All About Baby Movement

We get lots of questions from moms on HappyHealthyPregnancy.com about when they can expect to feel their babies' movement the first time. It's usually around the 20th week of pregnancy, although experienced moms usually detect it sooner. Heavyweight moms and those whose babies have implanted themselves on the front of their uterus (uteri?) may take longer to feel their babies' kicks, since the motions have to be sensed through both the uterus lining and the abdominal wall. The word "kicking" is actually a misnomer. Babies are very active during pregnancy, and what moms are actually detecting are flails, wiggles, twitches, arches and thrashes -- spontaneous movements -- since the baby is living in such tight quarters that he can't fully stretch out his legs. Baby "body torque" actually starts as early as 6 weeks of pregnancy the instant they get their primitive muscles and wiring. After that, they spend a huge amount of time moving. Once their fingers are fully formed, they make fists, and even suck their thumbs! About 2/3rds of baby hand movements before birth are directed toward their mothers' bodies, their umbilical cords, feeling the uterine wall, and their own faces and bodies. No wonder being swaddled after birth is calming and reminds them of being back "home"!