When to start feeling the baby kick during pregnancy?

Angel-
First of all congrats on the baby. I just had my first seven months ago. I felt him move around 18-19 wks but I really had to lie still and concentrate because it is so subtle. I work in an OB office, and can safely tell you it is normal for you to not feel the baby yet. Some people do not feel it until 22 wks. At 20 wks the baby will only weigh around 12ounces. That's not a whole lot of weight to feel moving around in there. Try not to worry, you will be getting kicked continuously in no time.
B.

Congradulations! "What to expect..." talks about ideal weight gain, etc. And I've heard you can expect to start feeling the baby around 16-20 weeks or so, but it differs for everyone. I didn't feel my daughter move until close to 20 weeks. Actually, I had felt her, but didn't realize it was her. The baby moving may feel like faint fluttery feelings (I thought it was gas for a couple weeks before realizing what it was), not distinct kicks.

Hello, If you really want to see your baby and feel, go lay in the bathtub with water over your belly. If you felt your baby don't question it, just enjoy it! I just had a baby 7 months ago, my third, my greatest advice to you is to get a coach who knows what they are doing, leave everything in their hands at labor time, and breath as deep as you know how. I also don't believe in iv's,monitors, and laying in a bed the whole time, the baby can not work it's way down very easily if you are laying in a bed the whole time. You need to get up and walk, laying on your side works too. SOO enjoy!

HI A. and congratulations!

I'm 22 weeks pregnant with my second child. With your first child especially, it can take a while to feel anything (it varies greatly, though). I didn't feel my son move until I was about 23 weeks along - that was my first pregnancy.

With this pregnancy, I've felt her moving around for a few weeks already so it definitely changes once you've already had a child.

As far as how big you're supposed to be... don't even sweat it. Some people gain a lot of weight right from the start. Some barely even show until they're in the third trimester! It varies SOOOOO much.

At any rate, if you need an ear I'm happy to talk! Feel free to send an email if you'd like!

Best wishes and happy holidays!

J.

Hi there,

I didn't feel my son move at 17 weeks.. I was i believe at least 20 weeks when I felt him move. Hope this helps you.. if you ever need to talk.. just message me...

J.

Hi A.!

My husband and I also suffered two miscarriages, the first at 11 weeks and the second at 51/2 weeks. Both devistating. Once the doctor figured out that it was a hormone deficiency, we tried again. Now, we are expecting our little girl to be born sometime in the next 3 weeks! It has been such a scary roller coaster, and that is so normal!
I felt our baby move for the first time around 16-18 weeks...but it really felt like gas bubbles below my belly button. What a neat feeling, and they will only get stronger, and more pronounced. Now, our little one sticks her fanny out and it looks like a grapefruit is sticking out of my belly!
When I got scared (which was at least once every other day) I would read my books and use babycenter.com as a resource to help me get through whatever I was nervous about. Also, I would tell myself that I have done everything I can do to help make this baby, and that is all I can do. If you pray, that might help too.

Feel free to write me if you need to.!
Good Luck and Merry Christmas!

I'm 38 weeks along now with my first and I didn't feel her move till I was nearly 22 weeks. I'm sure everyone is different though.

The first time I felt my baby move was at the 20th week mark we were at the doctors office getting THE ultrasound and I felt something on the right side of my tummy and the lady put the thing back down on my tummy and there was the foot. It being your first baby your not sure what your feeling, dont worry over it, if you have some major concerns, call your OB. I was told to just sit/lay in a quiet room and concentrate on your tummy you are bound to feel something.

Congratulations

Oh at that ultrasound we found out the sex ITS A BOY. He will be 11months on the 27th of this month.

G.

I was about at your milestone when I felt the baby move for the first time with my first one. As you become pregnant again for subsequent pregnancies you'll feel it earlier.

I would say a regular body wouldn't show until you're about 24 weeks. I looked pregnant earlier cause I always had a little paunch below my waist. Again you'll start looking pregnant earlier if you have more kids.

If you want to try to make the baby move right now and see if you can feel it drink a glass of Orange juice then lay down in a quiet dark room. Give it an hour. If you fall asleep that's good cause you need more rest. I bet you'll feel something flutter near your belly button and it will wake you up.

I was either 18 or 19 weeks when I felt my first child for the first time. It felt so strange. Talk about butterflies in your stomach, heh.
One thing I wish I'd done with my first pg that I did during my second was join a due date club. I was on BabyZone, but I'm sure other baby sites out there have them too. It was so wonderful, talking to other women at the same stages I was. I fact, my son will be three in Feb, and I am still in touch with several of those women, even one in India! We have never met face to face, for the most part, but we can talk to each other about anything, and do gift exchanges, and send each other pix, great things like that. The conversations we've all had about poopy diapers and hemorrhoids are uncountable, heehee!
I would recommend checking out something like that. It can really be a fear-reducer and stress-reliever.
Just think, you're almost half-way there! Big belly {{HUGS}} to you, and good luck!

J.

I just wanted to add on the part about the size you should be...depending on your size before you became pregnant. Such as i was tall, slender like 5'7" and about 110 lbs sooooo i didnt show much until i was about 8 mos...had a very small belly but really popped out at the end. He was my first and weighed almost 8lbs... only gained 23 lbs...so depends alot on your size and body. Good luck & Merry Christmas.

Hello Angel. I know exactly what you are going through right now except I had 6 miscarriages before I had my, now 2 1/2 year old, daughter. I was told that I couldn't have children and was very scared my whole pregnancy. But you are nearly 1/2 way there girl! I think you should be able to sit back and enjoy, well-at least try to, the rest of your pregnancy. You won't get too awful big for your first. It's usually the ones that follow that make you huge. But take heart, you just might get blessed with not only a child but bigger boobies!!! YAY LOLOLOL. I went from a 32B to a 36C girl. Enjoy and congratualtions!!! Merry Christmas!!!!

When I was pregnant with my daughter she NEVER moved. I can only remember TWO days where she moved. First and only pregnancy so far. I have such a bad family history I called my doctor and made them check. We listened to the heart beat. She was fine. Even with the ultra sound she didn't move that much. The little snot had the cord between her legs and her legs crossed we didn't know she was a girl till the doctor told us at birth. She is prefectly fine and an VERY active two-year old. With all her limbs moving as fast as she can get them too. I would call you doctor if you are very concered and have them check for the heart beat and maybe they will do an extra ultra sound to make sure everything is ok. It really settled me to hear the heart beat. The best was when we got to see the heart beat at 6 weeks when that was all she was. I had a very high risk pregnancy till 16 weeks then it was smooth sailing just a very clam baby in the womb if only she was now. :) GOOD LUCK with your new little one they are great. :)

Every body is different, Angel. Since this is your first pregnancy you have carried into the second trimester, you probably won't feel your first flutterings until closer to your 20th through 22nd week. As for how big you are supposed to be, you are young and your abdominal muscles are in their prime so you will show less this first full term pregnancy until your reach your third trimester. Babies grow at different rates, as well. Your doctor will measure your fundal length (length from pubic bone to top of uterus)and let you know if there is something abnormal. I wouldn't sweat it! Take a deep breath, relax and enjoy the miracle of life that is happening within you!!

Big hugs to you for your previous losses. You will find that miscarriages are not as uncommonas you might think as you hear more and more women sharing their stories with you. I went through two before my first full-term pregnancy and now have two healthy girls. Miscarriages, as sad as the loss can be, are designed to avoid birth defects. The child you are carrying now has such a strong chance of being perfect that you can rest easy and look forward to holding your child in your arms very soon!

I know you already have a few requests but one more shouldn't hurt. I'm 25 and just had my first baby last year. Everybodies body is different and me being a little thicker than some, lol, it sometimes depends on your body type too. I didn't feel my daughter until I was about 20 weeks. Alot of it is a little flutter but if you don't know what you're looking for then you won't even notice. I was watching tv one evening and it felt like something in my stomach was balling up into a ball. That's when I finally realized it was her. So don't be alarmed. Congratulations, Merry Christmas and enjoy it. I had 2 misses before mine also so I was calling the doctor over every little thing. When I learned to relax things came more smoothly. later

I usually felt the first movements around the fifth month, but everyone is different. At first it feels like butterflies in your belly, and you very well may be unsure as to wether or not you really felt the baby move. Here are some sites on fetal development that may be useful to you:
http://www.wprc.org/fetal.phtml
http://www.babycenter.com/fetaldevelopment/

I like www.babycenter.com because you can register there (for free) and they can send you weekly updates on your baby's development.
Congratulations, and good luck to you for a safe delivery and a healthy baby! And try not to get too scared; you are past the highest risk stage of pregnancy. Also, for the most part, it''s not as scary as it is typically made out to be. (For example, my labors, from the first contraction until the baby was delivered were, in order, 12 hours, 7 hours, and just under 5 hours.) If you have an opportunity to attend birthing classes, I would recommend it. The breathing techniques didn't help me much personally, but you can learn a lot of information, become better prepared for labor and delivery, and have your questions answered in more detail from a medical standpoint there. Congratulations again and I wish you the best of luck!

Congrates

I am currently 36 weeks pregnaunt and I think I felt him kicking aroundd 18 or 2 weeks. This is my first so I was not really sure what to expect. I joined babyzone and babycenter to find out info. I also asked a lot of questions when i was at the drs.

The good news is that you have past the 1st trimester and statistically that is when you're at the most risk for miscarriage. So your chances of having a successful pregnancy are far greater.

I can't remember the site..but there are hundreds of pictures of womens bellies at various stages of pregnancy. I use to love to look at when I was pregnant and compare. It even tells if it's their first, second, ect.

If you google "pictures of pregnant bellys" it should come up. I will try and find it and respond again.

Unfortunately I don't remember when I first felt my kids move. Everyone varies so much.
Good Luck

Well, congratulations on your pregnancy!..17 weeks..that's about 4mths...yep you probably should feel the baby move a little around this time..
i did..but remember everyone's body function in different ways...you may feel a little flutter, then again you may not feel anything at all. All I can say right now is to take it easy and don't feel so pressured..especially with your history...try not to stress...as long as your doctor continue to hear a strong heartbeat be grateful. Just relax,and things will go the way they are suppose to.