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The fun part of pregnancy is undoubtedly feeling your baby kick. Wham!

It makes even the most unpleasant pregnancy side effects fade away.

Here are a few safe and proven ways to make your baby kick, so your husband or kids can feel it, too!…

I’m not talking about those very first baby kicks — also known as quickening.

When you reach the 3rd trimester, those baby kicks are for real. You may even see a foot or arm push the fabric of your shirt up!

In this video, you can see some really big baby kicks:

 

How To Make Your Baby Kick

You’ve probably felt (and seen) your baby moving several times.

But it can be frustrating when your husband or children want to feel the baby kick, too… and the baby won’t move for anything!

 

Some gentle tricks I use to get a response from the baby:

1. Change position, especially lying on my back or belly briefly.
2. Eat something sweet, then wait a few minutes.
3. Listen to music, my son never kicked harder than when the organ played at church!
4. Press on one side of my belly, and see if the baby presses back.
5. Drink an icy cold glass of water to wake him up!

Here’s a fun read about pregnant women who don’t like the feeling of baby movements!

 

When Does A Baby Start Kicking?

Wondering how often you should feel the baby kicking or shifting… and if it matters?

I never knew this, but it does matter. Fetal kick counts are helpful in determining your baby’s health and development.

Most babies start moving around at 7 or 8 weeks — and if you’ve had an ultrasound, you’ve probably already witnessed these minor movements.

You should feel your baby kicking for the first time between 16 and 25 weeks of pregnancy. (In your second pregnancy, you’re likely to feel kicking as early as 13 weeks!)

Don’t worry if you’re past 24 weeks and not yet feeling fetal movement. Every pregnancy is different, and as long as your doctor is hearing normal heart sounds at your regular appointments, you shouldn’t worry.  ~Babble

Fetal kicks are important because a change in your baby’s movement in the third trimester is often the earliest sign of distress — and a reason to see your doctor.

In your 3rd trimester, your baby should move at least 10 times in 2 hours.

Here’s what to do if you don’t feel your baby moving very much.

 

A Baby Kick Counter Tracks Your Baby’s Kicks

It’s helpful — and fun — to monitor your baby kicking during pregnancy.

Here’s how to track fetal kick counts, plus some tips for counting fetal kicks.

You might want to use an app to track the kicking — it could actually save your baby’s life!

In this video, you can see what it looks like when a baby kicks while you’re sunning in a bikini at the beach: