Around this time, your spouse might begin to feel the first movements of your baby developing inside her womb. These fetal movements should be a reassuring sign for both of you that all is well with your baby.
When and how do fetal movements appear?
While there is no fixed period in the pregnancy when fetal movements appear, for most women this is after about 16 weeks. Your spouse may not describe anything very sensational, just a kind of light tapping or fluttering inside the stomach. In fact, if she is a first time mom, it may take her some time to recognize these as the movements of the baby. With time, she will be able to make out the baby’s activity cycle in more detail, and identify causes which trigger maximum activity.
Can only the mom feel fetal movements?
As the pregnancy advances and the movements become stronger, you will be able to feel them by placing your hands on your partner’s abdomen.
What can fetal movements do?
Fetal movements are an important clue to knowing that everything is fine with your baby. A sudden change or drop in the pattern of these movements, for instance, may indicate that something might be wrong inside. Some doctors even suggest a daily ‘fetal kick count.’
One way to do this is for your spouse to set aside a part of the day when she knows, by experience, the baby to be at its most active. She can then time how long it takes to feel ten distinct movements. If she experiences less than ten movements in two hours, this may be a sign you should consult your doctor.