Baby kicks in the womb: what they mean and when to worry

Feeling your baby move for the first time is one of the moments of pregnancy you remember. It is also useful. Your baby's movements are one of the clearest everyday signs that she is well, and a change in them is a reason to get checked the same day.

What counts as a kick?

"Kicks" is shorthand. Your baby also rolls, punches, stretches, turns and hiccups. All that movement helps her bones, muscles and joints develop, which is why steady movement is a good sign.

When will I feel the first kicks?

The NHS puts the first movements between 16 and 24 weeks. First-time mothers often notice them towards the later end, because the sensation is new. In a second pregnancy many women recognise it weeks earlier.

Where the placenta lies makes a difference. An anterior placenta, on the front wall of the womb, cushions the movements, so early flutters may feel faint or come later.

By 24 weeks you should be feeling something. If you are not, mention it at your antenatal appointment.

What does it feel like, and where?

Early movements feel like bubbles, a flutter or a little tap, low down near your belly button. It is easy to mistake them for wind.

As your baby grows, you feel her all over the bump, and later you can see a knee or heel move under your skin. Once she settles head down, the feet often end up under your ribs.

Near the end of pregnancy, there is less room, so sharp kicks may become rolls and pushes. The amount of movement should not drop as you approach your due date. That is a common myth, and a dangerous one.

Hiccups feel like a regular tapping and can go on for several minutes. They are normal, but do not count them as movements.

Why your baby's pattern matters

There is no set number of kicks that is normal. The NHS says what matters is your own baby's usual pattern. A Cochrane review found too little evidence to recommend any particular counting method, so there is no target to hit.

What helps is getting to know your baby's routine from around 24 weeks: when she is busy, when she is quiet, how she reacts when you lie down at night. Then a change stands out.

Mama's Choice supports Project Sidekicks, a stillbirth-awareness campaign in Southeast Asia that encourages mothers to know their baby's movements, sleep on their side in late pregnancy and avoid smoking.

How to keep track

Movement is easiest to feel when you are still. Pick a quiet time each day, perhaps after dinner. Lie on your side, put your hand on your bump and pay attention.

• Note when your baby's active spells usually start and how long they last. A note on your phone is enough.
• If your clinic gives you a kick chart, use it. A written record makes a change easier to spot and describe.
• Babies sleep for 20 to 40 minutes at a time, so a short quiet spell is normal.
• Take your notes to antenatal visits.

What to do if movements slow down or change

Contact the hospital where you plan to deliver straight away, day or night. Do not wait until tomorrow or your next appointment. Labour rooms in Malaysian hospitals take walk-ins and calls around the clock, and reduced movement is treated as urgent. In an emergency, call 999.

Do not try to make your baby move first. Cold drinks, sweets, poking your bump or shining a torch on it are old tips that only lose time. Do not rely on a home doppler either. Hearing a heartbeat can be falsely reassuring.

If movements slow down again later, go in again. Each episode needs checking, even if the last one was fine. Nobody will think you are making a fuss.

What happens at the hospital

A nurse or midwife will ask what has changed, check your blood pressure and urine, and feel your bump. You will usually have a CTG, a belt monitor that records your baby's heart rate for 20 minutes or more. Some hospitals also do an ultrasound scan to check growth and fluid. Most of the time all is well and you go home the same day.

Save the labour room number in your phone now, and make sure your partner knows where it is.