When do fetal movements decrease?

The so-called fetal movement refers to the movement produced when the fetus moves in the mother's belly. For example, the fetus kicks its legs in the belly, which will produce an impact on the uterine wall. At this time, the mother can feel the fetal movement. Generally, pregnant women can feel fetal movement when they are four months pregnant, and then the fetal movement will become more and more frequent. So when will the fetal movement begin to decrease?

When do fetal movements decrease?

Fetal movement is a magical thing for many women who are pregnant for the first time. It is the first time that they can feel the movement of the baby in their belly so realistically. But in fact, fetal movements also have a regular pattern. Generally, fetal movements begin to occur in the fourth to fifth month of pregnancy. At first, they will be mild and low in frequency, then reach a peak, and finally the frequency and amplitude of fetal movements will gradually decrease. So, today let’s find out when fetal movements begin to decrease.

Fetal movement refers to the movement of the fetus in the uterine cavity that impacts the uterine wall. After 4 months of pregnancy, that is, from the 5th month, the mother can clearly feel the movement of the fetus. The fetus stretches its hands, kicks its legs, and hits the uterine wall in the uterus. This is fetal movement. The number, speed, strength, etc. of fetal movements indicate the safety of the fetus. Normal obvious fetal movements should be no less than 3 to 5 times per hour, and more than 30 to 40 times in 12 hours. However, due to the large individual differences among fetuses, some fetuses may move about 100 times in 12 hours. As long as the fetal movements are regular, rhythmic, and do not vary much, it proves that the fetal development is normal. Normal fetal movement indicates that the placenta is functioning well, that the fetus is receiving sufficient oxygen, that the fetus is growing and developing healthily in the uterus, and that the fetus is moving happily.

Generally speaking, fetal movement begins between 18 and 20 weeks of pregnancy. The initial fetal movement is very slight, like intestinal peristalsis. As the pregnancy progresses, the fetal movement becomes stronger and stronger, and the pregnant woman feels it more and more obviously. It reaches a peak at 28 to 32 weeks, decreases slightly after 37 to 38 weeks, and in the last month of pregnancy, the fetus grows and fills the uterine cavity, and the fetal movement actually decreases slightly. That is to say, fetal movements will begin to decrease when the pregnancy approaches nine months.

Pregnant friends now know the pattern of fetal movement. You should pay close attention to whether the pattern of your fetal movement is relatively consistent with the normal fetal movement range. If the fetal movement is abnormal, it is best to go to a regular obstetrics and gynecology hospital for relevant examinations, paying special attention to the development of the fetus, because abnormal fetal movement may be an abnormality in the baby's growth.