Feeling your baby&#39;s first kicks?During pregnancy, parents look forward to little things that t...

Feeling your first baby kicking? When babies are growing inside the womb, parents look forward to little things that indicate their health and well-being.

Fetal Movement - Baby Movement in Pregnancy | MyloFamily

Fetal movement refers to motion of a fetus caused by its own muscle activity

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This is a safe space to ask questions and share insights on everything from prenatal care and morning sickness to labor and delivery.

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A balanced diet will also reduce the risks of anemia, as well as other unpleasant pregnancy symptoms such as fatigue and morning sickness.

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The number of heartbeats in the fetus that occur in a given unit of time

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<p>A pregnancy ultrasound is an imaging test that uses high-frequency sound waves to create pictures of a baby in the womb, as well as the mother&#39;s reproductive system. An ultrasound scan is also called a sonogram which is a prenatal test offered to most pregnant women.</p>

<p>There are two main kinds of ultrasound scans done during pregnancy&mdash;transvaginal and transabdominal.</p>

<h2><strong>Everything to Know About Ultrasounds During Pregnancy</strong></h2>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p>Having an ultrasound during your pregnancy is important because it can quickly give your doctor a lot of information about your baby.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>An ultrasound scan can be done at any stage in your pregnancy. A gel is applied to the pregnant woman&#39;s abdomen to allow sound waves to pass from the ultrasound probe into the uterus. The ultrasound probe is then moved over the abdomen to produce an ultrasound image by the reflection of the sound waves off the baby.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Ultrasound scans use sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of the body. It is also used to help diagnose any causes of pain, swelling, and infection in the body&#39;s internal organs. During pregnancy, ultrasound scans help to examine the baby&#39;s vitals.</p>
	</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p>If the technician discovers any problems, you may need to come back for a second ultrasound or other tests to ensure everything is fine.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>The first ultrasound scan may take place when you are around 6 to 8 weeks pregnant, and its purpose is to confirm pregnancy dating to make sure we have an accurate due date. It also allows one to hear the foetal heartbeat and to see if there&#39;s one, or more foetus.</p>
	</li>
</ul>

<h2><strong>Reasons for additional ultrasounds during pregnancy</strong></h2>

<ul>
	<li>You experience spotting during pregnancy and want to ensure everything is fine.</li>
	<li>You are carrying multiple babies and want to monitor their growth.</li>
	<li>You are at risk of preterm labour and to check for changes in the cervix.</li>
	<li>Your practitioner wants to check whether your baby is too large to deliver vaginally.</li>
</ul>

<h2><strong>Why Are Ultrasounds Done in Each Trimester of Pregnancy?</strong></h2>

<p>The first ultrasound scan is done to confirm the foetal heartbeat and the baby&#39;s position in the mother&#39;s uterus. Later, ultrasounds screen for foetal growth and placenta location, and a baby&#39;s general health and anatomy. Towards the end of pregnancy, ultrasounds can be useful for checking the length of your cervix as well as verifying that your baby is in a heads-down position before labor.</p>

<p>Ultrasounds are necessary to know what is happening inside the mother&#39;s womb and if both the baby and mother are safe.</p>

<h3>References</h3>

<ol>
	<li>Team Stanford Medicine. Ultrasound in Pregnancy. stanfordchildrens.org</li>
	<li>Whitworth M, Bricker L, Mullan C. (2015). Ultrasound for fetal assessment in early pregnancy. NCBI</li>
</ol>


<p>If you&#39;re 8 weeks pregnant with twins in the womb, probably, you&#39;ve already seen (or will soon see) your infants via ultrasound. Morning sickness, bloating, food cravings or dislike, exhaustion, breast changes, frequent urination, and increased vaginal discharge are all common pregnancy symptoms. Your twin infants will soon be called fetuses, growing at an alarming rate. Hearts that pump blood are now present in them, and growing brains, spinal cords, and lungs are also forming.</p>

<p>Eight weeks pregnant is when nausea and vomiting (also known as morning sickness) may begin to appear while recording pregnancy symptoms week by week, whether with a single child or twins. A possible contributing element to this illness is the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), albeit the actual cause or causes of this ailment remain unclear.</p>

<p>This uncomfortable sensation, which may be (but is not usually) more acute during a twin pregnancy, is not something anybody enjoys experiencing; nonetheless, many expectant mothers see it as a sign that their pregnancy is progressing well.</p>

<h2><strong>Symptoms of twins inside the womb at eight weeks</strong></h2>

<p>The likelihood is that by this point, you&#39;ve gotten confirmation that you&#39;re pregnant through a positive pregnancy test and that you&#39;ll begin to experience pregnancy-related symptoms if you haven&#39;t already started to show signs of pregnancy. But don&#39;t be concerned if you aren&#39;t experiencing any significant changes &mdash; some women may not experience the side effects as strongly or as quickly as others.</p>

<h3><strong>1. Nausea and vomiting</strong></h3>

<p>Even though it is often referred to as &quot;morning sickness,&quot; pregnant nausea may strike at any time of day. This nausea, which is typical in the first trimester of pregnancy and may or may not entail vomiting, may occur throughout the pregnancy. Nausea and vomitting are common symptoms of twins in the womb. Most likely, the pregnancy hormones HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) and estrogen are to blame for the symptoms of morning sickness.</p>

<p>If you are experiencing nausea, eating and drinking in little quantities regularly, having something tiny to eat as soon as you wake up, and sticking to bland foods for a short period are all excellent strategies to alleviate or prevent it from occurring.</p>

<h3><strong>2. Bloating</strong></h3>

<p>Progesterone, the pregnancy hormone, causes digestion to slow down, which may cause you to feel bloated in the early stages of your pregnancy. This bloating may also play a role in developing nausea during pregnancy.</p>

<h3><strong>3. Cravings and aversion for food </strong></h3>

<p>You may have certain dietary cravings or aversions that you cannot control during your pregnancy. Every woman has her own set of preferences for cuisine, which might vary from one another.</p>

<h3><strong>4. Fatigue</strong></h3>

<p>Fatigue is a typical pregnancy symptom, particularly in the early stages of pregnancy. When the hormone progesterone levels grow, you may experience fatigue, but this is also beneficial since it helps to support your body&#39;s needs when you are expecting a child.</p>

<h3><strong>5. Breast changes</strong></h3>

<p>Because of the increase in hormones, you may experience increased sensitivity and tenderness in your breasts and increased size and firmness compared to what you&#39;re used to. In addition, it&#39;s possible that the region surrounding your nipple, known as the areola, may darken as well.</p>

<h3><strong>6. Frequent urination</strong></h3>

<p>Pregnancy hormones and an increased volume of blood flow in your body can cause you to have the desire to pee more often than normal throughout your pregnancy, so plan accordingly. This will likely worsen as your uterus continues to stretch and thicken, placing strain on your bladder.</p>

<h3><strong>7. Increased discharge</strong></h3>

<p>During pregnancy, the increase in estrogen production will most likely result in increased vaginal discharge. However, this is quite normal. However, if you have green, yellow, or thick cheese-like discharge, foul-smelling discharge, or your vaginal area is red, itchy, or irritated, you should consult your healthcare provider right away. Almost any signs or symptoms might indicate an infection or other condition.</p>

<p> </p>


<h2><strong>Feeling your baby&#39;s first kicks?</strong></h2>

<p>During pregnancy, parents look forward to little things that tell them their baby is healthy and happy in the womb. One of the signs that tell the parents that the baby is developing according to the schedule is quickening.</p>

<h2><strong>What is Quickening?</strong></h2>

<p>Quickening happens when the baby starts moving around in the womb. It generally occurs after the 17th week of pregnancy when mothers start feeling the kicks and other baby movements in the belly. However, in some cases, it might happen sooner or even later, depending upon the baby&#39;s development. However, it is entirely normal as long as it occurs between the 13th and 25th week.<br />
Also, in some cases, if the mother has already given birth before, she might not even feel it happening, which doesn&#39;t necessarily mean that your baby is not well.</p>

<p>The main thrill in pregnancy begins with experiencing the baby&#39;s kicks. The tiny punches wriggling, and twists of a baby in the womb melt your heart.</p>

<p>Throughout pregnancy, <a href="https://mylofamily.com/topic/fetal-movements-4233">fetal movements</a> may drive you to numerous queries and doubts. Is the baby kicking, or is it something else? Is the baby kicking fewer times or more? When it comes to fetal movements, all babies behave differently. Noting a few points on normal daily fetal movement count will give a clue of what is going on inside.</p>

<h2><strong>What does normal fetal movement feel like?</strong></h2>

<p>Usually, mothers feel flutters, bubbles or twinges during quickening, which can often <a href="https://mylofamily.com/article/gas-during-pregnancy-150215">feel like gas</a>. With time these movements become more prominent, and mothers can differentiate between gas and quickening. In the beginning, you might not feel these movements every day as your baby is still young and cannot move around too much. However, as the baby grows, you will start feeling frantic jerky fetal movements as the baby does not have enough room to move around. These movements are much more pronounced as the pregnancy progresses and women report rapid fetal movement in the third trimester.</p>

<h2><strong>Watch This Amazing Video of a Baby standing up in belly/monster kicks and movement 38 weeks pregnant</strong></h2>

<h3>When are you more likely to experience fetal movement:</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Mothers may feel increased fetal movement at night as the baby rests during the morning and the afternoon.</li>
	<li>After a meal, you may feel your baby kicking more. The gush in blood sugar inside the body results in frantic jerky fetal movements.</li>
	<li>While you feel low or nervous, it is easy to recognize the baby&#39;s movement clearly as your body will be in an undisturbed position.</li>
	<li>When you aren&#39;t moving for long and when they want you to react to your decreasing <a href="https://mylofamily.com/article/symptoms-diagnosis-treatment-complications-of-gestational-diabetes-mellitus-during-pregnancy-155417">sugar levels in the blood</a>.</li>
	<li>When you are laughing out loud, listening to music, or even talking to them - Awe!</li>
	<li>Lie down on your left and he/she will respond to it.</li>
	<li>Eat a snack that&#39;s healthy or has a juice and watches them respond to your blood sugar levels.</li>
	<li>Sing a lullaby at one point every day and your baby will respond with movements.</li>
	<li>Simply flashlight over your tummy and there you go with another kick!</li>
</ul>

<h2><strong>Why is keeping fetal kick counts important?</strong></h2>

<p>Kicking is the most visible sign that the little life inside you is growing properly. That&rsquo;s why it is very important to count the <a href="https://mylofamily.com/article/its-important-that-you-get-kicked-by-your-baby-in-25393">baby&rsquo;s kicks during pregnancy</a>. Simply put, kick count is just counting the number of times a baby moves over a given period of time such as one hour. It is a good thing if the fetal kick counts are consistent but the reduced fetal movement is an alarming thing and can be a sign of trouble. A drop in fetal movement often also points towards a reduction in amniotic fluid or more worryingly a ruptured amniotic sac. Hence, pregnant women are strongly encouraged to monitor their babies so that any potential complication can be detected at the earliest and necessary medical intervention or help is provided. Regular monitoring of fetal movements by counting kicks becomes even more important as the due date approaches. During the 9th month of pregnancy, women need to count the kicks many times a day.</p>

<h2><strong>When should you start keeping fetal movement count?</strong></h2>

<p>Your doctor will most likely ask you to start counting kicks during the third trimester starting from the 28th week till the end of your pregnancy. You should count kicks twice a day, first in the morning and then during the evening.</p>

<p>Many babies have been saved and pregnancy mishaps averted as the mothers were alert about the baby&rsquo;s kick counts and rushed to the hospital after noticing changes in kick counts and patterns. As an expecting mom, you should take kick counting seriously and follow your doctor&rsquo;s advice about it.</p>

<h3><strong>Kick counting procedure</strong> -</h3>

<ol>
	<li>You can start counting your baby kicks once you reach the 28th week as that is when your baby&rsquo;s arms and legs are well grown. Also, he/she is ready to blow you with an array of movements.</li>
	<li>Remember to track kicks during the same time of the day. You must analyze the time of the day when you think your baby is active. Do not choose a time when he/she rests and then go panicky as there won&#39;t be any kicks when the little one is resting!</li>
	<li>Usually, the baby kicks 3 times in 30 minutes or 10 times in an hour. If it doesn&#39;t reach 10 counts in an hour or two, you needn&#39;t panic. Just have a snack or juice and take note again. It will help. If you don&#39;t seem to feel any signs of movement, then it is advised to evaluate under the doctor&rsquo;s guidance.</li>
	<li>Also, follow this routine while you are seated in a very comfortable position lying to your left or sitting. Avoid multitasking while you are counting your baby&rsquo;s kicks as that might distract and let you lose count.</li>
	<li>Even mild movements like stretching, breathing, and turning are considered kicks.</li>
</ol>

<p>The general rule of thumb is - Not all babies kick the same way! Each one differs.</p>

<h3><strong>Things to remember </strong>-</h3>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p>If you find any change in the normal fetal movement, ensure you report it to your doctor immediately.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>One baby&rsquo;s kicks needn&#39;t necessarily be similar to that of the other. Even the same mother will have two different kick patterns for two different babies being delivered at two different points of time.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Observe the kick timings and movements as to when he/she is active and at rest. Follow the same.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Your baby must improve in movements as days go by rather than decrease fetal movement.</p>
	</li>
</ul>

<h3><strong>A matter of concern</strong> -</h3>

<p>When you realize that the kick counts timings are changing swiftly from one kick to another or if you feel something suspicious within, report immediately to the concerned. Also, if you find no response from your baby for long hours, he/she might not be provided with enough oxygen supply. So, consult the doctor and treat it immediately.</p>

<h2><strong>Reasons behind the decreased fetal movement-</strong></h2>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p>The reduced fetal movement might be due to a lack of nutrition in your body. If you aren&#39;t moving or standing/sitting still for long hours, your baby might not respond.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Your emotional state also directly impacts your baby&rsquo;s movements and kicks.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>When the flow of blood and oxygen isn&#39;t sufficient there occurs a decline in kicks.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Again, stress and improper supply of oxygen might decrease the amniotic fluid thereby leading to decreased fetal movements.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>When the umbilical cord is twisted or damaged, due to a lack of proper oxygen supply, your baby might not respond properly.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Consult your doctor in this situation. Through an ultrasound scan, your doctor will be able to detect the reason behind declining kicks and movements.</p>
	</li>
</ul>

<p>You may also like to watch:</p>

<p style="text-align:center"><iframe frameborder="0" height="167" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/46gURPBZqP4" title="YouTube video player" width="315"></iframe></p>

<h3><strong>References</strong></h3>

<ol>
	<li>Bryant, J; Jamil, R.T; Thistle, J. (2022). Fetal Movement. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.</li>
	<li>Stanford Medicine Children&#39;s Health. Fetal Movement Counting. stanfordchildrens.org</li>
	<li>Van Dongen LG, Goudie EG. Fetal movement patterns in the first trimester of pregnancy.www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.</li>
</ol>


<p>Pregnancy is a journey both parents undertake, with the mother anchoring their way to deliver a beautiful baby into their lives. The most exciting part of pregnancy for the parents is hearing the first heartbeat of their child. Hearing the heartbeat of the baby is an indication that the pregnancy is going on as planned. There is the least risk of miscarriage when the fetus&#39;s heartbeat has been detected.</p>

<p>There may be causes of no heartbeat in the fetus or late fetal heartbeat. In this article, let&#39;s look at reasons for a late heartbeat in pregnancy.</p>

<h2><strong>Reasons for a late heartbeat in pregnancy </strong></h2>

<p>There are several reasons for no heartbeat at 6 weeks. The parents should know about the reasons so they can prepare well for a smooth pregnancy. Let&#39;s check the various causes of late heartbeat in pregnancy.</p>

<h3>1. Gestational age</h3>

<p>If the pregnancy is less than seven weeks, there would be no heartbeat at <a href="https://mylofamily.com/article/what-to-expect-in-your-7-week-pregnancy-scan-report-167394">7 weeks</a> of a successful pregnancy. The heartbeat would only be heard through transvaginal ultrasound after 7 weeks. But when it comes to abdominal ultrasound, it can take a longer time to detect the heartbeat as it is more sensitive.</p>

<h3>2. Different kinds of ultrasounds</h3>

<p>If the mother is 8 weeks pregnant with no heartbeat but the baby is growing, then transvaginal ultrasound is the best form to detect the heartbeat. Transvaginal ultrasound is a preferable mode to detect the heartbeat as compared to abdominal ultrasound during early pregnancy. Detecting a heartbeat through a <a href="https://mylofamily.com/article/risks-of-getting-a-fetal-doppler-scan-during-your-pregnancy-152448">handheld doppler</a> can take over 10 weeks.</p>

<h3>3. Date inaccuracy</h3>

<p>If there is no heartbeat after seven weeks of pregnancy through transvaginal ultrasound, there may be a chance the <a href="https://mylofamily.com/article/know-why-your-doctor-may-change-your-due-date-duri-25696?">dates of pregnancy may be wrong</a>. In early pregnancy days, slight days off or irregular ovulation patterns can bring about this difference. So instead of panicking because of the absence of a hidden heartbeat through ultrasound, the parents should consult the doctor and go for an ultrasound after some time.</p>

<h3>4. Tilted Uterus</h3>

<p>The way the uterus or the womb is positioned in the pelvis is responsible for the detection of the heartbeat of the fetus. This is a medical condition in nearly 20% of women. In this case, the uterus is at a distance from the abdominal wall. There is no need to panic in this scenario as time progresses, the uterus expands and moves towards the abdominal wall, and the baby&#39;s heart would have also grown. This would help in detecting the heartbeat of the baby.</p>

<p>You may also like: <a href="https://mylofamily.com/article/how-to-read-ultrasound-report-of-pregnancy-167715">How To Read Ultrasound Report Of Pregnancy?</a></p>

<h3>5. Finding the baby</h3>

<p>The baby may be difficult to find during the early days of pregnancy as it would be small in size. The Doppler should be able to zoom in properly to detect the baby&#39;s heartbeat. It takes lots of patience and luck to detect the heartbeat with the help of a Doppler. So, if the heartbeat is not detected on the first try, the parents need to visit the doctor after some time as per the doctor&#39;s advice.</p>

<p style="text-align:center"><iframe frameborder="0" height="167" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aL7CvRilKDA" title="YouTube video player" width="315"></iframe></p>

<h3>6. Obstruction by the placenta</h3>

<p>The obstruction by the <a href="https://mylofamily.com/article/placenta-what-is-placenta-and-how-it-works-192771">placenta</a> is one of the main causes of no heartbeat in the fetus, as it gets difficult for the doctor to identify the heartbeat with this obstruction. If the placenta is growing on the exterior wall of the uterus, the Doppler can identify the blood flow but won&#39;t be able to detect the heartbeat. With time, the sound increases, and it would still be difficult for the Doppler to pick up the baby&#39;s faint heartbeat. But, there is nothing to worry about as, with time, the size of the heartbeat would increase, and the sound of the heartbeat can be identified through the Doppler.</p>

<h3>7. Overweight</h3>

<p>For mothers on the healthy side, the fat layer can obstruct the Doppler&#39;s functioning of identifying the fetus&#39;s heartbeat. So, in this case, an ultrasound would help to detect the heartbeat by positioning the transducer on the lower part of the belly. If the abdominal ultrasound fails to identify the heartbeat, the transvaginal ultrasound is applied to detect the baby&#39;s heartbeat.</p>

<p>So, if the parents are worried that if there is no heartbeat at 10 weeks, could the baby still be alive? They do not have to worry about it, but it is always advisable to consult your doctor and follow their instructions for a successful delivery.</p>

<h3><strong>Conclusion </strong></h3>

<p>When heartbeat will start for the baby? This question can be best discussed with the doctor. But in general, it is said that the baby&#39;s heartbeat can be detected seven weeks after the pregnancy. There would be chances of no heartbeat at <a href="https://mylofamily.com/article/ultrasound-at-9-weeks-pregnant-what-to-expect-what-are-the-red-signals-169973">9 weeks</a> but still have successful pregnancy as the mother would have undergone the causes mentioned above for the late heartbeat in pregnancy. The parents should not panic and need to regularly contact their doctors for advice.</p>

<h3>References</h3>

<p>1. Valenti O, Di Prima FA, Renda E, Faraci M, Hyseni E, De Domenico R, Monte S, Giorgio E. (2011). Fetal cardiac function during the first trimester of pregnancy. NCBI</p>

<p>2. Jha Akhilesh Kumar, Rimal Bikranta, Khatun Tarannum. (2017). Evaluation of Normal Heart Rate in Early Pregnancy Corresponding to Gestational Age between Six to Eight Weeks. NMC</p>


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