Pregnancy is indeed a great experience in itself which is simply incredible. The feeling is something which can’t be expressed in words. Each moment of it is worth cherishing and enduring for a life time. Of all things, that a pregnant woman experiences, feeling baby’s movements is something really ecstatic. The time when you first feel the movement, you simply go amazed.

Let us get to know more about this wonderful experience that every pregnant woman; and even a would-be-father, expects and longs for.

Feeling the first baby movements

You are likely to notice or rather we should say feel the movements during the 18-20 weeks of pregnancy. In case of first pregnancies, women take time to realize the gentle wave like feeling that take place inside their tummy. And when you get aware of them, it comes as nothing less than achieving a milestone.

Women who have given birth before easily get to know of the baby movements and they generally feel it in the 16 weeks.

Your baby’s movements

You get to monitor your baby’s movements via an ultrasound scan. And if at all your baby happens to be awake during the time the scan is being carried out, you will easily get to know those little wondrous movements.  Here’s what your baby does in the different weeks:

Week 7: General movements make a mark like bending to the sides or feeling astounded

Week 9: The baby hiccups, moves his arm or leg, and sucks and swallow (the amniotic fluid)

Week 10: In this week, your baby will be able to flex and turn around his head, touch his face, open jaw and stretch

Week 11: The baby yawns

Week 14: Moves his eyes.

All these are the gradual developments that happen over weeks. It’s not that every week the baby will come up with a new development or movement. Everything happens gradually and slowly. You start feeling the strong movements once you reach 20 weeks of pregnancy. From here on, you will feel the movements bit clearly.

20 to 24 weeks: During these weeks, baby becomes more active. You can feel his kicks and even the somersaults.

24 to 28 weeks: The baby hiccups get more prominent and you feel them as a jerking movement. Also, any sudden noise can make your baby jump which you’ll be able to feel.

29 to 31 weeks: With the growing size, the baby tends to become more cramped in your womb and makes very smaller movements.

32 to 35 weeks: In these weeks the movements may or may not appear as the baby now has very little space to move around.

36 to 40 weeks: As said, due to lack of space, the baby won’t roll over now but you will feel his constant kicks under your ribs.

Are there a fixed number of kicks to be felt each day?

Well, there’s no fixed amount as such and also you needn’t record any chart or something to monitor the kicks. Number of kicks can never help you know whether or not your baby is in a healthy state inside the womb.

On the contrary, if you get too much into the charts or the record you make pertaining to your baby’s movements, you may only get worried or confused if at all things go wrong anywhere while making those records.

However; you must make an attempt to understand your baby’s movement patterns. With progress in pregnancy, you will be able to learn this rhythm. If you notice any change in this pattern of your baby’s movements, you can speak to your doctor and get things monitored.

What to do if no kicks are felt?

At times it happens that due to lack of concentration, you fail to experience the kicks or feel your baby’s movements. Before getting worried, give yourself some time to feel the movements. All you need to do is, lie on your side while supporting your bump. Lay still and observe for some time; you should be able to feel nearly ten different movements.

Quick ways of encouraging baby to move

Babies at times fall asleep when you keep moving around. Just relax for a while and snack something. When you stop your movement and start eating, baby is sure to make some movement.

It’s time to make some noise like playing some loud music or slamming a door. Baby should respond to the sudden noise.

You should call your doctor if:

• You fail to feel any movements despite lying still on your side for a couple of hours.
• Your baby doesn’t respond to sudden noise.
• There's a significant decrease in your baby's movements.

Fewer movements in baby can be a sign of baby not getting sufficient nutrients or oxygen via the placenta. If at all this happens, you will have to undergo a complete check-up. Mostly, there stands nothing major to worry and you are soon sent back home post monitoring. You will again start feeling the movements.