You’re 23 weeks pregnant! Congratulations! Feeling the first kicks of your little one moving inside your womb is perhaps one of the most precious feelings for a mother.
This sensation marks an exciting landmark of pregnancy. It is this movement that gives you the feeling of a life growing inside you.
Every pregnancy is unique, and every woman experiences different movement patterns of their baby. Many women feel the first kicks, also referred to as “quickening,” around 18 weeks into pregnancy. In the case of first-time pregnancy, it might not happen until you’re into you are 23 weeks pregnant. However, if you are a second-time mum, you may notice the tell-tale signs from the 16th week itself.
Most women feel the first movement between weeks 14 and 26 but generally closer to the average of week 18 to week 22. The placenta plays a significant role when it comes to feeling the first kicks. If you have a front-facing placenta, also called an anterior placenta, it can muffle the movements. This means you will have to wait a little longer before you feel the first kicks.
What the baby’s first kicks feel like?
The type of movements depends on what your baby is doing and at what stage they are in growth and development. Some infants are more active than others. Usually, your baby’s first movements will feel like a sensation of fluttering, swishing, rolling, or tumbling.
As the pregnancy advances, these movements usually become distinct. As the baby grows bigger and stronger, your skin gets stretched even further over your tummy. This makes way for you to feel the kicks more prominently when you are 23 weeks pregnant.
How often should you expect your body to move?
Once you can feel your baby’s movements from around 20-24 weeks, you will keep noticing them more often. Babies usually move more at certain times of the day. It might so happen that they are more active while you are asleep and asleep while you’re awake. Usually, you will feel the movements more when you lie down and concentrate, rather than sitting or standing.
The movements become more frequent when you are 23 weeks pregnant. As you go closer to delivery, that is. after 36 weeks, your baby has limited space to move inside the womb. Even when you go into labor, a healthy baby will keep moving.
Do you need to track your baby’s movements?
It’s difficult to ascertain the set number of movements a baby should have, so there’s no point in counting kicks or maintaining records in a chart. Instead, you can try to learn your baby’s movement pattern. If you notice something unusual, immediately seek medical assistance.
When can you expect the kicks?
Usually, when you hit the bed at night, you are more relaxed, making you more aware of what your baby is up to. Secondly, after having a snack, the kicks are more pronounced. This is because the surge in your blood sugar levels gives an energy spike to your baby.
You may also feel the kicks in more intensely when you are nervous. An adrenaline rush brings this about since that too gives a rush of energy to your baby.
What to do if you don’t feel any movements?
If you are already into your 24th week of pregnancy and still haven’t felt any movement from your baby, you should consult your doctor or midwife. Also, if, over time, you feel like your baby’s movements have decreased in strength or number, let your doctor or midwife know immediately. They will check your baby’s heart rate, and if need be, you may need to go to the hospital for monitoring or treatment.
As a mother, you will best understand your baby’s movements’ type, pattern, and frequency. If anything concerns or alarms you regarding your baby’s kicks, you should seek medical help without a second thought.
Read Also:
How Fertility Is Affected by Stress and How You Can Combat It
Why Do You Have to Do Glucose Testing in Pregnancy
Is It Safe To Have Sex When You’re 33 Weeks Pregnant?
