What do baby kicks feel like, and when will you feel your baby kick?

When will I feel my baby move? It’s a question that many expectant mums ask themselves as their pregnancy progresses.

One of the best things about being pregnant is when you first get to feel your baby kicking. This is known as ‘foetal movement’, or quickening and is one of the early physical signs that there’s a tiny person living inside you! Your baby’s first movements will likely be a happy and emotional milestone for you, but it’s okay to feel a little nervous too.

When most people think of their baby kicking, they imagine little feet prodding pregnant tummies, or seeing the bump move. But each and every mum has a different experience of their little one’s first movements. Just remember, your baby’s small early kicks and wriggles are their way of showing you that they’re beginning to grow and develop.

Most mums-to-be will start to feel their baby’s first movements and wriggles between 16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy¹. If you’re pregnant with your first baby, it’s normal to not feel any movements until after 20 weeks of pregnancy. If you pass the 24-week mark and haven’t felt any movements yet, talk to your midwife. They’ll l be able to check your baby’s heartbeat and movements to make sure you and your baby are healthy¹.

There are some things that can affect when you’ll feel your baby move and how strongly. For example, your placenta - the organ that feeds oxygen and nutrients to your baby via your blood - is placed at the front of your womb, this may make your baby’s movements less obvious². If there are any concerns about the placement of your placenta, your midwife and obstetrician will keep a close eye on this throughout your pregnancy.

Once your baby starts moving, there’s no stopping them, and you should be able to feel them moving right up until (and during) labour¹. Throughout your pregnancy, you’ll get to know when and how your baby usually moves. The NHS advises that it’s not necessary to take ‘kick counts’, and instead pay attention to what’s normal for you and your baby. Get in touch with your doctor or midwife straight away if anything changes¹. 

Your baby’s first movements are likely to feel like flutters, swishes and rolls². If this is your first baby, you might not realise that those feelings are your baby’s movements straight away. As your baby grows, however, their movements will start to feel more like obvious kicks and jerks¹.

Your baby’s earliest movements can feel like swishing or even bubbles, and it can be difficult to tell the difference between gas bubbles and your baby moving!³

During 24 - 28 weeks of pregnancy, your baby is now moving a lot more, and is likely to respond to touch and sound⁴. They might even ‘jump’ when they hear loud noises.

Around this time, it’s normal for you to feel short, repetitive movements as your baby starts to hiccup⁴. There’s no need to worry, this is normal as your little one practises their breathing movements⁵. This can go on for a little while, so be prepared for the odd evening spent feeling your little one hiccup the night away. But don’t count hiccups or these repetitive movements in your normal pattern as these are involuntary movements.

Your baby will move around more and more until around 32 weeks of pregnancy. After this, your baby’s movements should stay about the same all the way up until your due date and labour². You might notice that your little one is particularly active in the afternoons and evenings. They’ll usually have periods of stillness for around 20-40 minutes at a time while they sleep, and then start to wriggle around again as they wake up².

By now, you’ll probably be used to the pattern of your baby’s movements, and know when to expect lots of activity or when things will be calmer⁶. Keep track of these ebbs and flows and get in touch with your midwife if anything changes.

You might have heard the myth that babies move less towards the end of pregnancy and your due date, but this isn’t the case. You should be able to feel your little one’s movements right up until you give birth, including during labour¹.

There isn’t a ‘normal’ amount of movement or kick count to expect, but your little one will settle into their own routine. Instead of using kick counts, you should pay attention to what’s normal for your baby, so you get to know what time of day they are most active, and how much movement is to expect. Knowing this pattern means that you’re more likely to notice if something changes, like if your baby starts to move less or more than usual. That means you can get the advice you need as early as possible².

You might have seen tools like movement charts that you can use to record your baby’s kick counts. You can use one if you like, but there isn’t much evidence that they actually help. You know your baby best, so as long as you’re aware of their patterns you shouldn’t need anything extra to help you keep track².

If you haven’t felt any movements after 24 weeks, or your baby is moving less than normal, you should not try to make them move⁶. Contact your maternity unit, who will be able to monitor your baby for you.

Your baby’s wriggles and kicks are important signs that they are healthy and developing as they should be. If their movements become fewer and further between, it’s important to go for a check-up in case your baby is unwell. Usually these checks show that everything is okay, but it’s always best to know for sure².

If you haven’t felt your baby’s first movements by 24 weeks of pregnancy, contact your midwife or maternity unit. They will check your baby’s heartbeat and may do an ultrasound scan to see your baby in your womb¹.

If your baby’s movements slow down or stop at this stage in your pregnancy, contact your local maternity unit straight away (don’t wait until the next day or your next appointment). They will do a full check including monitoring your baby’s heartbeat and measuring your blood pressure².

If your baby’s movements slow down or stop after 26 weeks, contact your local maternity unit straight away (don’t wait until the next day or your next appointment). They will do a full check including measuring your bump and monitoring your baby’s heartbeat. You shouldn’t be discharged until you are happy that your baby’s movements are normal again².

A baby’s movements are a clear sign of their healthy growth and development. So if you are in any way worried that your baby isn’t moving as much as they usually do, you should get in touch with your local maternity unit².

It’s important to note that the NHS does not recommend using a home doppler kit to listen to your baby’s heartbeat, because they’re not always reliable. Even if you do hear your baby’s heartbeat using a kit like this, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are healthy¹. You should still be seen by a doctor or midwife if you are feeling fewer movements than normal.

Phantom baby kicks can happen more often than you think. Almost 40% of women feel phantom kicks, even up to 28 years after their first pregnancy⁷. If you’re worried about any ‘fluttering’ or ‘kicking’ feelings in your stomach, contact your GP.

Remember, if you'd like to know more about your pregnancy, why not give one of our friendly experts a call on 0800 977 8880. Or ask us a question online, instantly, using Live Chat Monday to Friday, 8am – 8pm.