Feeling your baby’s first kicks is an unforgettable moment for expectant parents. While you, as the mom, may start feeling those tiny movements earlier, your partner will need to wait a bit longer to experience the magic. So, when exactly can your partner expect to feel the baby’s kicks?
When Do Baby Kicks Begin?
For most women, baby kicks (also known as quickening) are typically felt between 16 and 25 weeks of pregnancy. However, this can vary depending on whether it’s your first pregnancy or not:- First-time moms often feel movements closer to 20-22 weeks.
- Moms who have been pregnant before might feel them as early as 16 weeks, since they are more familiar with the sensations.
When Can Your Partner Feel the Baby Kick?
Your partner will likely need to wait a few more weeks after you feel the baby’s first movements. Typically, partners can start feeling the baby kick by 24 to 28 weeks, once the kicks become stronger and more defined:- 24 weeks: The baby’s movements become more coordinated, and the kicks are strong enough for someone else to feel them.
- 28 weeks and beyond: The baby is growing and getting stronger, so movements become more frequent and easier to detect from the outside.
How Can Your Partner Feel the Baby’s Kicks?
Feeling the baby kick is all about timing and patience. Here’s how you can make it easier for your partner to catch those precious moments:- Pick the right time: Babies are often more active after you've eaten or when you’re lying down, especially at night.
- Lie down together: The best position for feeling kicks is lying down on your back or side, as this encourages the baby to move toward the front of your belly.
- Be patient: Baby kicks can be sporadic. Have your partner place their hand on your belly and wait a few minutes for the baby to move.
What If My Partner Can’t Feel the Baby Yet?
If your partner hasn’t felt the baby kick by 28 weeks, don’t worry! It could simply be that the baby’s position makes it harder to feel movements from the outside. Some factors that affect when your partner can feel kicks include:- Placenta location: If you have an anterior placenta (where the placenta is positioned at the front of the uterus), it may act as a cushion and make it harder to feel movements from the outside.
- Baby’s position: Sometimes the baby is facing your back, making the kicks less noticeable from the outside.
Encouraging Bonding Before the Kicks
Even before your partner can feel the baby move, there are other ways to build a connection:- Talk or sing to the baby: Babies can hear sounds outside the womb by around 23 weeks.
- Attend ultrasounds together: Watching your baby move on the screen can be a special bonding experience for both of you.
- Touch and connect: Even if your partner can’t feel kicks yet, they can still rest their hand on your belly and talk to the baby.
Feeling the baby kick for the first time is an exciting milestone for both you and your partner. While you might feel those movements earlier, with a little patience, your partner will soon be able to share in the joy of feeling your baby’s kicks. It's a beautiful way to connect and look forward to the arrival of your little one.
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