Your pregnancy and baby guide

You should start to feel your baby move between around 16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. If this is your first baby, you might not feel movements until after 20 weeks.

The movements can feel like a gentle swirling or fluttering. As your pregnancy progresses, you may feel kicks and jerky movements.

If you have not felt your baby move by 24 weeks, tell your midwife. They'll check your baby's heartbeat and movements.

You should feel your baby move right up to and during labour.

How often should my baby move?

There's no set number of movements you should feel each day – every baby is different.

The important thing is to get to know your baby's usual movements from day to day.

Why are my baby's movements important?

If your baby is not well, they will not be as active as usual, which means less movement can be a sign of infection or another problem.

The sooner this is found out the better, so you and your baby can be given the right treatment and care. This could save your baby's life.

Find out more

You can find the Kicks Count app in the NHS apps library.

• Feeling your baby move is a sign they are well (PDF, 294kb) – a leaflet from the charity Tommy's and NHS England
• Your baby's movements (PDF, 131kb) – a leaflet from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG)

Find out the signs that labour may be starting.