Pregnancy
Baby movements in pregnancy: what’s normal and when to call
Feeling your baby move is one of the ways you know they are well. Here is what the official health services say, together or on your own: what is normal, and the one thing never to wait on.
In short
- Most people first feel their baby move between 16 and 24 weeks; with a first baby it is often after 20 weeks.
- There is no set number of movements to feel each day, so there is nothing to count: get to know your baby’s own pattern.
- Babies do not move less towards the end of pregnancy: you should feel movements right up to and during labour.
- If movements slow down, stop or change, call your midwife or maternity unit straight away, day or night. Do not wait until the next day.
- Do not check at home with a heartbeat monitor (Doppler) or an app: hearing a heartbeat does not mean your baby is well.
When will I first feel my baby move?
Usually between 16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. With a first baby, you might not notice movements until after 20 weeks. If you have not felt your baby move by 24 weeks, tell your midwife.
Checked against NHS (nhs.uk), NHS inform (NHS 24, Scotland), Health Service Executive (HSE), checked on 13 October 2026
What the official pages say
“You should start to feel your baby move between 16 to 24 weeks of pregnancy.”
NHS (nhs.uk), read on 13 October 2026“If this is your first baby, you might not feel movements until after 20 weeks.”
NHS (nhs.uk), read on 13 October 2026“If you have not felt your baby move by 24 weeks, tell your midwife.”
NHS (nhs.uk), read on 13 October 2026“start moving from 16 to 24 weeks”
NHS inform (NHS 24, Scotland), read on 13 October 2026“You will probably become aware of your baby’s movements between 16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy.”
Health Service Executive (HSE), read on 13 October 2026“you still have not felt your baby moving by 24 weeks”
Health Service Executive (HSE), read on 13 October 2026
How often should my baby move?
There is no set number: every baby is different, and you do not need to count kicks. What matters is knowing your baby’s usual pattern from day to day. Movements build up until about 32 weeks, then stay roughly the same until the birth.
Checked against NHS (nhs.uk), NHS inform (NHS 24, Scotland), Health Service Executive (HSE), checked on 13 October 2026
What the official pages say
“There's no set number of movements you should feel each day - every baby is different.”
NHS (nhs.uk), read on 13 October 2026“You do not need to count the number of kicks or movements you feel each day.”
NHS (nhs.uk), read on 13 October 2026“The important thing is to get to know your baby's usual pattern of movements from day to day.”
NHS (nhs.uk), read on 13 October 2026“There’s no set number of normal movements.”
NHS inform (NHS 24, Scotland), read on 13 October 2026“Get to know your baby’s normal pattern of movements.”
NHS inform (NHS 24, Scotland), read on 13 October 2026“move more and more up until 32 weeks”
NHS inform (NHS 24, Scotland), read on 13 October 2026“There is no set number of movements that is normal.”
Health Service Executive (HSE), read on 13 October 2026“Your baby will have their own pattern of movements that you will get to know.”
Health Service Executive (HSE), read on 13 October 2026“From 32 onwards the movements stay roughly the same until you give birth.”
Health Service Executive (HSE), read on 13 October 2026
Do babies move less near the end of pregnancy?
No. It is not true that babies move less towards the end of pregnancy. You should keep feeling your baby move right up to labour, and during it too. Fewer movements in the last weeks are a reason to call, not something to wait out.
Checked against NHS (nhs.uk), NHS inform (NHS 24, Scotland), Health Service Executive (HSE), checked on 13 October 2026
What the official pages say
“You should feel your baby move right up to and during labour.”
NHS (nhs.uk), read on 13 October 2026“It’s not true that babies move less towards the end of pregnancy.”
NHS inform (NHS 24, Scotland), read on 13 October 2026“You should continue to feel your baby move right up to the time you go into labour and while you’re in labour too.”
NHS inform (NHS 24, Scotland), read on 13 October 2026“It is not true that babies move less towards the end of pregnancy.”
Health Service Executive (HSE), read on 13 October 2026
What should I do if my baby’s movements slow down or change?
Call your midwife or maternity unit straight away if your baby is moving less than usual, you cannot feel them moving any more, or their usual pattern changes. Do not wait until the next day, even in the middle of the night: maternity units answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Checked against NHS (nhs.uk), NHS inform (NHS 24, Scotland), Health Service Executive (HSE), checked on 13 October 2026
What the official pages say
“Urgent advice: Call your midwife or maternity unit immediately if:”
NHS (nhs.uk), read on 13 October 2026“there is a change to your baby's usual pattern of movements”
NHS (nhs.uk), read on 13 October 2026“Do not wait until the next day - call immediately, even if it's the middle of the night.”
NHS (nhs.uk), read on 13 October 2026“Phone your midwife or maternity unit immediately if you notice your baby hasn’t moved as much as usual or their pattern of movement has changed.”
NHS inform (NHS 24, Scotland), read on 13 October 2026“Maternity units are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
NHS inform (NHS 24, Scotland), read on 13 October 2026“Do not wait until the next day to get advice.”
Health Service Executive (HSE), read on 13 October 2026
Can I check my baby at home with a Doppler or an app?
No. Do not use a home Doppler or a phone app to check the heartbeat yourself. Even if you hear a heartbeat, that does not mean your baby is well. If you are worried about movements, call your midwife or maternity unit instead.
Checked against NHS (nhs.uk), NHS inform (NHS 24, Scotland), Health Service Executive (HSE), checked on 13 October 2026
What the official pages say
“Do not use a home doppler (heartbeat listening kit) to try to check the baby's heartbeat yourself.”
NHS (nhs.uk), read on 13 October 2026“Even if you hear a heartbeat, this does not mean your baby is well.”
NHS (nhs.uk), read on 13 October 2026“Even if you detect a heartbeat, this doesn’t mean your baby’s well.”
NHS inform (NHS 24, Scotland), read on 13 October 2026“Using a home doppler (heartbeat monitor) or an app is not recommended.”
Health Service Executive (HSE), read on 13 October 2026
Whom do I call where I live?
The advice above is the same everywhere: act straight away. Where a country’s own health services say where to go, it is in this table.
| Country | Where to go or whom to call | Emergency |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Call your midwife or maternity unit straight away, day or night. | 999 |
| Ireland | Contact your midwife, obstetrician or maternity hospital straight away; do not wait until the next day. | 112, 999 |
| Spain | Go to your hospital’s maternity emergency department (urgencias), day or night. | 112 |
| Italy | Go to the pronto soccorso ostetrico of your punto nascita, day or night. | 112, 118 |
| France | Go to the maternity emergency department (urgences de la maternité); it is open day and night. | 15 |
| Portugal | Call SNS 24 (808 24 24 24) straight away, day or night; it directs you to the nearest obstetric emergency department. | 112 |
| Belgium | Go straight to your hospital’s maternity: the delivery ward or its emergency department. | 112 |
| Switzerland | Phone the labour ward (Gebärsaal) of your hospital, day or night. | 144 |
Not in the table: we have not yet verified that country’s own route against two official publishers (Germany, Austria and Luxembourg are being checked). The advice above still applies: call your midwife, maternity unit or doctor straight away, and your emergency number if you cannot reach anyone.
Checked against NHS (nhs.uk), NHS inform (NHS 24, Scotland), Health Service Executive (HSE), The National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street (public maternity hospital), Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada (SERMAS), Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre (SERMAS), Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias (SERMAS), Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda (SERMAS), Hospital Universitario Severo Ochoa (SERMAS), Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano (Clinica Mangiagalli), Azienda ULSS 8 Berica (Veneto), CHU d’Orléans, maternité, CHU de Saint-Étienne, maternité, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, maternité, Governo da República Portuguesa (portugal.gov.pt), Entidade Reguladora da Saúde (ERS), CHU de Liège, maternité, UZ Leuven, verloskunde, Luzerner Kantonsspital, Kantonsspital Winterthur, Kantonsspital Aarau, Solothurner Spitäler (Bürgerspital Solothurn), Universitätsspital Zürich, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève (HUG), checked on 13 October 2026
What the official pages say
“Urgent advice: Call your midwife or maternity unit immediately if:”
NHS (nhs.uk), read on 13 October 2026“there is a change to your baby's usual pattern of movements”
NHS (nhs.uk), read on 13 October 2026“Do not wait until the next day - call immediately, even if it's the middle of the night.”
NHS (nhs.uk), read on 13 October 2026“Phone your midwife or maternity unit immediately if you notice your baby hasn’t moved as much as usual or their pattern of movement has changed.”
NHS inform (NHS 24, Scotland), read on 13 October 2026“Maternity units are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
NHS inform (NHS 24, Scotland), read on 13 October 2026“Do not wait until the next day to get advice.”
Health Service Executive (HSE), read on 13 October 2026“Talk to your midwife, obstetrician or maternity hospital immediately if:”
Health Service Executive (HSE), read on 13 October 2026“Do not wait until the next day to get advice.”
Health Service Executive (HSE), read on 13 October 2026“Contact your maternity team immediately if you notice any change in your baby’s normal movement pattern.”
The National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street (public maternity hospital), read on 13 October 2026“recuerde que debe acudir a Urgencias siempre que aparezcan alguna de las siguientes situaciones:”
Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada (SERMAS), read on 10 October 2026“Sangrado Vaginal en cantidad igual o superior a una regla y sobre todo si se acompaña de dolor. No es motivo para acudir a Urgencias la expulsión del tapón mucoso”
Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada (SERMAS), read on 10 October 2026“Pérdida de líquido amniótico por la vagina.”
Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada (SERMAS), read on 10 October 2026“Ausencia o disminución de movimientos fetales durante un tiempo superior a 12 horas.”
Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada (SERMAS), read on 10 October 2026“¿CUÁNDO DEBE ACUDIR A URGENCIAS DEL HOSPITAL? Deberá acudir si observa: Hemorragia por vagina. Pérdida de líquido por los genitales.”
Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre (SERMAS), read on 10 October 2026“Deberá acudir a Urgencias del hospital si observa: Hemorragia mayor o igual que una regla Perdida de líquido por genitales.”
Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias (SERMAS), read on 10 October 2026“No percibir los movimientos del feto a pesar de haber tomado algo azucarado y haber estado en reposo en decúbito lateral durante 2 horas.”
Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias (SERMAS), read on 10 October 2026“Deberá acudir a urgencias de Ginecología en el hospital, si le ocurriera alguno de los siguientes síntomas:”
Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda (SERMAS), read on 10 October 2026“Disminución marcada de los movimientos fetales.”
Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda (SERMAS), read on 10 October 2026“Si notas ausencia o disminución de los movimientos de tu bebé durante un tiempo superior a 8 horas”
Hospital Universitario Severo Ochoa (SERMAS), read on 10 October 2026“Prima di tutto la regolarità delle contrazioni: queste devono essere 1 ogni 5 minuti della durata di 50/60 secondi per almeno 1 ora.”
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano (Clinica Mangiagalli), read on 11 October 2026“Rottura del sacco amniotico (perdita delle acque): soprattutto se il liquido non è chiaro è bene andare in ospedale abbastanza velocemente”
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano (Clinica Mangiagalli), read on 11 October 2026“Perdita di sangue (recarsi rapidamente nell’ospedale più vicino a dove mi trovo)”
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano (Clinica Mangiagalli), read on 11 October 2026“suona il campanello del Pronto Soccorso/Accettazione ostetrico mentre il vostro accompagnatore può andare tranquillamente a parcheggiare”
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano (Clinica Mangiagalli), read on 11 October 2026“Dovrai venire in ospedale principalmente: quando inizi a sentire le contrazioni dolorose e regolari, si rompono le acque, compaiono perdite di sangue anomale, e/o non senti muovere il tuo bambino.”
Azienda ULSS 8 Berica (Veneto), read on 11 October 2026“Puoi anche chiamare il Pronto Soccorso Ostetrico al 0444/752704 aperto 24 ore su 24.”
Azienda ULSS 8 Berica (Veneto), read on 11 October 2026“Quand venir à la Maternité ?”
CHU d’Orléans, maternité, read on 13 October 2026“Si le bébé ne bouge plus, moins ou pas comme d’habitude”
CHU d’Orléans, maternité, read on 13 October 2026“Les principaux motifs devant vous conduire à consulter aux urgences :”
CHU de Saint-Étienne, maternité, read on 13 October 2026“diminution ou absence de mouvement foetaux.”
CHU de Saint-Étienne, maternité, read on 13 October 2026“vous sentez moins votre bébé bouger”
CHU Dijon Bourgogne, maternité, read on 13 October 2026“les urgences de la maternité sont disponibles pour vous accueillir 7jours sur 7, 24h/24.”
CHU Dijon Bourgogne, maternité, read on 13 October 2026“As grávidas podem agora ligar para o SNS 24 (808 24 24 24) e ser encaminhadas para a urgência de ginecologia/obstetrícia mais próxima.”
Governo da República Portuguesa (portugal.gov.pt), read on 11 October 2026“Grávida, sendo que a população passou a poder ligar para a Linha SNS 24 (808 24 24 24) e ser encaminhada para a urgência de ginecologia/obstetrícia mais próxima.”
Entidade Reguladora da Saúde (ERS), read on 11 October 2026“Subsequentemente, a Portaria n.º 325/2024/1, de 13 de dezembro, veio igualmente estabelecer a necessidade de um contacto telefónico prévio com a Linha SNS 24 antes do acesso às Urgências de Obstetrícia e Ginecologia do”
Entidade Reguladora da Saúde (ERS), read on 11 October 2026“Présentez-vous aux urgences du CHU, site ND Bruyères, à tout moment de la grossesse :”
CHU de Liège, maternité, read on 13 October 2026“si vous ne sentez plus ou beaucoup moins votre bébé bouger ;”
CHU de Liège, maternité, read on 13 October 2026“Go straight to the delivery ward if you experience the following symptoms from your twentieth week onwards:”
UZ Leuven, verloskunde, read on 13 October 2026“The baby moves markedly less than usual.”
UZ Leuven, verloskunde, read on 13 October 2026“Bei Blasensprung (Fruchtwasserabgang) oder bei Verdacht auf Blasensprung Bei plötzlichen Blutungen Bei verminderten Kindsbewegungen”
Luzerner Kantonsspital, read on 11 October 2026“Bitte melden Sie sich vor dem Eintritt in die Klinik telefonisch an”
Luzerner Kantonsspital, read on 11 October 2026“Das Telefon wird rund um die Uhr von einer unserer Hebammen bedient.”
Luzerner Kantonsspital, read on 11 October 2026“Wenn Sie unsicher sind, dürfen Sie uns jederzeit - Tag und Nacht - anrufen. Gemeinsam klären wir, ob Sie sich bereits auf den Weg machen sollten.”
Kantonsspital Winterthur, read on 11 October 2026“Bevor Sie zu uns kommen, rufen Sie bitte immer zuerst im Gebärsaal an”
Kantonsspital Aarau, read on 11 October 2026“bei abnehmenden/fehlenden Kindsbewegungen (trotz vermehrtem Trinken und Bewegung)”
Kantonsspital Aarau, read on 11 October 2026“Bei Blasensprung oder wenn Sie unsicher sind, ob Sie Fruchtwasser verloren haben Bei vaginaler Blutung Bei verminderten oder ausbleibenden Kindsbewegungen”
Solothurner Spitäler (Bürgerspital Solothurn), read on 11 October 2026“Wir sind Ihnen dankbar, wenn Sie sich telefonisch anmelden, bevor Sie losfahren.”
Kantonsspital Winterthur, read on 11 October 2026“Bei manchen Frauen beginnt die Geburt mit einem Blasensprung mit Fruchtwasserabgang. In diesem Fall melden Sie sich im Gebärsaal.”
Universitätsspital Zürich, read on 11 October 2026“Sollten Sie eine Blutung bemerken, dann rufen Sie ebenfalls im Gebärsaal an.”
Universitätsspital Zürich, read on 11 October 2026“Ces signes indiquent que l’accouchement approche et que vous devez vous rendre à la Maternité : les contractions sont de plus en plus fréquentes, rapprochées et régulières les contractions sont plus douloureuses vous avez perdu les eaux.”
Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève (HUG), read on 11 October 2026
Questions parents ask
Should I count kicks every day?
No. The health services say there is no set number of movements and you do not need to count them. Notice your baby’s usual pattern instead, and call straight away if it changes. That is also why Syncry has no kick counter.
What if movements slow down again after I have been checked?
Call again, every time. Even if everything was normal last time, never hesitate to contact your midwife or maternity unit, however many times it happens.
Is it all right to call the maternity unit in the middle of the night?
Yes. Do not wait until the morning: maternity units are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the advice is to call immediately, even in the middle of the night.
In the app
Your pregnancy week by week, and the signs that mean call now
Syncry follows your pregnancy week by week, together or on your own, puts each appointment and step in your Plan, and in the last weeks shows each day what to keep noticing and whom to call where you live.