Pregnancy Diary

One of the more exciting aspects of pregnancy is getting to feel your baby move inside your womb. The first flutters that begin to appear anywhere from Week 16 to 25 make the pregnancy suddenly feel more real.

The first kicks are also quite a thrill. And it’s completely mind-blowing when you lie on your couch for the first time and actually see your belly moving. Some women report actually seeing the outline of a tiny hand or foot.

Dads-to-be enjoy this experience too as your pregnancy advances. Then the kicks get harder and harder. Soon, you find yourself jumping in surprise at a well-placed punch or sighing with weariness when the baby seems to be on a rampage. You may notice that the baby moves around more at night. That’s because your activity, the sway of your hips as you walk, for instance, during the day, lulls her to sleep. This often means that as you’re ready to call it a night, baby is awake and practicing kickboxing moves on your insides.

After 28 weeks, some doctors and midwives recommend lying very still during one of your baby’s more active periods and counting all fetal movements for an hour. According to What to Expect When You’re Expecting, you should feel at least 10 movements in an hour.

If the fetal movement count seems low to you, wait a while, drink some milk or something else that makes your baby active, and try again. If you still feel decreased movement, or none at all, call your medical practitioner.

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