Your Baby’s Movements During Pregnancy

Feeling those first little flutters of baby movement is one of the most exciting moments of pregnancy – in fact, it feels like one of the first of many milestones! But with those kicks and wriggles, you might be wondering about a few things: how often should they move? What if the movements stop? Is a hiccupping feeling normal?

[Post updated June 2026]

We have rounded up the most frequently asked questions about baby movements and answered them to give you some reassurance and a helping hand on where to look for guidance if needed. Monitoring your baby’s movement patterns is a great way to stay connected to your unborn child and ensure everything is progressing smoothly.

1. When Should I First Feel My Baby Move?

Most pregnant women feel their first fetal movements between 16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. However, the exact timing can vary wildly depending on whether this is your first baby or if you have been through a pregnancy before.

First Pregnancies vs Subsequent Pregnancies

If it is your first pregnancy, you might not notice anything until closer to 18-20 weeks, or even up to 22 weeks. First-time mums (FTMs) often mistake the earliest flutters for wind or indigestion. For those experiencing a second pregnancy or third-time mums, the sensation is familiar. These expectant parents may notice the first movements much earlier, sometimes even around 13-16 weeks.

What Can Delay the First Movements?

Sometimes, you might not feel much early on due to the position of the placenta. If you have an anterior placenta (where the placenta sits at the front of your womb), it acts like a cushion, softening the sensation of your baby’s kicks. This is completely normal and is no cause for concern, but it does mean it might take a bit longer for you to feel those first kicks clearly.

If you’re a mum who has calculated their due date based on the start of their last period or early scans and you still have not felt any movement by 24 weeks of pregnancy, it is a good idea to contact your midwife or healthcare provider to check everything is okay.

2. What Do Baby Movements Feel Like?

Early on, baby movements can feel like tiny flutters, bubbles, or even light taps. Some describe it as feeling like butterflies in your tummy. Because unborn babies have a broad range of motions, what you feel depends on how they are positioned and their current stage of pregnancy.

As your baby’s development progresses, these sensations will become stronger and more distinct. By the start of the third trimester, you will feel unmistakable kicks, rolls, pushes, and even big stretches. You might even feel sudden jerky movements if your baby is startled by a loud noise!

Each baby is an individual, and they will display different ways of moving throughout the day. It is a fascinating part of fetal development to watch and feel your belly change shape as a tiny elbow or foot pushes outwards!

3. How Often Should My Baby Move?

There is no set number of movements that is considered normal because every baby is different. You might have heard of a specific number of kicks you should feel, but the idea of a fixed set number of movements is outdated. Instead, the focus should be on your baby’s individual regular pattern.

From the start of the third trimester, and usually settled around 32 weeks, your baby should establish a regular movement pattern that you can easily recognise. This pattern should remain consistent right up until your due date and during labour.

For you, this might mean that your baby’s activity level spikes at specific times of day, such as when you sit down for a meal or when you are trying to sleep. Movements might include strong baby kicks, jabs, swishes, and rolls. This consistent regular pattern is a good sign that your baby is well and healthy.

4. What Is the Truth About Kick Counting?

In the past, pregnant women were often told to use a formal chart for kick counting, aiming to reach a specific number of times the baby moved within a set time. Medical professionals now advise against following rigid charts that demand you count ten kicks in two hours, as this can cause unnecessary anxiety or false reassurance.

Fetal movement counting can still be a helpful tool if you want to understand your baby’s rhythm, but it should not replace awareness of their overall baby’s movement patterns. Instead of focusing solely on the total number of kicks, pay attention to the strength, frequency, and times of day your baby is usually active.

If you want to spend some quiet time tuning in, find a comfortable position, perhaps lying on your left side, and focus on the fetal activity. This can provide peace of mind and help you get to know what is normal for your little one.

5. What Should I Do If My Baby’s Movements Change or Stop?

A sudden change, less movement, or a complete reduction in movements can sometimes be a sign that a baby is unwell or in distress. If you notice a significant deviation from your baby’s normal pattern, do not wait. Contact your maternity unit or health care provider straight away.

Why Urgent Care Matters

The NHS advises that you should never wait until the next day or your next appointment with your midwife to seek advice in this situation. A reduction in fetal kicks can indicate potential problems, such as changes in the amniotic fluid levels or issues with the placenta, which require immediate medical care.

What to Expect at the Hospital

When you go in to be checked, medical professionals will assess your baby’s health. This usually involves:

• Checking your blood pressure and testing your urine.
• Measuring your bump to check your baby’s growth.
• Monitoring the baby’s heartbeat and baby’s heart rate using a CTG machine.
• Potentially arranging an ultrasound scan to check the amniotic fluid and blood flow.

Never use a home doppler to check your baby’s heartbeat yourself for reassurance that your baby is moving. These devices can easily pick up your own pulse or background blood flow, giving false reassurance when your baby might actually need medical help. Listening to a heartbeat is not a reliable way to confirm your baby is well; evaluating the actual baby’s movement is what matters most.

6. Do Babies Move Less Towards the End of Pregnancy?

This is a incredibly common myth that needs busting. Expectant parents are often told that babies move less at the end of pregnancy because they have  less roomto move around in the womb. This is entirely incorrect.

While it is true that your baby is growing rapidly and has less space to perform full somersaults, their activity level should not decrease. The nature of the movements will change; you will feel fewer sharp, sudden jabs and more powerful rolling, pushing, and stretching sensations as your baby’s legs and arms move against the uterine wall.

However, the frequency of the movements should remain the same right up until birth. Any noticeable drop in how often your baby moves is a significant change that must be checked by a doctor or midwife immediately.

7. Can My Baby’s Movements Tell Me Anything About Their Personality?

While there is no official science to confirm it, many parents swear by this old wives’ tale! Some babies are incredibly active in the womb and turn out to be just as lively after birth, while others display a more chilled activity level from the start.

Healthy babies come with a wide range of temperaments, and you might notice their preferences early on. Perhaps they react to certain foods or kick when a sibling speaks nearby, involving the entire family before they are even born.

However, regardless of whether your baby seems calm or highly energetic, all babies must move regularly. If a normally active baby suddenly experiences a lull, or if you notice sudden, excessive fetal movements that feel completely out of character, it is always best to have it evaluated by a professional.

8. Why Does My Baby Move More at Night?

It is not your imagination. Many an expectant mum will notice that their baby becomes a little acrobat as soon as they lie down to rest. There are a few reasons for this:

• Your own activity level: During the day, your physical movements can gently rock your baby to sleep. When you stop moving, they often wake up and start their own workout.
• Fewer distractions: When you are busy with work or daily life, you might miss some of the lighter fetal activity. When you are resting in a comfortable position, you are hyper-aware of every single twist and turn.
• Blood sugar levels: After you eat dinner or have an evening snack, your blood sugar level rises, which can give your baby a sudden burst of energy.

The evening is often the best time to rest on your left side and enjoy these moments, as lying on your left side optimises blood flow to the placenta and your baby.

9. Why Does My Baby Hiccup So Much in the Womb?

Hiccups are completely normal and are caused by your baby practicing breathing movements. They usually start to become noticeable towards the end of the second trimester or the start of the third trimester and are nothing to worry about.

You can differentiate hiccups from regular baby’s kicks because they feel like rhythmic, repetitive twitches in your belly that stay in the same spot for a few minutes. While regular baby’s movements are unpredictable and varied, hiccups follow a strict, repetitive timing. They are a sign of healthy development and are a perfectly normal part of life in the womb.

10. Can I Encourage My Baby to Move?

If you are resting and realise you have not felt a movement in a little while, you might want to try to encourage them to wake up. Some common practices include:

• Having a very cold drink to see if the temperature change wakes them up.
• Eating a light snack to raise your blood sugar level slightly.
• Changing your position, particularly lying down on your left side.
• Talking gently to your bump or playing music.

However, a short summary of the golden rule is this: if you are genuinely worried about reduced or altered movements, do not waste time relying on these home tricks. Waiting to see if a cold drink works could delay essential care. If you suspect less movement, skip the snacks and call your midwife or maternity unit straight away.

11. Risk Factors and When to Seek Help

While any pregnant woman can experience changes in fetal activity, certain risk factors mean you should be extra vigilant. If you have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, or if there are concerns about your placenta or baby’s growth, tracking movements becomes even more critical.

In these situations, your healthcare provider will give you specific guidance for your stage of pregnancy. Here is a quick reference guide on when to call your maternity unit immediately:

Even if you have been to the hospital for reduced movements before and everything was fine, you must go back if it happens again. Never worry about being a nuisance. Healthcare professionals would always rather check you and your baby to give you peace of mind.

The Bottom Line: Trust Your Instincts!

Your baby’s movements are one of the most reliable ways to monitor their well-being in the womb. By getting to know your baby’s movement patterns, you are taking an active role in protecting their health.

Pregnancy can be full of questions, but when it comes to baby movements, one rule stands above all: trust your gut, pay attention to the changes, and never be afraid to reach out to medical professionals for support.