Seeking Questions

I didn't feel any of my 3 children move until after 20 weeks .. and even then it feels a bit like a butterfly. It's very subtle. Just don't worry ... you'll be getting plenty of unwanted and misinformed advice over the next few months!!

It's perfectly ok not to feel the baby move yet. Everything I've read says you'll be able to feel the first movements between 18 and 22 weeks, so you still have some time before that window is over. Once you do feel the baby move, I have to say, it's the best feeling ever.

Congrats on the baby!

Hi M.,

I didn't feel my baby move until 20 weeks and other of my friends didn't feel their until 22-23 weeks. Everyone is different! Hang in there...it will happen. :) It is the coolest feeling!!!

I wouldn't worry, but if you can't help it, you can see your doctor. I believe that with your first pregnancy, it takes much longer to relaly feel the baby moving. I had my first a year ago and I remember it taking FOREVER to actually feel him moving around. When I did, it kind of felt like a kernel of popcorn popping in my stomach. The real big movements came much much later.

Good luck with your pregnancy!

Maybe you do feel the baby and dont know it. The feeling is very light at first. I remember it felt like maybe butterfly wings flapping, something that is so light you could miss it. Like a twitch. Please dont worry about it, it wont be long and you will have a foot pushing on your ribs and you will definitely feel it! Congratulations.

I wouldn't worry at all yet! Especially for a first baby it can take longer for you to feel the baby and realize that is what you felt. I don't think I felt my first child until closer to 20 weeks or so. It depends on a lot of things...the baby's position and your frame, etc. Don't worry yet! Before you know it, you'll be seeing the baby move! Enjoy your pregnacy!

M.:

Speaking from experience, you may not be able to feel the baby until around 20 weeks. It all varies from person to person.

It may also depend on where the placenta is located. My sister in law's was in front and she wasn't able to feel the baby much in the beginning.

If you've had an ultrasound already and things were fine, I am guessing you just need to give the little peanut a little more time. :o) If you still have concerns, maybe tell your dr. at your next visit. Hope this helps!

Lots of luck with your pregnancy.
-M.

Hello M.,
I am currently 22 weeks pregnant with my 4th child and i am just now feeling the baby move.The first time you are pregnant it is hard to feel the baby move early because you dont know what to look for. with my first i didnt relize he was moving until it was kicks around 6 or 7 months. Right now you would only feel slight movement that feels like when you get butterflys. or even like gas bubles. So yes it is okay that you havent felt your baby move yet. If you are still concerned ask your doctor he will probably give you an ultrsound. also there is a great website http://www.3dpregnancy.com/ it will email you 3d pics of your going baby along with info on the week your in.there are also links to more info. I really hope this helps.

M., I'm echoing all the other posts. First babies are harder to feel, since you've not experienced it before. I didn't feel my boy until closer to 20 weeks also. When is your next appointment? Did you know that you can get a home doppler to hear the baby's heartbeat anytime you want? Ask your doctor at the next appointment about that. It might help to ease your worries. Good luck.
J.

As long as your doctor isn't worried, relax. This is your first baby, and you might not know what you are "supposed" to feel. Also, if the baby is toward your back rather than your front, you might not feel the movement. Again, talk to your doctor, if he/she isn't worried, relax and enjoy other parts of being pregnant that you are feeling. Oh, an by the way, CONGRATULATIONS on your surprise!
B.

I agree with the other responses. The "What to Expect" book says you may not feel the baby moving until up to 23 weeks, especially if it is your first baby. I'm sure with my first I was well past 18 weeks when I first started feeling it. If you are concerned ask your doctor. Congratulations!

I think it normal. It seemed like forever for me too. We as woman always worry more when we have a life growing inside of us. Make sure you talk to your doc and then they can listen for the heartbeat and once you hear it again you will feel much more comfortable. Remember every pregnancy is different and the baby may be moing all over you just don't relieze it. If you feel loke you have butterflies in your tummy that will be the baby. I always had the most luck when I sat or laid down and was quiet then I felt the little tickles.

D., Stay at home mom of two and child care provider.

Congrats M.! Don't worry... From what I understand, the "average" gestational age you first feel movement is week 20... NOT week 18... AND you're more likely to go past the 20th week in your first pregnancy since your muscles have not previously been stretched out before... You may not feel movement this time until week 21 or 22, but in subsequent pregnancies, you may, in fact, start feeling movement by week 18.

As long as your OB says everything checks out OK, don't sweat it... It will happen soon enough. And when it does, it's an INCREDIBLE feeling you'll never forget! Mine felt kind of like a combination of fluttering and vibrations... Hard to put into words, but a sensation I will remember till the day I die! Sigh... :-)

Remember, in any of the pregnancy, or infancy "milestones" you read or hear about, there are pretty large ranges of what is considered "normal." Trust your instincts, and your doc's advise.

TC & GB,
D. S
Mom of 3

I wouldn't worry too much as long as the doctor says everything is normal. It takes longer to feel the baby when its your first one because you don't really no what you should be feeling.

M., it is normal. When I was pg with my first, I didn't feel her move until at least 20 weeks. Have you had an ultrasound yet? I had several b/c I was high risk, so I was always aware of what was going on with the baby, but even if you haven't, you shouldn't fret. Everyone feels the baby at different times. I felt my second baby move before the first one, but I also knew what I was "feeling" for. Congrats on the baby!

Hello M.,

When I finally felt my babies first move...it felt like a fish flipping in my belly. I was well over the 14-16 week mark. Their personalities are formed in the womb...You are probably going to have a very agreeable little one. My second child barely moved the entire pregnancy...she has a very sweet and agreeable personality. You will be a wonderful mother!! Play some music to the belly...you might notice something soon!! Best wishes.

H.

I will be 20 weeks pregnant on Thursday, and I just felt the baby move on Sunday. I kept thinking I felt something early on, around 16 weeks I felt a little thump, but then nothing for 3 more weeks. I was worried as well, but I just kept having my doctor check the heartbeat, which reassured me. The Nurse Practitioner even told me that it's most often felt around 19-20 weeks along. Friends kept saying I would feel a flutter or a gas bubble, but I actually couldn't decipher those. Until Sunday when I definitely felt a big thump! It was amazing, and I felt it a few times that day and even more yesterday morning. It will come, I promise, just be patient, and when you least expect it, you'll feel it! Good luck!

Of course it is okay to not have felt the baby move yet. I have three kids and didn't feel the last two until past twenty weeks. Besides, every baby is different and some get comfy and may not move for long periods of time. I know it's nerve wrecking for us, but a better judgement of you child's health is their heartbeat. As long as it's tickin' don't worry about the kickin'.

Heather

For the first baby it can be up to 25 weeks before you feel that baby move. And with the first baby you may not know exactly what you should feel so you may think it is just gas or something. You may have felt it and just not known that it was the baby. Don't worry...pretty soon you will be wishing the baby would stop moving when you are trying to go to sleep at night and you are 35 weeks with feet in your rib cage:)

Don't worry! I am 26 weeks pregnant and fairly thin (before pregnancy). I wasn't confident I had felt something until 19-20 weeks. Pay attention when you are driving. I felt it a lot at first in the car. Pay attention at night when you lay on your side. Believe me, you will feel it eventually. Sometimes it feels like bubbles and sometimes it feels like a ping on the inside. I think it is different for everyone. As long as the doctor has told you everything is ok, you should be fine.

Hi M.!

First off congrats to you and your husband! It is a very exciting time, isn't it? But of course there are always things to worry about because you haven't been through it before and don't know exactly what to expect. I have one child, it is hard to believe but he just turned 2,and I did not feel him move until at least 20 weeks. It is different for everyone. With your first you don't really know what you are looking for. In the beginning it is more like little flutters I think. I am sure everything is fine. You should be having an ultrasound soon, right? That will help put your mind at ease. Enjoy this time because before you know it the baby will be kicking you in the ribs!

Take care.
S.

with your fist you may not know what u r feeling...u mayhave felt it already, but its so faint in the earlier months that u may mistake it as gas bubbles!!!! give it a couple weeks til your ultrasound...then you will see him/her move and recognize the feeling!

My first son pretty much never moved and since it was my first pregnancy I also didn't know what to "feel". If you have real concerns I would ask your doctor for an ultrasound or a heartbeat check, otherwise realize that your body and your baby are going to do this your way - there is no such thing as "typical" when it comes to pregancy, just individual experiences. Try and relax and enjoy your pregnancy; trust your own instincts.

If you have been to see your Doc and (s)he says everything is OK - then don't worry! I didn't feel movement until about 20 weeks with all 4 of my children and they were all good sizes (8-10 thru 9-5). If you are worried, call the Dr, ask if you can come in just to see if you can hear the heart beat for reassurance. They may tell you to stop in and a nurse will grab her stethascope and find it for you. The most important thing is - relax and enjoy your baby from this moment on - the time goes way too fast! : )
K.

hey M.
i have been thur it six time and four of the time i worryed myself sick because i couldn't feel the baby move and then my doc told me that the placment of the plasenta make a diff on how much if ever you feel the baby move so relax everthing will be just fine and congrats

Well, I think you have a lot of good responses already, but I'm sure you will feel the baby soon!

CONGRATULATIONS :)

HI M., what is your doctor saying, you are seeing a doctor right? if he is saying all is well, I would not worry about what your friends say, the Doc knows best. You will find your friends to say many things through your pregnancy it never ends. Blessings

dee

I could take up to 22 weeks before you feel the baby move. It all depends on where the baby is positioned and whether your small/larger framed person. If your doctor isn't worried than I wouldn't worry.

Yes, it's fine! Don't panic. I didn't feel my baby move until she was 17 weeks, and then I would only feel her move every few days. I have a friend pregnant with TWINS, and I don't think she felt them move until around 20 weeks. It's perfectly normal. Feeling your baby move is dependent on more than just how far along you are. Depending on the placement of your placenta, it can "cushion" the baby kicks, buffering them so much that you won't feel them for awhile. Soon, you'll have your big tell-all ultrasound, and you'll see your baby moving. That will be great reassurance until you can feel your baby move on your own. Good luck with everything, and don't spend too much time stressing and worrying! Have fun being pregnant. Once you feel that baby move, you'll know it, and you'll want to feel it all the time. It's a really precious thing and probably what I miss most about being pregnant. Don't let other people make you worry too much!! Everyone will have advice, just remember that it's always based off of their own experiences, so take it all with a grain of salt. I wish you the best!!

M., I bet you have felt the baby move, it just feels like gas or butterflies, especially at first. Looking back I think I felt it earlier than I thought I did. I wouldn't worry a bit, if there is a problem the docs will look into it at your appts, but I imagine all is well! Some 'feel' the baby earlierthan others. I wish you all the best! Congratulations!

M., do not waste any worry about this, every pregnancy experience is different for everyone, and those books and others advice is just a guide. With my first, I didn't feel my baby move until 22 weeks, and I was SO stressed about it. At my 20 week u/s I saw her moving all over in there, she was so big, and it was so weird that I couldn't feel it. Just mention is at your appointments, but do not be concerned. Good luck with your pregnancy!

Everyone feels movement at different stages. If you are really thin you will most likely feel the baby move sooner (I was feeling kicks at 12 weeks) but if you are a bit heaver (especially in the mid-section) then you will feel them later. It's also very possible you have had some movement going on but were just too active to notice. All the books describe the first feelings as "gas bubbles" or "fish flops" -who knows what it will feel like for you but don't stress. You'll feel movement when it's right for your pregnancy THIS time (they are all different) and if you are still worried in another week or so contact your Dr. Good luck!

I am a midwife, and I would be willing to place a wager that your baby's placenta is situated right in the front of your uterus. When that happens, your baby's kicks are absorbed by it, a lot like a pillow. It takes longer for these mamas to feel the baby moving, but eventually, you will. It won't be long. Of course, it never hurts to voice concerns over your baby's wellbeing with your care provider if you cant get yourself to feel at peace with what you are feeling.

I'm currently about 23 weeks with my third. I don't remember when I started feeling movement with the other two, but with this one I really started feeling movement (and all the time since) starting at about 20 wks, so I wouldn't be worried about not feeling anything yet.
Congrats and good luck!

No way , I didn't feel her move till I was 20+. First time mom's aren't sure if it's nausea or the baby...heheheh

I didn't feel my baby move until the day after my first ultrasound at 19 1/2 weeks. I wouldn't worry about it unless you get to more like 20-23 weeks without feeling anything. Of course, you should have a doctors appointment before then (right?) and you can ask your doctor about it then. At 18 weeks - don't worry yet. It's not worth the stress as it sounds normal to me.

There is nothing wrong with you or your baby. My first pregnancy, I didn't feel the baby move until between 18 and 19 weeks. I felt it at 19 and knew what it was-I was then able to determine that I felt it at 18 but wasn't sure of what it was at the time. I have a friend who is pregnant too and I think she was between 19 and 21 weeks when she was really able to feel movement. When it starts it will feel like butterflies or movement through water inside your belly. It also can feel like a muscle spasm in your belly. Don't worry. It will come!!! Cherish the time when it does...I think it is the best part of being pregnant...other than the baby of course!!!

I am also pregnant with my first. I did not feel any movement until week 20. I wasn't sure what it was at first because I had been experiencing gas as well. Then the feeling was more consistent and I could tell the difference. Hang in there! It will come.

Hi M.,

If this is your first pregnancy, you may not be able to recognize the movements yet. They are very light and hard to notice at first. You should mention it to your doctor, but if he/she isn't worried, then I'd rest easy. No woman feels everything the same at the same time, and no pregnancy is exactly the same. BTW, congrats!

I bet you HAVE felt the baby move, you just didn't know it. I have had 3 kids and I felt them all at different times. Once I started feeling it more strongly with my first child, I realized that I had been feeling it all along.

Good luck at your next ultrasound.

Hi M.,

You are well within the range of normal.There is a wide range of time when you can feel your baby move. Some women may feel movement as early as 14 weeks, but for others, it's not until later. First time Moms especially are more likely to feel movement around 18 - 20 weeks (and occasionally later), so it should be soon! Other things that can influence the movement you feel is the placement of the placenta. If your placenta is in front, you are likely to feel movement later.
It is always a good idea to let your Doctor or Midwife know of any concerns you have though.

HTH!

C.
www.nineshortmonths.com

Hi M.. I am a mother of two boys. Now this is what i was told w/ my first baby you probably felt it and didn't even no it, cause your not sure what it feels like. I thought whatever I will know when he is moving. Well w/ my second I felt it much earlier well because I knew what it was like. You probably will feel it soon and from there it only gets harder and more vigorous. Soon you will be thinking man I just want this baby to stop kicking my BLATTER "lol". Think about it though sometimes those first movements feel like flutters or gas even. Weird I no but true. but don't be worried as long as your seeing your doc every month things are probably just fine!
B.

I have a friend that claims she never felt her second child move for the entire pregnancy. Everyone is different! As long as the doctor hears the heart at your check ups don't worry!

Congratulations on your pregnancy! Have you talked to your doctor about this? When I was pregnant with my first it was very hard to feel the first kicks as they were more like flutters. In order to feel you had to have your hand on the abdomen at the right time. It wasn't until about 24 weeks that I could feel a kick without leaving my hand on there.