Why Do Babies Kick in the Womb?

Pregnancy is full of wonder and if you’ve ever wondered what all those baby movements actually mean, then you may understand why babies kick in the womb.

As the babies grow, they gradually add more movements to their repertoire, such as hiccupping, arm and leg movements, stretching, yawning, and thumb sucking. But the mom won’t feel the bigger movements — such as kicks and punches — until 16 to 18 weeks into her pregnancy, when the baby is a bit stronger.

Reason Behind Babies kick

For pregnant women wondering if their baby is too kicky, or not kicky enough there’s no established amount of normal fetal movement during pregnancy. “Early movements are likely to be purely reflex,” but as the movements become more coordinated, “it’s likely the brain is in control of how much and when the baby moves.” (Reflexes, on the other hand, come from the spinal cord and don’t require input from the brain.)

Babies needs to move [in the womb] to be healthy after birth, particularly for their bones and joints,” In a review published in the journal European Cells and Materials, Nowlan described how a lack of fetal movement can lead to a variety of congenital disorders, such as shortened joints and thin bones that are susceptible to fracture.

In essence to further the study why babies kick, a team of researchers tested the monitor on 44 women who were 24 to 34 weeks pregnant and could accurately detect breathing, startle movements and other general body movements. Their results were published in the journal PLOS One in May.

One study, published in 2001 in the journal Human Fetal and Neonatal Movement Patterns, found that boys may move around more in the womb than girls. The average number of leg movements was much higher in the boys compared to the girls at 20, 34 and 37 weeks, that study found.

Fetal kicks can pack a punch

It’s unlikely that each woman will feel the same thing when her baby starts kicking.
“Different women experience the sensation quite differently, and sensations can vary between pregnancies,” Nowlan said. In her own two pregnancies, for example, she said she was much more sensitive to the movements of her second child compared to those of her first. she said. She hypothesized that this variation could have arisen because the womb muscles are more stretched out after the first pregnancy.

Babies in the womb are doing more than just kicking. By 15 weeks, the baby is also punching, opening and closing its mouth, moving its head, and sucking its thumb. A few weeks later, the baby will open and close its eyes. But the mother will feel only the major movements: kicking, punching and maybe big hiccups.

The babies also do “breathing movements,'” said Nowlan. While the baby isn’t actually breathing air, it will perform the same movement, just with amniotic fluid. Nowlan explained that babies who don’t perform this movement often have trouble breathing once they’re born, because they haven’t built up their chest muscles. Feeling a baby moving and kicking in the womb might be a weird sensation, but it’s simply a sign of healthy development.

Most Reasons Why Babies Kick

Whether it’s your first baby or fourth, every pregnant mother looks forward to feeling flutters and kicks from her baby. Known as ‘quickening’ it’s a reassuring sign that your baby is growing and thriving.


1: Babies tend to move mostly in response to what’s happening in their environment. Most times it could be too much noise, light or even certain strong foods can stimulate your baby into kicking and moving. Babies also need to stretch and move for relaxation. If you’re moving about, it can be soothing for your baby, they will often relax and even go to sleep. Mothers-to-be who participate in relaxation exercises, such as mediation or yoga, may find their babies are quieter. This study found that pregnant women undertaking a guided imagery relaxation exercise experienced a reduction in fetal movements. The exercise resulted in physiological signs of relaxation in the mother, such as lowered heart rate, respiration rate, and skin conductance. This in turn lowered fetal heart rates and decreased movements of babies.

2: How Many Baby Kicks is Normal?

The average number of kicks falls between 15-20 per day, remembering this includes all movement, not just kicking your bladder! Every baby is different, and this includes their movements. Some babies literally sleep all day and move at night when you are asleep, whereas others seem to be moving all the time. Babies rest and sleep in the womb as much as 17 hours a day, usually for periods of around 40-50 minutes at a time. If you’ve been busy and, on the move, you might not notice your baby’s wakeful movements.

3: When Should I Count Kicks?

There isn’t a ‘normal’ pattern for movements, but you have probably worked out what is normal for your baby. As your baby grows and develops, you shouldn’t feel less movement, rather your baby has less room to move and the sensation of her kicks will feel different. Sometimes it might feel like your baby’s movements have decreased. It’s important to contact your care provider immediately if you notice the following: Experiencing less than 10 movements in a two-hour period Reduced or no movement in response to external stimuli like loud noise, patting or prodding your belly, or the sound of your or your partner’s voice A gradual decrease in your baby’s movements for more than two consecutive days. Reduced movements can mean your baby isn’t getting enough oxygen or nutrients.

4: Does Reduced Baby Movements Mean Something Is Wrong?

While it doesn’t always mean something is wrong, reduced movement can be an indicator of fetal distress from lack of nutrition or oxygen. A maternal and fetal assessment will be done to look at the cause of reduced fetal movements. This involves an ultrasound to check blood flow of the placenta and baby’s wellbeing, as well as how they respond to stimuli. Sometimes a problem is detected and your care provider will discuss with you how to proceed if your baby needs to be born early, to prevent further complications. #7: Should I Count Kicks Every Day? Keeping tabs on your baby’s movement is important, but unless you’re experiencing a high-risk pregnancy, there’s no need to be consumed about kick counts. Most mothers will realize they have been very busy and haven’t noticed any movements. This usually prompts them to focus on their baby who immediately starts kicking up a storm! If after a meal or when your baby is usually very active.

5. Will My Baby Move Less After 36 Weeks?

Your baby should always be moving throughout the day. After 36 weeks of pregnancy, babies have much less room for big movements like kicks and rolls. This doesn’t mean you should feel a reduction in movement – they will still use their hands to explore their face and body, play with the umbilical cord, and try to stretch in their cramped surroundings. Regular and rhythmic movements will indicate your baby has hiccups – some babies have hiccups at the same time every day.

6: Does Fetal Movement Predict Future Behavior? Your baby’s pattern of movement in the uterus is often cause for speculation of their behavior once born. Everyone from your mother in law to the bank teller will tell you that babies who are active in pregnancy will have you run off your feet when they are toddlers. Babies who sleep all day and ‘party’ all night will have their nights and days backwards, according to conventional wisdom. But how true is it? A doctor from John Hopkins University has been studying links between fetal activity and future behavior. In one study, Doctor Jane DiPietro looked at fetal activity in over 50 babies, then followed up with behavior assessments at one and two years of age. The results seem to point to a link between movement in the uterus and regulatory behavior in early childhood. Regulatory behavior involves impulse control, inhibition and self-regulation.

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