| | | | | medical history and how you've been feeling. You'll be |
| The very first pregnancy in a woman’s life brings | | | | weighed and have your blood pressure taken on |
| various fears to the mind, but the thought of that cute | | | | every visit. |
| infant, safe in momma’s tummy, vanishes all | | | | On your first visit, you'll also probably have a pelvic |
| qualms. And feeling those first movements, made by | | | | exam to check the size and shape of your uterus |
| the tiny creature within, is a great marker of | | | | (womb), and if needed a Pap smear to check for |
| pregnancy. When those movements turn into dynamic | | | | signs of cancer of the cervix (the opening of the |
| kicks, you like being hit by those tiny feet and get | | | | uterus) and cultures to check for infections. Urine and |
| touched by your own child. | | | | blood tests may be done on the first visit and again |
| Baby's first movements | | | | later. |
| Feeling those first, tiny sensations inside are a key | | | | You don't say how far on your wife is in her |
| landmark of your pregnancy. And when those | | | | pregnancy. Normally it is between 16 and 24 weeks |
| movements become vigorous kicks, you know | | | | you feel the first movements, usually starting with |
| everything is going well.If this is your first pregnancy, | | | | "flutterings" and then steady kicks. I would advise you |
| you may not even notice your baby moving around | | | | not to worry. |
| immediately because you won't be familiar with the | | | | Fetal Movement During Pregnancy |
| sensation -- which many women describe as a gentle | | | | Feeling your baby twist, wriggle, punch, kick, and hiccup |
| fluttering moti. | | | | is simply one of pregnancy's biggest thrills (and it sure |
| Why does baby move? | | | | beats heartburn, puffy feet, an aching back, and some |
| As your baby is continuing to develop he/she will | | | | of the other hallmarks of these nine months). There |
| stretch and flex his/her limbs. As you get further along | | | | may be no better proof that a brand-new — and |
| in your pregnancy, you will begin to feel more obvious | | | | impressively energetic — life is developing within |
| movements, such as kicking, punching, and rolling. Your | | | | you.keep track of the kicking |
| baby may also move as he/she responds to noise or | | | | Once you're feeling kicks regularly, pay attention to |
| to your emotions. | | | | them and let your practitioner know right away if you |
| Feeling movement during pregnancy | | | | notice a decrease in your baby's movement. Less |
| How often should the baby move? | | | | movement may signal a problem, and you'll need a |
| There is no right or wrong answer to this question. | | | | nonstress test or biophysical profile to check on your |
| One thing is for certain - the baby will not move | | | | baby's condition. |
| continuously. In their earliest stages, foetal movements | | | | Counting the movements |
| may be so intermittent that they may not be | | | | A 'kick chart' is a graph or grid printed on a piece of |
| recognised for what they are at all, and sometimes it is | | | | paper with spaces to record the daily movements of |
| only as the baby becomes stronger and begins to | | | | your baby, usually after about 28 weeks of the |
| produce thumping or kicking movements that the | | | | pregnancy. In Australia, kick charts are mainly used for |
| mother experiences the sensation of her baby moving | | | | women who express concern about their baby's |
| inside her. | | | | movements or if they have a health condition or |
| What will happen during prenatal visits? | | | | pregnancy complications that may put their baby at |
| Your doctor will start by talking to you about your | | | | increased risk of being unwell after birth. |