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Q: “What is a typical or normal number of fetal movements in the course of a day? How do I know if I should be worried that she is not moving? What do you recommend if an expectant mother suspects no activity?
A: At week 25, it may be a bit early to gauge the regularity of your baby’s movements, as these movements vary from day to day and from baby to baby. Some babies are always active; others tend to be quiet.
Mothers, too, may have days when they’re on the go and not as aware of kicks and squirms as they are on less busy days. While babies have less room for moving around as they grow, you’ll still feel stretching and shifting well into your third trimester.
If you’re worried at any time, contact your healthcare provider directly for advice. That advice may include keeping a “kick count,” which means counting movements for a period of time each day.
Choose a time when you are able to sit quietly and relax. Beginning with the first movement you feel, write down how long it takes to feel 10 movements (not counting the subtler sensations from a baby’s hiccups). Your healthcare provider will want to know if it takes longer each day for your baby to move 10 times, or if you notice decreased numbers of movements over 12 hours.
If you’re concentrating on your baby’s movements or you’re doing it just after a meal, it will take about 2 hours at most to feel 10 movements. If you feel less, let your healthcare provider know.
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