Being pregnant for the first time is an exciting time for two people who love each other. The baby is, hopefully, the manifestation of that love. You could probably ask a dozen different women to try to explain the feeling of a baby inside their stomach, what it feels like when it kicks, and you would get at least a dozen different answers. This is what makes the whole experience so unique to each couple.
Time Frame
Just as every woman will have a different description of the how the baby feels inside of her, each baby has a different time frame for when she actually begins to kick. Some fetuses begin moving around 18 to 20 weeks into the pregnancy. Some women claim to feel a movement when they are only 13 to 16 weeks, and this is typically called "quickening."
Considerations
If you are pregnant for the first time, it is a good idea to purchase a book that provides you with a guide to how your baby is changing from week to week. The baby's movements will increase as the weeks go by. At 20 to 24 weeks, the baby will be quite active during the day. At 32 weeks, the baby will definitely let you know that he is feeling slightly cramped inside his small space.
Identification
Women have described the feeling of a fetus kicking as being like "popcorn popping, a goldfish swimming around, or butterflies fluttering," according to the website UKQnA. These are all romantic descriptions and don't really explain how sometimes a baby kicking the mother's ribs can actually be rather painful. Other descriptions of a baby's kick include a muscle twitch, a rippling sensation, bubbles or, as one woman described it on the Breastmates website, "full on karate kick which really hurt."
Expert Insight
Many smaller women feel their baby kicking sooner than a woman who has more weight on her. When you are in your third trimester, a good way to keep track of the kicks and to make sure everything is going as planned is to count the number of kicks a baby makes in two hours. Lie on your side and be very quiet. Count 10 different types of movements your baby makes in those two hours. If you don't feel 10 different movements in those two hours, call your doctor.
Effects
Every pregnancy is different so there will be variations in your baby in utero. Some babies are more active than others. Try not to compare notes with other pregnant women as this may only upset you if you find out that someone else's baby is kicking more than yours. Have fun with the movements and use this time as a period of bonding with your partner and your baby.
