Why haven’t I felt my baby move?
A healthy baby typically moves at least 10 times in two hours. If you notice decreased fetal movement, or you have not felt fetal movement recently, DO NOT WAIT. Call your doctor or go to the hospital right away.
The Gabrielson Clinic’s on-call OB nurse is always available to answer questions. Call 515-602-9804 anytime to speak with an OB nurse.
Fetal Movements
The first fetal movements, also called quickening, occur around weeks 18-20 of pregnancy. Normally, pregnant women report the most fetal movement after activities, meals, and in the evening. Babies naturally have sleepy and active periods in the womb, but if you haven’t felt your baby kick in a while, it’s best to rule out any decreased movements before there’s any cause for concern.
Counting Your Baby's Movements:
- At roughly the same time every day, get in a comfortable position and wait for your baby to move.
- When you feel the first movement, start a timer, and time how long it takes for you to feel 10 movements. A healthy baby should have 10 movements in less than two hours. Most babies will have 10 movements in less than 30 minutes.
- If your baby isn’t moving, try walking for 10 minutes, and drinking a glass of juice. Then start the kick count again.
Call Your Doctor if:
- Your baby moves less than 10 times in two hours.
- You notice a sudden or dramatic change in your baby’s movement.
- You are at all uncertain or unsure that your baby’s movement is normal.
If you have not felt fetal movements or activity, DO NOT WAIT. Call your doctor or go to the hospital right away.
Count the Kicks:
Healthy Birth Day, an Iowa-based nonprofit, created and launched the Count the Kicks program in 2008 to prevent infant stillbirth. In addition to their advocacy, Count the Kicks has a free, easy-to-use app that helps expectant parents track their baby’s movements. You can download the Count the Kicks app on the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.
The Gabrielson Clinic
For high-quality prenatal care in Central Iowa, choose the Gabrielson Clinic’s maternity center. We’re always here to answer any questions you may have about your pregnancy. Call 515-602-9804 to speak with our on-call OB nurse, or learn more about our obstetrics services.