A change in baby's movements

During pregnancy, feeling your baby move is a sign that
they are well. If your baby's pattern of kicks and movements changes, contact your midwife or nearest maternity unit immediately for advice.

There is no set number of normal movements. Every baby is different. From 16–24 weeks on you should feel your baby move more and more up until 32 weeks. From then, movements should stay roughly the same until you give birth and during labour too.

Call your maternity unit and go to get checked straight away if:

  • your baby is moving less than normal

  • movements feel weaker than normal

  • movements have stopped

Do not wait until the next day to get checked. The maternity unit is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week. You can call and get checked any time of the day or night.

If you are away from home, you can contact any maternity unit.

  • Do not do anything to try and make your baby move.

  • Do not use home dopplers, hand held monitors or phone apps to check your baby’s heartbeat. Even if you hear a heartbeat, this does not mean your baby is well.

Why are my baby’s movements important?

Sometimes, a baby who moves less is not getting enough oxygen. A small number of babies who move less are stillborn. This means they die before they are born.

So it is important to get checked straight away even if your pregnancy has been straightforward or you have not had any problems before.

What if my baby is moving less after I have been checked?

Contact your maternity unit straight away. Do this even if you have been seen earlier the same day or were recently told your baby was well. Always get checked, no matter how many times this happens.

I am not sure about movements, but I just feel that something is wrong. What should I do?

You know your body and your pregnancy best. If you feel that something is wrong, contact your maternity unit and tell them you are coming in. You should do this even if you can’t explain exactly why you feel that something is wrong.

These short films about the importance of knowing your baby's movements were produced for Our Chance, a campaign by the charities Sands and Best Beginnings to raise awareness of health issues in pregnancy.
More information

The Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology has information about baby's movements.

The charity Tommy's and NHS England have produced information about baby's movements.