Pregnancy Stages

FONT SIZE

T T T

Measuring Fetal movement

 

Beginning somewhere between and 18th and 26th week of pregnancy, women begin to notice the fetus moving inside the uterus.

The amount of fetal movement is often determined by the activity of the mother. When a Woman is active, the fetus may be calmed by the mother’s body movements. When she is lying in bed and not moving as much, the fetus may become more active. Often the fetus becomes more active when the mother eats, perhaps in reaction to an increase in blood sugar.

Between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy, the fetus movements are often short and erratic. After week 28, the movements become more organized and patterns begin to develop. It is important for a pregnant woman not to compare the fetal movements she feels with those of other women. Fetal movement patterns vary, and as long as there is no dramatic decrease or stopping of the movement, these variations are normal.

How to measure fetal movement at home

About 30 minutes after eating a meal or drinking a sweet drink, sit in a comfortable chair with your hand or your abdomen. Feel for a kick shift, or movement of any kind. This counts as one. Continue counting every movement you feel until you get to 10. This usually takes 40 to 45 minutes. If it takes longer than 2 hours to 10 movements, consult the physician.