Videos you might be interested in
Videos you might be interested in
Videos you might be interested in
Suggested for you
Baby Kicking During Pregnancy
Your pregnancy may seem surreal till the time you begin to feel your baby's movements. Till then, the main symptoms that help you realise that you are pregnant are related to discomforts, such as nausea and morning sickness. However, once your baby is big enough to make movements that you can feel, your pregnancy starts feeling more real than ever! This is a very exciting phase for every mother-to-be.
Just as it is with every aspect of pregnancy, there are many exciting facts about your baby’s kicks in the womb too. When your baby is really small, he has enough room in your womb to move around. He can be rather restless and active in this phase without you having any inkling of it. However, as he grows bigger, the constraints of space will limit his freedom of movement. Nonetheless, don't expect your baby to stay still despite this. Prepare yourself for plenty of activity at this time too.
Although every baby has his or her own personality and activity levels that make every pregnancy unique, there are certain facts that mothers can use to determine whether everything is progressing as it should. To be able to read the signs, let us look at the different factors that are closely associated with baby kicking in womb during pregnancy.
Video: Baby Kicking During Pregnancy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNwPcWndYgE
Exciting Facts About Feeling the Baby Kicks
1. Kicks Indicate That The Baby is Not in Distress
One of the best things about feeling your baby's kicks is that it is a clear indication that your baby is fine and not in distress. Hence, it is a way to identify if all is well with your baby. The movements will build up over time. However, once your baby is big and fills most of your womb, the movements will be slower due to lack of space. Nonetheless, they will be strong and should usually follow a definite pattern.
2. There is No Fixed Time for Baby Kicking to Start
Once your pregnancy is confirmed and you are past the initial discomfort, one of the questions in your mind is in which month of pregnancy baby starts kicking? You may even be perplexed when others around you seem to relentlessly ask you the same question. So, in what month do you feel your baby kick, or rather, by when should you feel your baby kick? One fact to remember is that every pregnancy is different. There is no hard and fast rule as to when you will feel your baby move. Some women feel it early on in their pregnancy, while it is much later for others. This can also vary in each of your pregnancies, if you have had children before.
3. Most Moms-to-be Feel Baby Kicks Between 16-25 Weeks
Normally, baby kicks can be felt between 16 and 25 weeks of pregnancy. If you are a first-time mom, expect to feel the movements closer to the twenty-fifth week mark. If you are concerned that there is no evident movement even after you cross this mark, you should consult your medical practitioner. There are also several instances when your baby has been kicking all along, but you haven't been able to associate the feeling you experience with the baby's kicking. This is because the baby's kicking may not really feel like a real kick in the initial stages. It is a soft and barely discernible movement that gathers strength as time progresses and then becomes evident.
4. It is Recommended to Track Baby Kicks
Experts suggest that mothers should keep track of their baby's movements to ensure all is well. You do not have to do this constantly. You can fix a certain time of the day, when you dedicate a few moments to simply observing the movements of your baby. Make a journal if required, and observe how long it takes for you to record a certain number of kicks. Although there may be variations over the day, this should help you associate a pattern to determine when your baby is active and when he sleeps or rests.
5. Baby Kicks Can Get More Pronounced at Night
One of the questions that many pregnant women ask doctors is why do babies kick in the womb at night? In fact, many mothers lose sleep due to the continuous activity of the babies at night. The reason for this is that your baby tends to be alert and active when you are resting and there isn't much chaos around. It is also because you may not notice the baby's movements during the day, when you yourself are rather active. However, the movements tend to be more pronounced during the night when your body is resting.
6. Baby Kicks Don’t Indicate Hyperactivity
As your pregnancy nears full-term, you may also wonder - was the baby kicking too much during pregnancy? Although you may be concerned that your unborn child is hyperactive and if it is a sign to worry, it is rarely the case. It just means that your baby is fine and active, and if anything, it is a good sign.
7. Baby Kicks Get Affected by The Mother’s Diet
Baby movements are also related to the things you consume. You may observe that your baby becomes excited and shows active movement following a meal. This is because of the sudden surge of energy from the food you consume. Stimulants like caffeine can also cause bursts of activity for your baby. If you think your baby is being too active for your own benefit, consider cutting down on sugary stuff and caffeinated drinks, and you should be able to see a positive difference. If baby makes sleep time disturbing for you, try to stand up and walk around for a short while. This may coax him to relax and settle down, and allow you to sleep better.
8. Track Your Baby’s Kicks After Consuming a Meal
The initial feeling of baby kicks is often comparable to bubbles popping or butterflies fluttering in your stomach, rather than evident kicks. You can identify if it is actually your baby by observing the pattern and keeping watch for when it occurs. Since babies prefer to increase their activity levels after their jolt of energy from a meal, it is a good idea to spend some time observing the activity after you finish a meal. You should be able to identify it then.
9. Baby Kicks May Be Felt Sooner in Second Pregnancy
Many second-time mothers wonder - when does baby start kicking in second pregnancy? The fact is that these mothers usually find it easier than first-timers to identify baby movements. Since your body adjusts to this consecutive pregnancy better, it is also likely that you feel your baby movements earlier than in your first pregnancy. However, this will also depend on the activity levels of your baby.
10. Your Partner Will Be Able to Feel the Baby Kicking in Third Trimester
What begins as fluttering movements in your stomach will soon quicken and become obvious signs that your baby is in action. As your pregnancy progresses into the third trimester, the baby's movements may even be visible from the outside. It won't be that long before someone who places their hand on your stomach can feel the kicks of your baby.
An important indicator of the baby’s health, kicks are not only the first communication you have with your baby but also a parameter you should track. An even pattern is a reassurance that the baby is doing well. If you find any changes to the regular pattern, it may be a good idea to talk to your doctor about it. Read more
Suggested for you
Suggested for you
Bottle Feeding Problems and Their Solutions
When a baby refuses to bottle feed, cries or turns its head away, does not swallow and spills instead, it is a sign that something is amiss.
Signs Your Baby Refusing Bottle-feeding
A breastfed baby refusing bottle feeding is relatively common, and it isn’t much cause for alarm. Following are some signs that your baby is refusing bottle feeding.
Starting to cry when approached with a bottle or placed in feeding position.
Constantly turning and shifting its head to avoid the bottle.
Falling asleep while feeding.
Spilling most of the milk from the sides of the mouth instead of swallowing.
Not closing its mouth when the nipple is inserted.
Closing its mouth when the nipple is inserted but not sucking.
Coughing and spitting out the milk.
Throwing up the milk.
Sucking a little milk and then refusing more.
Feeding very quickly or very slowly.
Not feeding the expected amount.
Common Bottle Feeding Problems and their Solutions
There are various reasons for a baby to refuse bottle feeding; the good news is that most of these reasons are behavioural in nature and can be addressed, sometimes, by simply observing the baby for vital clues. Given below are some common problems associated with bottle feeding and their solutions.
1. Misinterpreting Hunger
The most common and the most easily correctable problem related to bottle feeding is the misinterpretation of hunger by new moms. Babies tend to suck on their thumbs and other objects for various reasons other than being hungry. A baby may suck on things out of anxiety, boredom or simply being tired; many mothers misinterpret this reflex of hunger. Attempting to feed the baby based on this behaviour can result in the baby refusing to feed simply because it is not hungry.
What to Do
If the baby is refusing to feed, do not force it, accept that you may have misinterpreted and wait till the baby gives more clear clues of being hungry.
2. Misinterpreting/Miscalculating Feeding Amount
The second most common and easily correctable problem with regards to bottle feeding is miscalculating the amount of milk or baby formula a baby really needs. Sometimes parents make calculations based on expert opinion or simply guesstimate their baby’s daily requirement of milk or formula. And sometimes professionals make the mistake of not properly calculating requirements based on changing requirements as the baby is growing. Whatever the case maybe, if a baby has had enough and is not hungry, it will refuse to feed.
What to Do
Commonly estimated feeding suggestions are only approximate figures and can vary from baby to baby. Some babies feed more than others and some less. As noted above, wait till the baby gives more clear clues of being hungry.
3. Distracted Baby
Humans are naturally curious beings; this curiosity is apparent as early as four months from being born. Once a baby is four months or older, his curiosity makes him take more interest in everything around him. Other children playing, pets acting up, and even music and television can distract a baby and make it lose focus on feeding.
What to Do
If you feel your baby is distracted, turn of all sound sources such as television, music etc., better still is to find a quiet room without people, children or pets.
4. Tired Baby
A baby may refuse to bottle feed simply because it is tired. A baby that has not slept enough will tire quickly; while it is true that a hungry baby may sleep less, it is equally true for a baby deprived of sleep to avoid feeding. It will throw up a fuss, cry or fall asleep while feeding.
What to Do
Seek expert opinion on sleeping and feeding schedules, or create a balanced schedule to avoid overlapping sleeping time with feeding time. Also, ensure that your baby is getting enough sleep and try to feed the baby before it gets tired.
5. Individual Feeding Pattern
Like all mammals, humans tend to display individual personality types, behavioural patterns and feeding habits from very early in their life. Some babies like to consume large amounts of food at one go; others like to feed a little at a time but more often during the day. If your baby is frequently refusing to bottle feed, then it is prudent to consider that you may not have fully understood his/her individual feeding pattern. Constantly feeding a baby can put added stress on the mother. Ideally, a baby’s individual pattern should be respected, but if needed, an attempt can be made to gently and gradually encourage a change.
What to Do
A baby should be encouraged to feed much of what food it needs in about forty minutes, but given individual patterns, this should not be forced. Stop if the baby does not wish to continue. Another approach to a frequent feeding pattern is to try and create longer intervals between feeds. Encourage play or take the baby for an outing, or let it nap to gradually increase the time intervals between feeds.
6. Bottle Feeding Aversion
Some babies may develop an allergy to milk protein or may develop intolerance to milk or formula. There are many factors that may induce feeding aversions, such as certain physical or oral problems and reflux. Fortunately, most feeding aversions are a result of behavioural issues than actual physical problems or medical conditions.
What to Do
A feeding aversion can be a very complicated problem with no easy or straightforward solutions. If all else fails, then the only solution is to consult experts to try and identify the root cause of this aversion.
7. Night Feeding
Newborn babies need to be fed frequently and even at night. Avoid feeding a baby, that has reached six months, at night. If night feeding continues beyond six months it could result in a formula fed baby refusing bottle. This is no cause for alarm; it may simply be that the baby relies on feeding to fall asleep. Night time feeding will not harm the baby, but given that a baby needs only a certain amount of food every twenty-four hours, she may simply refuse to be bottle fed during the day.
What to Do
Once the baby has reached six months of age, parents should consider slowly and gradually discouraging nighttime feeding. This can be done by simply encouraging the baby to feed more during the day.
8. Solid Foods
In a perfect world, a baby should only be allowed solid food after six months of age. In some instances, some babies need solid foods earlier. Solid foods generally have more calories and nutrition. As a result, the baby may lose appetite for bottle feeding.
What to Do
For babies, less than six months of age avoid starting solid food. If you have already started feeding them try and reduce the quantity and if possible stop feeding solids food all together till the baby has crossed six months of age.
9. Difficulties With Transition to Bottle Feeding
If you have been breastfeeding your baby beyond three months of age, then there is a high probability that the baby will find it difficult to make the transition to bottle feeding. Everything from the difference in feeding action between bottle feeding and breastfeeding to the difference in the taste of formula and breast milk, can cause this problem.
What to Do
The easiest way is to begin by providing expressed breast milk in the bottle that way if the baby has a problem with taste, then that problem has been resolved, and the transition would be easier to achieve. If this does not work, then it is advisable to try different nipples.
10. Tightly Screwed Bottle
The bottle used for bottle feeding needs to maintain neutral pressure for the milk to flow smoothly. The milk emptying out of the bottle as a result of feeding will create a vacuum which needs to be filled with fresh air entering the bottle. If the milk bottle is not able to vent the baby will find it harder and harder to feed as the negative pressure builds up. Some babies will tire and fall asleep while others will simply stop trying. In some bottles, the air can enter only from between the rim of the bottle and the nipple ring, if the nipple is screwed too tightly on the bottle the venting required in the bottle will not take place.
What to Do
Check the bottle for proper venting, and airflow.
What to do If You Tried Everything But Still Your Baby Refuses Bottle?
If all the above has been tried and hasn’t worked there are a few other approaches that can be tried.
1. Create a Relaxed Atmosphere
Sometimes a baby may be unsettled for unknown reasons; a human baby is very perceptive and can detect stress in parents. As a rule, if the mum is calm and relaxed, the baby will be too and be more open to bottle feeding.
2. Allow the Baby to Get a Little Hungry
A baby that is not hungry will fuss over being fed. Too much hunger can cause ease and discomfort to a baby, but a little hunger will not harm the baby. Increase the time between feeding intervals and allow the baby to get a little hungry.
3. Let Someone Else Bottle Feed
Babies that are struggling to make the transition from breastfeeding to bottle feeding will not accept being bottle fed by the mother. It is advisable to encourage the father or another family member to take on the responsibility.
4. Proper Positioning for Bottle Feeding
If the baby is not in a comfortable position, he/she may refuse to bottle feed. It is essential to hold the baby a little upright with the head being positioned to be in a straight line with the body. The baby should be snuggled in your arms and also have support for its feet.
It can be very frustrating when parents are faced with babies refusing to bottle feed; thankfully the common problems associated with bottle feeding are simple with simple solutions. If all else fails then seeking medical advice is the last and best resort.
Also Read:
How To Bottle Feed A Baby
How Soon Babies Can Start Holding Their Bottle Read more
Check out this new Memory
Parul
Mom of a 6 m old girl
3 mins ago
#walloffame
1 Likes
0 Comment
Suggested for you
Suggested for you
Suggested for you
Dr Vandan H Kumar has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
15 mins ago
Q. #asktheexpert Good Morning Doctor, I hope you are doing excellent!
Which is the best brand for new born baby products like soap, body lotion, powder, wipes, oil, cream, etc.
Safe and good on baby’s body and easy on parents pocket too
Read moreDr Vandan H Kumar
Paediatrician
15 mins ago
A. whenever you are choosing any baby product whether it is baby oil lotion soap powder shampoo or any product, you have to see whether the child is having any allergy after its usage or notx.
so if the child is comfortable you can use it but if the child develops allergy or any other problem then go for another brand.
.
Dr. Minal Acharya has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
13 mins ago
Q. i m new mother of one weeker, my in laws forcing me to give baby bottle is it safe ?
and they try to give her water from when we can give water
Dr. Minal Acharya
Nutritionist
10 mins ago
A. dear mum, you should not give bottle feeding or water to your baby. you should exclusively breastfeed till 6 months complete. breast milk is most nutritious and complete food for baby till 6 months
Sunita Mahato has added a new answer
Mom of a 1 yr 3 m old child
9 mins ago
Q. #asktheexpert
good morning sir,
I purvi Vijay Kumar of 27 years old I'm not getting regular period now I have 3 year old girl baby now I want to make 2nd but I am getting regular period so please help me sir.
Sunita Mahato
Mom of 3 children
8 mins ago
A. a thorough chk up is needed and then accordingly treatment
follow the doctor...
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
9 mins ago
Q. #asktheexpert I had my 9th month scan done yesterday the FL is 6.2 and BD is 9.4. I’m in the 37th week of pregnancy . Are these things gonna impact the growth and height of my baby and what are the solutions for it
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
6 mins ago
A. s needs b. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Sunita Mahato has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
8 mins ago
Q. Do we start noticing baby going down by the end of 8th month of pregnancy ?
Sunita Mahato
Mom of 3 children
6 mins ago
A. ur doctor wl help u with that
Abhaya Rajput has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
3 mins ago
Q. madam may we give some spoon of boil water to our new born baby of one month....is it safe...?
Abhaya Rajput
Mom of a 14 yr 4 m old boy
1 min ago
A. Hello there, Ma’am, please do not worry about it too much. It is not advisable to give anything to the Baby other than Mother male till the age of six months. Mother’s milk contains enough water to keep the baby hydrated throughout the day.
Thanks and take care
Check out this new Memory
Farhat Parvez
Mom of a 2 yr old boy
New Memory
#babyphotochallenge
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Monika
Mom of a 9 m old girl
2 mins ago
#babyphotochallenge
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
manvik
Mom of a 7 m old girl
3 mins ago
#stylishbaby
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Wayline Fatehpur
Guardian of a 7 m old girl
5 mins ago
0 Likes
0 Comment
Tell us more about yourself get More Personalised
- Infant0 to 6 Months
- Baby6 Months to 2 Yrs
- Toddler2 to 4 yrs
- Kids4-6 yrs
- Big Kids6+ yrs
- Expecting
- Trying to Conceive