Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

How for you know what is 'baby movement' ?

26 replies

Writerwannabe83 · 17/10/2013 10:52

Hello everyone,

I'm just curious as to when you felt first movements and what they were like? And how do you know for definite they are baby movements and not just a general stomach niggle?

I'm 17 weeks today and yesterday afternoon I felt these weird little jabs (for want of a better word) in my abdomen. It was very quick and sudden then stopped - then about an hour later it happened again. Then, towards the evening I had a very weird sensation that I can only describe as having palpitations in my stomach. I know that sounds odd, but it was like feeling my heart palpitations (which thankfully I don't have many) were happening in my belly.

I would love to think I have been experiencing baby movements but obviously I can't know for sure, and is it not too early into the pregnancy anyway?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
PinkParsnips · 17/10/2013 11:03

Aw sounds like it could be!!

My early movements were like that, I just remember thinking is it or isnt it but I'd never felt those type of sensations before, so I figured it must be!

This is my first baby and I felt it from about 16 / 17 weeks, people said it was too early but I realised as things went on that it definitely had been the baby as the same movements just got stronger, so not too early at all!

Madratlady · 17/10/2013 12:18

It felt like tapping on the inside of my tummy.

PassTheCremeEggs · 17/10/2013 12:33

At the start they feel like like little flutters, or like bubbles bursting in your tummy if that makes sense.

Sounds like baby moving to me!

Stom91 · 17/10/2013 12:34

Sound like it's baby I felt. My first movements at 18 weeks and they were like a popping..

ShowOfBloodyStumps · 17/10/2013 12:37

With dd, I had my first movements at 17 weeks. It felt like when you go to a place with wooden floors and loud, rhythmic music and you can feel the beat through the soles of your feet. Only in your abdomen. Like a strange faint beat.

cathpip · 17/10/2013 12:46

I'm on my third baby and have felt movements from about 13 weeks, mine started with a squirming very low down (bit like gut rot but knew it wasnt :)), and now I am 15 weeks I still get the squirming but also some tapping/flicking. It definately sounds like baby, I knew what to expect which is why I have felt my baby since 13 weeks.

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 17/10/2013 13:05

Arr thanks everyone. I feel all excited now. I will continue to monitor weird sensations and I look forward to that first time where I will just 'know' it is baby for definite Smile

OP posts:
keepitgoing · 17/10/2013 19:42

It will be, I always thought it felt like an extra heartbeat early on.

SaggyIsHavingAPinkKitten · 17/10/2013 22:58

a description I read somewhere which I think fits perfectly is "tiny flutters like the touch of a fishes tail". That definitely goes with what I felt the last 2 pgs. Sadly this time I have an anterior placenta so ive felt bugger all at 19 weeks! Sad

SaggyIsHavingAPinkKitten · 17/10/2013 23:01

If you think the first flutters are exciting, wait until you see that tiny foot poking through your skin for the first time! Its awesome! Smile

elcranko · 18/10/2013 10:42

Sounds exactly like the first movements I felt. It's lovely isn't it? Smile I didn't feel anything until about 23 weeks, I had an anterior placenta though. But once she started kicking she literally didn't stop until she was born! It's one of the things I miss most about being pregnant.

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 24/10/2013 09:38

Last night I was having on and off weird sensations for about half a hour - surely it must be baby Smile

It was like I could feel it physically feel it turning inside me, I don't even know if that's possible? You know the sensation you get when you're in a car and you go over a hill quickly and your stomach feels like it gets left behind for a few seconds? It was exactly like that!

OP posts:
HotCrossPun · 24/10/2013 09:42

Saggy I've got an anterior placenta too. 20 weeks here and nothing. My midwife said that we will bypass the flutters stage and when we do feel something it will be definite kicks, so that's something to look forward to! Smile

Fakebook · 24/10/2013 09:47

With my first I felt a fluttery butterfly feeling at 18wks. With the second it was a tapping feeling at 11 weeks and with the third it was a tapping again at about 10-11 weeks.

Your description sounds like its likely the baby moving!

Emilycee · 24/10/2013 10:15

Great post Smile I am almost 17 weeks and was also wondering the same as you Writer. You have the scan at 12 weeks, all exiting then it all goes quiet while you just wait for either a bump to appear or some fluttering!

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 24/10/2013 10:45

The same sensations have just started again [ smile]

Just out of interest, does anyone know why it is recommended to lie on your left side if you want to feel the baby move?

OP posts:
thecakeisalie · 24/10/2013 14:06

Laying on your left side is supposed to be the best for blood flow maybe that's why?

I've been having movements since 15wks but it's only now at 17 weeks I'm getting regular movements that are unmistakeably baby. Even though its dc3 its a bit of a novelty for me as I had an anterior placenta with dc2 so skipped strsight to him kicking at 23wks. I'm loving the fluttery tumbling like movements!

fluffyraggies · 24/10/2013 14:12

writer i started a thread like yours when i was 19 weeks as everyone around me kept saying ''is baby kicking yet?''. It made me worry!

Lovely MNers all said give it till 20/22 weeks - it will happen - and it did. At 20 weeks to the day.

Fluttering and 'rummaging' sensations in there quickly give way to hearty thumps and kicks. 28 weeks now and it feels like a football team in there Grin

Misty9 · 24/10/2013 22:04

I'm 16wks tomorrow and have been feeling movements for a week now, sort of like muscle twitches. But tonight I've been feeling that stomach turning over sensation you described! It's weird isn't it? :) I thought it was my nausea coming back... (It's only just gone) but sounds like it might be baby.

My first was anterior placenta so nothing until 21wks, and straight to kicks and rolls like a few of you have said. So these little movements are all new to me!

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 24/10/2013 22:06

Some of the sensations are annoying twinges. They aren't painful as such but they do make me squirm a little - is this normal? trying not to worry and be paranoid Hmm

OP posts:
xxaussiebabyxx · 24/10/2013 22:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 26/10/2013 13:40

My movement/ sensations now appear to have stopped. I don't recall feeling anything yesterday and definitely nothing last night or this morning. I know they don't talk about the risks with reduced movements until much later into pregnancy as only then is it considered an issue so I'm trying not to dwell on it but I'm still a little bit Hmm

OP posts:
Misty9 · 26/10/2013 15:34

Mine have stopped too, I really wouldn't worry at this stage :)

MrsPatMustard · 27/10/2013 08:47

Palpitations in the tummy is a really good way of describing it. That's exactly what I felt. I wouldn't worry if you have periods where there's no movement this early on. The extent to which you feel movement varies depending on the position of the baby and the position of the placenta. Once you're further along you should be feeling it much more...

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 27/10/2013 10:19

I still wish he'd do something just so I know he is ok....
I'm a natural born worrier Smile

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread