What does kicking feel like

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Raynes-Greenow CH, et al. A cross sectional study of maternal perception of fetal movements and antenatal advice in a general pregnant population, using a qualitative framework.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Reddy UM. Prediction and prevention of recurrent stillbirth. Decreased fetal movement: Diagnosis, evaluation and management. Marcella Gates is executive editor at BabyCenter, the world's number one digital parenting resource, and is an expert on pregnancy and parenting. As a mom of three, she loves that her professional life is focused on supporting and empowering parents and expecting parents.

Gates lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family. Join now to personalize. Photo credit: Katie Rain for BabyCenter. When can you feel baby move? What does baby movement feel like? How often should I feel my baby kicking? Do I need to keep track of my baby kicking? Sources BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. Featured video. When will my partner feel the baby kick?

Pregnancy symptoms you should never ignore. Baby kicks during pregnancy. Round ligament pain. Sex during pregnancy. What's the best sleeping position during pregnancy? Your Body. New to BabyCenter? Join now. Password Forgot your password? Keep me logged in. Log in. The rocking motion of sex and the rhythmic uterine contractions that follow orgasm often lull babies off to dreamland.

Other babies become more active after sex. Once you start feeling your karate kid's kicks and chops, don't panic if you go several hours — or even a day or two — without noticing any movement.

At this stage and with your baby still quite tiny, it's normal not to feel regular movement. Your baby now has a fairly regular cycle of sleep and wakefulness. Sometimes a lull in activity just means deep slumber and soon you'll appreciate that ability to sleep soundly. By month 9, however, it's crucial to note changes in activity. Count fetal movements a few times a day throughout your third trimester, and report any sudden decreases to your doctor.

In all these cases, you should be able to perk things up with a snack. If you don't feel 10 movements within two hours, contact your practitioner right away. He or she might bring you in for some monitoring just to make sure everything is okay. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

The educational health content on What To Expect is reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts to be up-to-date and in line with the latest evidence-based medical information and accepted health guidelines, including the medically reviewed What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff. This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy. Registry Builder New.

Medically Reviewed by James Greenberg, M. Medical Review Policy All What to Expect content that addresses health or safety is medically reviewed by a team of vetted health professionals. Your baby's activity level — the kicks, rolls and wiggles you can feel — will vary throughout your pregnancy.

Here's what to expect when it comes to fetal movement. Back to Top. In This Article. Continue Reading Below. More About Fetal Development. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. What do baby kicks feel like, and when will you feel your baby kick? When your baby starts to kick… One of the best things about being pregnant is when you first get to feel your baby kicking.

When does a baby start kicking? What do baby kicks feel like? Counting baby kicks? How can you encourage your baby to kick?

Lie on your left side with your bump supported. Have a cold drink. Your baby will feel the slight temperature change, which may encourage them to kick. Make a bit of noise.

If you play some music or talk to your little one, this might gently wake them up. Have a question about your scans during pregnancy?

Need some friendly advice or a bit of reassurance? Join the club Ready to stop worrying about what other people think and do what feels right to you? Join now. More from pregnancy. More about pregnancy Find tips, advice and info to help you make the most of your pregnancy. Pregnancy Scans. Tests during pregnancy. Constipation in pregnancy. Heartburn during pregnancy. Accept all cookies Open cookie preferences.