Your Baby's Movements - NHS

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Your baby's movements

When you'll feel your baby move

You should start to feel your baby move between 16 to 24 weeks of pregnancy. If this is your first baby, you might not feel movements until after 20 weeks.

If you have not felt your baby move by 24 weeks, tell your midwife. They'll check your baby's heartbeat and movements.

You should feel your baby move right up to and during labour.

What your baby's movements feel like

The movements can feel like a gentle swirling or fluttering. As your pregnancy progresses, you may feel kicks and jerky movements.

Urgent advice: Call your midwife or maternity unit immediately if:

• your baby is moving less than usual
• you cannot feel your baby moving anymore
• there is a change to your baby's usual pattern of movements

They'll need to check your baby's movements and heartbeat.

Do not wait until the next day – call immediately, even if it's the middle of the night.

How often should your baby move?

There's no set number of movements you should feel each day – every baby is different.

You do not need to count the number of kicks or movements you feel each day.

The important thing is to get to know your baby's usual pattern of movements from day to day.

Important

Do not use a home doppler (heartbeat listening kit) to try to check the baby's heartbeat yourself. This is not a reliable way to check your baby's health. Even if you hear a heartbeat, this does not mean your baby is well.

Why your baby's movements are important

If your baby is not well, they may be less active than usual. Less movement can be a sign of a problem.

The sooner this is found out the better, so you and your baby can be given the right treatment and care.

This could save your baby's life.

Find out more

• Tommy’s: baby movements in pregnancy
• Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG): your baby’s movements in pregnancy
• Signs that labour has begun

More in Keeping well in pregnancy

• Medicines in pregnancy
• Travelling in pregnancy
• Your baby's movements
• Foods to avoid in pregnancy
• Drinking alcohol while pregnant
• Stop smoking in pregnancy
• Illegal drugs in pregnancy
• Have a healthy diet in pregnancy
• Vitamins, supplements and nutrition in pregnancy
• Vaccinations in pregnancy
• The flu jab in pregnancy
• Whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy
• Infections in pregnancy that may affect your baby
• Weight gain in pregnancy
• Obesity and pregnancy
• Pregnancy and COVID-19
• Exercise in pregnancy

Page last reviewed: 8 July 2024 Next review due: 8 July 2027