I do not feel my baby in my womb: should I worry?

The activity of babies in the womb can vary from one mother to another and will depend on how active the baby is, but when should you worry?

It is common for your baby to start moving at seven weeks of pregnancy with simple and sporadic movements of their extremities and, starting at week 12, they will have mix combined movements of head, trunk, and limbs.

Leer en español: No siento a mi bebé en mi vientre: ¿Debo preocuparme?

Usually, according to Baby Center, women begin to feel the movements of the baby between weeks 16 and 22, or even later. However, the activity of babies in the womb can vary from one mother to another and will depend on how active the baby is.

That is why, even if you are more than 22 weeks pregnant, you may not feel much of your baby's movements due to normal causes that do not represent danger:

• Location of the placenta: usually the placenta is located in the upper, back and front of the uterus. However, a mother whose placenta is located in the front cannot feel the movements of the baby with the same ease as one whose placenta is in the back, so some mothers will notice these movements later.
• Resting state: the lack of movement can mean, simply, that your baby is sleeping peacefully inside the uterus.
• Late pregnancy: Dr. Juan José Guerra, of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, California, explained to the Baby Center newspaper that in late pregnancy "movements will no longer be exaggerated as in the beginning because the baby is growing. Therefore, the space he has to move is narrower, but even so, movements must be felt every day".

You may also be interested: Stimulate your baby's senses! Tips and benefits

"We also have to bear in mind that at the end of pregnancy periods of fetal sleep increase, sometimes babies sleep for 45 minutes in a row", Guerra adds.

The perinatologist Álvaro Cano, of the Women's Clinic, explains to the newspaper ABC del Bebé that, when the fetus moves, it means that he is well oxygenated and correctly stimulated: "his movements occur, for the most part, when there is activity of the mother, noise and sound by vibration in her belly; at night and after she ingests food, she gets freshly processed glucose and this activates him".

From week 28th, the movements of the baby are identified, so you should be very attentive and register them. If you do not feel movement, you can provoke it in different ways:

• Eat something that increases your glucose levels, for example, a fruit or chocolate
• Lie on your left side and massage your belly gently. Change your position or lie down with your legs up and during the next hour the baby will begin to move normally
• Talk to your baby and ask your partner to do it
• Listen to music and enlighten and press your belly

It may interest you: How to stimulate your baby in the womb?

When should I go to the doctor?

While the reduction in movement is normal, it can also be due to conditions such as obesity or malnutrition, diabetes, kidney failure, and placental abruption, all of which are extremely dangerous for you and your baby.

So, if you suspect that you may suffer from any of the aforementioned conditions, contact your doctor immediately to provide the appropriate guidance.

LatinAmerican Post | Luisa Báez
Translated from “No siento a mi bebé en mi vientre: ¿Debo preocuparme?”

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