FTM when should I feel baby movement

[CJ1990]

Hi Ladies,

Just wondering, when should i start worrying about not feeling the first baby movements? I’m 15 weeks and nothing yet. I know it’s supposidly early, but just feeling a little disheartened reading lots of posts about First time mums feeling movement from 14 weeks :(

I doubt they actually are feeling movement. It's normally from about 18 wks.
Don't stress it will come, and soon you won't be able to sleep due to the kicking!

I was just over 20 weeks, I have friends who were 24 and 26 weeks before they felt theirs. Both quite petite too.

With a first baby, you often don't feel them till the time of the second scan (18-21 weeks) because they are so subtle. If you see the baby moving on scan but can't feel it, that's very common.

I'm 22 weeks and started feeling movement in the last couple of weeks (and it's still very faint) - I do have an anterior placenta, though. Obviously everyone's different but I think some people claim to feel movement implausibly early, and may be surprised when they actually feel it...

I felt what can only be described as a bubble popping at about 17 weeks, and then gradually they increased till I was sure it was kicks around 20 weeks

I started to feel things at 16 weeks but it is unusual that early, and it was maybe only a brief sensation, like a tiny muscle twitch, a few days a week until about 20 weeks. I did not have an anterior placenta. Really you have nothing to worry about - many don’t feel anything until 24+ weeks, though it must be frustrating. At the 20 week scan you could see how much it was moving without being able to feel anything yourself

First time round it was definitely well after my 20 week scan. This time it was a couple of weeks earlier - midwife said that's due to a combination of not having an anterior placenta this time, and being more familiar.
Don't worry about it and don't compare yourself to people online. I'm always pretty sceptical of posts that claim to feel movement at 14 weeks...

What you see on MN is a small sample of women responding solely because they've got something noteworthy to say. It's like asking "when did your child read?" You attract those people who had early readers because they're proud or because it was remarkable and stood out.

Most first time mothers won't feel movement until 20+ weeks. Some of the women who say they felt movement very early are likely feeling something else entirely. There's A LOT going on in there. Give it until at least 22 weeks is what my midwife mate says.

It’ll depend if you’be got an anterior placenta or not. If you do then it’s likely to be 24/25 weeks. If not then it’ll be earlier, maybe as early as 18/19 weeks. I doubt many first time mums feel the baby as early as 14 weeks, certainly that would be unusual and not the norm (no matter how many posts there appear to be!).

You won’t feel anything until at least 16 weeks but it’s a lot later for most women, especially when it’s your first and you don’t recognise the early movements which are a bit like trapped wind crossed with pop corn popping! Then if you have an anterior placenta that can effectively cushion the baby’s movements so you wouldn’t feel anything until a lot later. I think about 20 weeks is average but it might not be until a little after that.

Thanks everyone :) that’s making me feel much happier! X

I am highly sceptical that any FTM is feeling genuine movements at 14 weeks. Not only would any movements be incredibly tiny then, but it's very difficult at first to be sure that it's baby and not just wind/normal stomach activity.

With my first, I felt what I thought might be baby at 18 weeks, but I wasn't sure until 20 weeks. With my second, I could feel definite movements at 16 weeks.

I felt kind of fluttering feelings from around 17 weeks, but not actual kicks/movement until 20 weeks. I panicked too because someone told me when I was 16 weeks I should be able to feel the baby moving by now because by that stage she could feel the baby moving & rolling around!! Everyone is different, but I wouldn't worry for now

I was about 17 weeks with DD, when I had a posterior placenta. It just felt like a muscle twinge; I was really unsure whether that was it!

15 weeks with this one, as a second time mum, but then nothing for weeks afterwards due to a pesky anterior placenta.

Two of my friends who are FTMs have felt nothing at 20 and 23 weeks respectively - it's quite normal up to about 24 weeks. Although it's also possible you have felt it and had no idea; it really doesn't feel like you think it will.

Which shows how daft the human body can be. I mean, really - what sort of animal can't tell the difference between its own baby and its own farts??!

With ds it was after 22 weeks I think (anterior placenta). This time it was around 15 or so weeks but my placenta is a totally different place.

Around 18 weeks for my first, 22 weeks for second (anterior placenta).

I'm 26 weeks and only really started feeling movement at about 23 weeks and it's only been in the last week that I'm feeling movement every day so don't worry!

Thanks everyone 😁your all amazing! Made me feel so much better

I felt mine for the first time yesterday at 18W6D. It’s a freaky feeling and I don’t quite like it! But glad he’s moving about in there I guess.

18 weeks for me, but the placement of the placenta on my first baby meant not until 22 weeks, don’t worry :)