STUDY: When babies kick in the womb, it's actually helping them grow!

Feeling your baby’s kicks in the womb for the first time is an exciting milestone! And as your pregnancy develops, those little butterfly flutters change to boisterous acrobatics, punches and kicks in your womb. These movements might be so strong sometimes that they could wake you up from sleep!  Have you ever wondered what an active baby in womb means for both his development and your pregnancy? 

If your (over) active baby in womb is starting to get you anxious about why he’s so wriggly, perhaps the results of a new study will put you at ease. An active baby’s kicks not only give them a way to stretch or say “hello” to the the outside world, it helps sculpt and strengthen their bones, muscles and joints. 

The study, published in the Journal of the Royal Society, mapped out the movements of an active baby in womb. In other words, they studied how foetuses wiggle and grow in utero.

What they found about your active baby in womb is truly amazing:

• • At 20 to 30 weeks, kicks get stronger. According to MRI scans of foetal kicks, they noted that these movements strengthened at 20 to 30 weeks.
  • Stress on a baby’s joints depends on how strong they kick. They also managed to measure the strength of the kicks as well as how much stress or strain they put on an unborn baby’s bones and joints.
  • Kicks lessen at around 35 weeks in utero. Researchers found that kicks decreased by 35 weeks of pregnancy. Why? Because there isn’t enough room to wiggle or kick around in the womb.
  • But pressure continues to increase and so does growth. However, pressure on the baby’s leg bones and joints continue to increase. This helps the foetus grow!
  • Movement helps babies grow in utero. This study emphasises the importance of how the right movements influence foetal growth. This is likely why preemies sometimes have bone or joint disorders.
  • How a baby moves before birth can affect health when they grow up. More research is needed to get a clearer picture of the relation between foetal movements and bone health later in life, such as osteoarthritis.

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Now that you know that an active baby in womb is a good thing, what should you do if your little one is a bit lazy? No problem – mums-to-be can encourage their baby to wiggle around or even kick in the womb!

Here’s what you can try:

You can lie down on your left side. Concentrate on feeling your baby’s movements for about two hours. You should feel your baby move AT LEAST 10 times. If not, consult your doctor immediately.

Drink a glass of orange juice or milk to wake your baby up. The same goes for snacking. This stimulates your baby’s metabolism and increases your baby’s wiggles and active movements.

In the same way that you can lull a baby to sleep with music, you can also rouse them and get them moving through your choice of sounds. The song doesn’t have to be too upbeat or loud, just enough to stimulate their sense of hearing and, perhaps, their love for dancing.

Relax, mums! Like we said, foetal movements differ with each mum (and each pregnancy!). So don’t pressure yourself to feel it exactly the same way as other mums. But don’t hesitate to tell your doctor about any worries you may have. 

An active baby in womb is a good thing

Once babies hit the 15-week mark in utero, they start to move their bodies as well as their limbs. Most mummies don’t really feel these movements at this stage. But around 16 to 25 weeks along, they can start to feel the wonderful flutters of their growing baby in their belly.

Feeling an active baby in womb and their tiny kicks and punches can offer reassurance that your little one is active and healthy. So naturally, when your baby doesn’t move around as much, it can cause anxiety.

The good news is, the number of foetal movements varies with each mum. They also differ in sensation — kicks, flutters, or rolls — throughout a woman’s pregnancy.

• • • You should consult your doctor when foetal movements have significantly reduced.
    • Remember: Babies in utero sleep too, but usually not more than 90 minutes.
    • Foetal movements usually increase after 32 weeks and assume a steady pattern.
    • Baby kicks should be felt until a mum goes into labour.

If you have any worries, let your doctor know immediately. Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it can also be a time of worry. It’s always best to be safe, mummies! Don’t hesitate to open up to your doctor even about the simplest of concerns.

Sources: Science News, The Journal of the Royal Society, NHS UK, Livestrong

READ THIS ALSO: 7 Amazing facts about baby’s kicks during pregnancy