Your baby's movements

Call your midwife or maternity unit now if your baby is moving less than usual, has stopped moving or has changed its usual pattern. In the US, call your obstetric clinician; elsewhere, contact your doctor or midwife. Do not wait until tomorrow, even if it is the middle of the night.

The NHS advises getting to know your baby’s usual movement pattern from day to day. Its guidance gives no set number of movements to reach and does not ask you to count routinely. Compare movements with what you usually feel from your own baby.

What the first movements can feel like

The NHS describes first movements between 16 to 24 weeks of pregnancy. If this is your first baby, you might not feel them until after 20 weeks. They can feel like gentle swirling or fluttering. Later you may notice kicks and more jerky movements.

Contact your midwife or pregnancy clinician if you have not felt any movements by 24 weeks. They can check the heartbeat and movements. This advice applies if you have never felt movement. If movements you have already been feeling reduce, stop or change, call immediately.

A pattern without a daily target

Knowing the pattern does not mean keeping a perfect record. In UK guidance, you do not need a daily kick tally. RCOG’s patient information also says there is not enough evidence to recommend routine movement charts. You can describe what has changed in ordinary language, such as “The movements feel less frequent than they usually do.”

You may notice fewer movements when you are active or busy. A placenta at the front of the womb can also make movement harder to feel. RCOG describes these influences, but still advises seeking help immediately if movements are reduced or changed. Call even if you have heard these explanations before.

Keep expecting movement right up to and during labour. The type of movement can change as the due date approaches, but a reduction still needs assessment. Do not use being near the end of pregnancy as a reason to wait.

Why a home heartbeat check is not enough

Do not use a home doppler, a heartbeat listening kit, to check whether your baby is well. The NHS says it is not a reliable way to check your baby’s health. Hearing a heartbeat does not confirm that everything is well and does not replace a call about changed movements.

Less movement can be a sign of a problem. Your maternity team needs to assess the change without waiting for a particular count. The NHS asks people to call immediately for less movement, no movement or a changed pattern.

How US advice on counting differs

ACOG describes movement counting as something your health professional may ask you to do at home. It says there are different methods and that the clinician will explain how often to count and when to contact them. Agree the counting plan with your own clinician; there is no universal target to take from an article.

CDC’s urgent warning-sign guidance includes a baby moving less than before or stopping. It advises immediate medical care for these signs. If you have been given a counting plan, ask the clinician to explain the urgent contact instructions as well as the counting method.

When you call, and if it happens again

The team will ask about the movements and may check your baby’s heartbeat and arrange further assessment. The care offered depends on your stage of pregnancy. RCOG describes checks that can include an antenatal assessment, heart-rate monitoring and an ultrasound if needed.

Call your maternity unit or pregnancy clinician again immediately if movements reduce after you have already been checked. RCOG advises contacting the team every time this happens. During the call, explain what feels different and mention the earlier assessment; you do not need to wait for the next appointment.