You can usually begin to feel your baby kick, known as "quickening," between 16 and 25 weeks of pregnancy. For first-time pregnancies, it often happens closer to 20 weeks or slightly later, while women who have been pregnant before may feel it as early as 13 to 16 weeks. These early movements might feel like gentle flutters, taps, or butterfly-like sensations and become more distinct and stronger as the pregnancy progresses into the third trimester.
The perception of kicks can vary based on factors like placenta position, body type, and pregnancy experience. The baby’s movements typically become more noticeable and frequent as the fetus grows and develops muscle strength, and by the third trimester (28 weeks onward), you should have a general sense of the movement patterns.
