31 Weeks Pregnant, Spastic Kicking!

Updated on August 09, 2010
H.A. asks from San Francisco, CA
20 answers

Hi there,

I'm 31 weeks pregnant with my second child, and for the past several weeks my baby has been kicking SO much. The movements are much stronger than they were during my first pregnancy and even kind of alarming! It feels like s/he is frantically flailing around in there and sometimes the movements almost seem kind of spastic.

Have any of you felt this? Could it be a symptom that there is something wrong? My OBGYN is on vacation and I asked the backup at a regular checkup last week, but she just said all pregnancies/babies are different.

Any reassurance would be great. :)

Thanks!

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Our bundle of joy is here. He is SO strong and active, already at 2 1/2 months! Sometimes he has this leg quiver that our pediatrician says is normal at this age. I think that is what I was feeling when I was pregnant that worried me. Thanks again for the encouraging replies!

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.B.

answers from San Francisco on

It could even be something that you are eating. Monitor what happens after you eat certain foods as well.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

G.B.

answers from San Francisco on

Don't know if this'll help, but I was the opposite- I was used to being pregnant w/my 2 wildly out of control kicking BOYS- and when I was pregnant with my GIRL I was terrified, bc she barely moved- like these soft gentle movements that were almost undetectable. My OB said that moms who've had boys 1st and then a girl, are the most worried about this. All the kicking is a good sign- I think this will help you if you already have a girl- maybe you're having a boy. Don't worry- congratulations!!!

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.B.

answers from Redding on

My first baby kicked and rolled around so much that if she was still for 20 minutes I got worried. She came out ready to take on the world and was walking at 7 months!
My second baby didn't move around nearly as much and he is a more mellow, peacefull, laid back kind of guy.

I think you're just going to have an active baby. Get ready!

Best wishes!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.M.

answers from San Francisco on

My second one was just like that. It was comical. You could look at my belly and see the feet and hands protrude as he kicked and punched and tried to roll over. He would kick so hard and for so long that if I was sitting in a rocking chair, he would rock it. The day I was scheduled for my cesarian, I was lying there waiting, in a big room with two other women waiting (I think, cuz I couldn't actually see them) and the nurses had the heart monitor on my tummy. They had to turn the sound off because he was kicking so hard it was deafening. At first eveyone kinda laughed about it saying "Oh, he's really ready to come outta there". He's fine. He is much more physically active and sports oriented than his big brother. He loves to run, play baseball, throw balls, kick balls, and run some more. He does laps around the house for 20 mins or so before bed each night. He's an absolute joy and we get a total kick out of how much fun he has just running. He's 2 1/2.

H.V.

answers from Cleveland on

I'm about 36wks right now..and I kid you not, today, this baby would NOT stop moving. Literally all day long I've been getting kicked like crazy.

You're baby is just fine :)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.K.

answers from San Francisco on

Most likely you feel the kicks more this time around or the baby is more active than your first. However I have seen the rare case where the baby has seizures. I would have my OB check things out. At least it would easy your mind. All the best!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.S.

answers from Tulsa on

my first one was calm my second one was like what your describing. come to find out everytime he did this it would storm within 10 minutes. my second is alot more active and energetic than his brother. he is all boy and fearless at that. I would be more worried with no activity even though they do that too. it was cool on the ultra sound you could watch him wave his arms over and over and kick me. its annoying and you cant sleep through it but I would say he is fine. bet its a boy.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.B.

answers from Dallas on

Oh my goodness...my son kicked like crazy! I could hands, elbows, his butt hitting my skin. He would kick like that for hours and hours. I had highly abnormal amounts of amniotic fluid, which allowed him to have a party in my belly. He never felt confined and would never choose a position. You might have your Dr. check your fluid levels. It's not really a big deal, to have a lot of fluid. They just take different precautions, but it doesn't affect the baby, or your ability to have a healthy baby!!

My son is exactly how he was in my belly, in life. He's busy busy!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.B.

answers from Kansas City on

Each pregnancy/baby is different. Depending on the position the baby is in, and the location of the placenta (which can buffer some of those movements), the amount of movement varies. Sometimes feels like there is a soccer game going on in there.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.G.

answers from Fresno on

i am nearly 32 wks into my 3rd pregnancy and i feel more rapid kicking and crazy movement then my first 2. and my first 2 were very different from each other they each have their fav places to hit and different types of movement. my first was really strong kicks and my second was constent kicks and she moved my belly in every direction. every pregnancy really is different. some times with this pregnancy it feels like my sides of my tummy are just twitching really fast and outta nowhere.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.F.

answers from Cleveland on

I am 30 weeks pregnant and get frantic spastic movements all the time!! This is my second child and I don't remember having this at all with my first, I don't think it's anything to worry about.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

I'd bring this to your doctors attention right away-not to scary you,but if this is not seems normal to you,you should check it out-get ultrasound.You know your body better and just do it for the piece of mind.If everything looks good-well,you have a very active lil one.Good luck.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.M.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi there, I have 6 children and one of my sons kicked with so much force, very different from all the rest. He does have full blown ADHD, just to let you know my experence. Good Luck with your new baby.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi there!

My second child was just born in May, and I had some serious kicking, too. It was so extreme that it would distract my husband while we watched TV. (now that's saying something, b/c it normally takes at least 4 times repeating something before it enters his consciousness!). He could noticeably see my belly move from 8 feet away.

He was a busy boy, and now that's he's out, he's amazingly strong. Held his head up the first week, excels at tummy time, etc. I think it could be due to him hearing his older brother playing and trying to play along too and/or it could be God's way of ensuring survival (he has to be sturdy to make it through his brother's affection)!

Remember, as the baby's neurological system develops, the movements become more fluid, but that's not till after they are out. So it makes sense that they are a little jerky. Also, I felt a lot of hiccup episodes while DS was inside (he still hiccups daily).

Hope this is reassuring!

Best regards!

C.C.

answers from Fresno on

My younger child was this way! I was pretty sure she was trying to jump out of my stomach via my belly button. Well, guess what? She is now 5 years old, and hasn't stopped moving since. It's a family joke that we call her our "wiggler." The child absolutely can't sit still for more than a few seconds. They are who they are, right from the start! =) Congrats on your pregnancy!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.M.

answers from San Francisco on

When I was pregnant, I swear there were times when I was certain that my baby was doing tae-bo in my belly. So much kicking and punching. When she was born, we discovered that she had really loooong legs, so maybe that was part of the problem. Your baby is probably just fine - just really active. Good luck and congrats!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.C.

answers from Cincinnati on

Since I can't feel what you are feeling, I can't say for sure. But I can say that my OB told me that kicks and hits are often stronger with the second baby because the baby has more room to stretch out (since the first baby already blew up that balloon once, so to speak) and so they can really get going. My second baby is also a lot more active than my first was! I have heard that some mothers can feel their babies having seizures in the womb, which is scary, and so if you think this is a possibility, absolutely bring it up with your OB as soon as possible. But if it isn't that violent or drawn out, I would just accept that this baby has more room to move around than your last one did. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.M.

answers from Providence on

Oooh sounds like a nice strong healthy baby! Congratulations. My little guy was VERY active!!

K.N.

answers from Austin on

I'm about 34 weeks with our 2nd. I know exactly what you're describing. This one has been doing it since around 29/30 weeks. It reminds me of Thumper in the old Bambi movie, the way he would repetitively beat his foot on the ground. I mentioned it to my OB; she just smiled and nodded, then said it's good she's so active. Try not to worry yourself about it.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

My baby kicked pretty frantically sometimes, although I remember it being more frantic earlier in the pregnancy when he had more space. I was worried because he was doing it at about 16 weeks and I didn't think I should be able to feel it yet, but my doc said "Don't worry he's just excited!" Maybe you ate something yummy and your baby likes it. :) Of course ask your doctor but it sounds okay to me. I also had a lot of movements from my baby that felt like a sudden jolt almost like he was jumping, which I thought were weird. But he seems to be okay so don't worry too much!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions