dialed in to what’s normal for your baby, you’re in the best position to catch anything that’s off and respond early.

Here’s what to keep in mind from this point forward:

Start tuning in once you feel quickening, usually between 16 and 25 weeks.
Learn your baby’s unique patterns over time. Movement should become more regular and familiar in the third trimester.
Use daily kick counts during the third trimester to track consistency. It’s not complicated, and it gives you clarity and peace of mind.
Trust your instincts. If your baby’s movement changes and doesn’t bounce back, that’s your signal to check in with your provider.

This isn’t about becoming obsessed or stressed. It’s about being aware and responsive. You don’t need to sit still waiting for every movement. You also don’t need to downplay your concerns if something feels off. You’re the one who knows your body—and your baby—better than anyone else right now. That’s powerful.

Next step? Keep the conversation going with your healthcare team. Bring your questions. Talk about movement patterns during your checkups. Don’t hold back because something “might be nothing.” If it’s on your mind, it’s worth attention. That’s how real prevention works.

At Women’s Health Associates in Overland Park and Leawood, we encourage you to trust those instincts and contact us whenever something feels off.

If you have questions about fetal movement or want guidance on what is normal, we are always here to support you. Call 913-677-3113 today to speak with a nurse or schedule an appointment at one of our two convenient locations.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider for personalized recommendations.