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In the early stages of the pregnancy, it gets difficult to understand the various movements you feel in the stomach. It could be your baby or it could simply be the stomach’s effort to push out the gas. But after a point, you can actually start feeling the movements of your baby and you know for sure that there is a living, breathing entity inside your body that will call you its mother soon.
What is Pregnancy Quickening?
The first time when you feel your baby’s movements and begin to realize its presence is termed as pregnancy quickening. Many mothers tend to feel it as someone tapping from within, or a vibrating sensation as if a bird is taking flight. Some babies tend to make it feel as if they are punching or kicking around inside the body.
This is generally the time when your baby begins to undertake womb-based exercises on his own. It tries to make more space for it and as you get closer to your due date, you will feel these movements even more strongly. Since this is one of the first markers that make it evident of the presence of a child, it is termed as quickening as if to refer to the quick way that the movement makes you aware of a child’s presence.
When and Where can you Feel the Baby’s First Move?
While observing quickening during pregnancy signs and symptoms do vary from mother to mother. On a general basis, the first movements can be felt when the pregnancy is between 4 months to 6 months. Some mothers may experience it early, others could seem to feel it quite later.
First-time mothers take longer to realize these movements than mothers who have felt them in their previous pregnancies since these can also feel like gas rumblings. If you are slightly on the heavy side, it might take a little longer for the baby to make movements that can be evident to be noticed. Also, if the front wall of the uterus is covered with the placenta, then all those movements will be cushioned and could make it difficult to be sensed.
In the earlier stages, the lower position of the uterus makes all these movements to be sensed in the lower part of the abdomen. But as the pregnancy progresses, they can be felt higher up in the abdomen, too.
How does the First Foetal Movement Feel Like?
First-time mothers are generally quite curious to know what does quickening feel like inside the body. The movements vary from baby to baby, which is why it feels different for everyone. At times, it feels like a flutter, or a tiny body tumbling inside your stomach, or a popping and pushing sensation, and many others.
These movements are weaker in the beginning. But, over time, you could easily tell if your baby punched, or he kicked. Some babies can be karate enthusiasts and make you feel a jab as well. All of these sensations are absolutely painless.
For a long time, the only sign of the baby’s presence for a mother is usually what she sees in the ultrasound. But the feeling of an actual physical movement can bring intense happiness. You can indulge in conversations with your child when it kicks since it can hear your voice from the inside. Maybe playing its favourite music could make it move even more, and letting your partner feel it from the outside of the stomach can bring you both great joy.
