In 60 seconds
Your short plan for this week
Begin noticing when and how movement tends to appear, without forcing a formal counting routine unless your care team recommends one.
Ask your maternity service for its exact reduced-movement contact instructions and save the number now.
Do not wait until the next day for advice if an established movement pattern becomes clearly slower or different.
What you may notice
Your body and how you may feel
Breathlessness with exertion, reflux and back discomfort can increase gradually.
What is happening
Baby’s development this week
Movements may feel more distinct as muscles and the nervous system mature.
Plain-language examples
What this means in real life
Movement can be easier to notice when you pause. The important later signal is a change from this baby's own usual pattern, not comparison with an app.
A short checklist
What to do now
- Begin noticing when and how movement tends to appear, without forcing a formal counting routine unless your care team recommends one.
- Stay active in ways that feel stable and are appropriate for your pregnancy.
- Learn what movement changes should prompt a call later in pregnancy.
Pause and check
What not to do—or what to ask first
- Do not wait until the next day for advice if an established movement pattern becomes clearly slower or different.
What may be coming up
Appointments, tests and decisions
Ask your maternity service for its exact reduced-movement contact instructions and save the number now.
Mid-pregnancy anatomy assessment
Confirm the offered window and how results will be explained.
Learn your baby's movement pattern
As movement becomes familiar, ask your care team what to do if it slows or changes.
Review pregnancy vaccinations
Confirm current and seasonal recommendations with your clinician.
For the support person
One useful thing a partner can do
- Learn the reduced-movement route too; never tell someone to wait because you can feel one movement from the outside.
Contact your care team
Contact your doctor or maternity team promptly
Some concerns need advice before the next routine appointment even when they do not feel like an emergency. If a symptom becomes severe, sudden or frightening, use urgent care instead.
See when to contact careUrgent or emergency
Urgent signs during pregnancy or within a year after birth
Get medical care immediately for these symptoms. The list is not exhaustive; if something feels seriously wrong, seek help.
Open urgent warning signs