Fluttering feelings

[Anonymous]

So, I was having lots of fluttering feelings in my tummy by week 18. To me it was clearly baby movements, but when I told my doctor she said it was too early to start feeling the movements (first pregnancy). Anyway, I felt these about 10 times a day, pretty intense.

Then last week it slowed down and and now I am at week 20 (just starting) and I barely feel them, like maybe 3 times a day and not as intense... is that weird?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

I felt definite fluttering 2 days in a row last week (week 17) too. I'm now 18 weeks and haven't felt any fluttering in several days. I've heard from others that's pretty common. And most of the baby books (Mayo Clinic included) say it's entirely possible to start feeling quickening around week 17/18. Especially if you are on the more slender side--what I've read indicates that thinner women tend to feel the fluttering earlier than fluffier women.

[Anonymous]

Some babies have fairly developed muscles that allow them to be 'strong enough" to make you feel their movements.

Is that popcorn feeling? I love that feeling and it makes me look forward to meeting my little "peanut" even more

[Anonymous]

That is definitely the baby moving. I am 20 weeks with #2 and I felt the fluttering at 16 weeks this time - my first pregnancy, I thought it was just my stomach rumbling straight through till 22 weeks when it was a lot more obvious. The flutterings give way in a few weeks to the pokes and jabs - enjoy it, that's your baby

[kt32race]

I concur with the above posters -- what you are feeling is definitely kicking. I felt my first fluttering around 18 1/2 weeks (first pregnancy), my husband could feel the kicks by about 19 1/2 weeks, and I could start seeing my stomach move when the baby kicked by 21 weeks. Your baby is still small, so it might have moved to a different position in your uterus, which is why you feel the kicks less frequently or they seem less intense. My baby is positioned feet down -- and doesn't seem to me moving around that much -- so I always feels the kicks right above my pelvic bone. If you are concerned about lack of fetal movement, insist that your doctor give you and ultrasound. Otherwise, the lack of consistent kicking at this early stage probably isn't something to stress over.

[Anonymous]

I also felt my first baby by 16 weeks--felt like getting tickled from the inside!

[Anonymous]

OP here! thanks for the insights, this helps!

[Anonymous]

I just felt my first flutters recently, at about 18 1/2 weeks. I feel them more if I'm laying on my tummy reading or going to sleep -- propped up a bit so my tummy isn't squashed. But when I sit at my desk at work, I feel them only rarely - probably because the baby has more room to hang (or float, as the case may be). So at least at this early stage, position may have something to do with it. It's so fun, though!