Guide: When You Will Feel Your Baby Kick

This can be one of the hardest trimesters for some moms. The excessive tiredness, morning sickness, and sensitive breasts can all be so exhausting. Exiting the first trimester can be a glory for some, as most of these side effects will tone down a notch once you enter the second trimester. The first trimester begins on the first day of your last menstrual cycle and lasts until the end of week 12. Baby’s development is rapidly increasing during this time. Their eyes, ears, nose arms and legs have begun to form giving your baby a more defined profile. In addition, their genitalia has begun to form along with their internal organs. By the end of week 12, your little one will have fingernails! During this time, baby is, in fact, moving around in there but only weighing on average 1/2 an ounce and 2 1/2 inches long (from head go bum) so you won’t feel those flutters just yet. Hang on tight mama, those kicks are soon to come.

Most moms vote this as the “top trimester” as those not so fun symptoms in the first trimester usually subside. You should begin to feel your energy increase and any morning sickness you’ve endured typically will go away once you enter week 13-14. You begin to feel those flutters and kicks during this trimester, wohoooo! Now, there a several factors that play into how early you will begin to feel these exciting movements but can range anywhere from 14-26 weeks. Generally, most mama’s begin to feel those “quickening” movements around 18-22 weeks.

If this is your second pregnancy, you may start to feel it earlier on. The position of your placenta can play a role in just how early you feel any sort of movement. An anterior placenta is when the egg plants itself on the front wall of the uterus. Instead of baby facing your spine, he or she will face your abdomen. The good news is, this doesn’t affect baby at all, you may just have to wait a few weeks later to feel those jabs. During this time those quickening movements or flutters may not even cross your mind as they can feel very similar to gas bubbles. Telling the difference can be tricky at times but you should begin to notice a pattern of when you feel them most. Typically, you will feel them in your lower abdomen usually while laying down at night.

Drinking cold water or a sugary snack can help activate baby. If that doesn’t work, baby might just be taking a rest. Gently pressing or massaging your abdomen can wake them up and may result in some movement! At your next doctor visit, ask them what is a safe pressure to massage your belly.

You’re almost at the finish line mama! You have now entered the third-trimester beginning week 28 and lasting until 40 weeks (or until you deliver the baby). This is when your little gymnast will be most active and you sure will be able to tell! At the beginning of the third- trimester, you’ll feel more jabs and kicks but as baby gets bigger he or she will be rolling and stretching their little arms and legs. Like adults, baby’s get the hiccups too. If you notice faint little flutters in a rhythmic pattern, your little one may just have the hiccups.

You’ll want to begin tracking baby’s movement/kicks during this time. If there are any sudden changes and or decreases in their movement you’ll want to call your doctor right away. However, there are several factors that may contribute to baby’s downtime. Usually, babies tend to fall into a deep after having sex with your partner. The rocking motion and orgasm can bring on those drowsy eyes! Not to worry, sex during pregnancy is still safe (unless your doctor has told you not to do so).