Tips for Feeling Kicks?

dabudans · October 2014

Hi all! I'm 20 weeks and can't distinguish between my pulse and any baby motions that may be going on. Any tips are super appreciated! >:D<

pregarella · October 2014

The baby's kicks won't be as rhythmic as your pulse. They will be much more random and varied in terms of beats and how hard they feel.

dabudans · October 2014

Thanks! I think I may have a very discreet young man growing in there and will just have to be patient.

Does a hand over the belly ever help? Or do I just have to give it time?

pregarella · October 2014

Hand on the belly won't necessarily help. Once I start feeling my LO kicking in there, and she stops, sometimes I'll poke her because I want to keep feeling her and she will start up again. You will find, or at least I do (and did in my last pregnancy), that your baby will have certain times in the day when he is super active. Mine was always at night when I was relaxing watching tv before bed.

dabudans · October 2014

@pregarella‌ so glad to know I'm not the only one giving my little guy a poke now and then.

rmcabee328 · October 2014

I'm 18 weeks and just started feeling those sweet jabs. I poke baby a lot so others can see it and have noticed the baby goes nuts when I'm on the right side!

TwinsCitiesMomma · October 2014

Question- what does the ice water do that makes the baby move?

jpavenski · October 2014

I've been icing my stomach since I got my appendix out & that makes my little one go crazy! But with my first I didn't feel movement until later & then he was never a big kicker. This one is already jabbing me more than my first guy.

AshleyS512 · October 2014

I've found that after dinner and laying on my left side I feel the most movement. I've heard drinking a cold glass of milk can help but I haven't tried this specifically.

Bostonchelle · October 2014

I have good success laying down at night to feel baby. At this stage I can't feel him from the outside only on the inside (18 wks STM). Give it a few weeks and you'll find you'll be able not only feel from the outside but see it too!

I'm not sure exactly what the ice water does but I've done the same thing with super cold orange juice and it normally gets baby moving around more- not sure if it's the cold or the sugar.

kellbell1982 · October 2014

I'm going to be 21 weeks tomorrow and just started feeling her at about twenty weeks due to an anterior placenta. She's my second baby that I've carried this far and I find that pushing my stomach muscles out (as if you are pushing your stomach out to look bigger) will make her move almost every time. Give it a try

growingournest · October 2014

I really think every baby is going to be different with this, and what works for one person probably won't for another. For me, I've learned that I feel baby the most (or baby is most active) right after I've eaten, if I sit forward sort of bent forward at my hips, and when I'm sitting back a little propped up with something like pillows. Sadly I think you're just going to have to learn your baby and when he/she is the most active! But not to worry, soon the punching and kicking is going to be so strong it'll keep you up at night!

drudolph11 · October 2014

You can try the flashlight trick. I have tried this twice with no success but I was like 16 weeks but have heard that it works. If you hold a flash light to your belly the baby will move away from the light and you will feel them. Let me know if you try it :-)

Eta: my mom said that eating a piece of sugary candy gets them moving too!

marissalucia · October 2014

I've heard sugary candy, sugary drinks or caffeine will get them moving. Personally I feel my munchkin all day long already, but I feel him the most when I'm still, either laying down or sitting down. But when I specifically want him to move I find coughing helps. This is the first time ive been this far along in a pregnancy, but when it is actually your little one moving, you will know. I was afraid I would never be able to tell the difference between a kick and digestive related things, but when he really started kicking, there was no denying it. I just knew. It feels like big muscle twitches to me, and it continues throughout the day, each day. And it is awesome.

Hope you feel your LO soon

Whitfry · October 2014

I'm 19 weeks and I feel my baby sporadically, but not as distinctly or clearly as I would like yet. Just wanted to chime in that you're not alone! When I try to lay still and focus all I can hear is my own pulse.

Lots of good advice in this thread!

FrecklesInside · October 2014

Tips? ....wait until you can feel it and then you will.

smithjmonique052211 · October 2014

My baby loves sweet tea. He goes crazy. 1m almost 17 weeks.

littlepawsbigears · October 2014

Thanks for posting this. I'm only 17.5 weeks, so I know it's ok that I haven't felt anything yet, but I'm anxious non the less. Laying on my stomach a week ago, I thought I felt something, but nothing since. Glad I'm not alone.

kjplusone3215 · October 2014

There is a big difference between your pulse and the baby kicking. Give it time, I'm sure you will feel baby eventually.

dabudans · October 2014

Great tips everyone. A little kick now and then at bedtime has been very exciting.

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