STUDY: When babies kick in the womb, it's actually helping them grow!

Feeling your baby’s kicks in the womb for the first time is an exciting milestone!

One of the most wonderful feelings for a mom-to-be is that priceless moment when they feel their growing baby moving around for the first time. But it will be made even more special once you know that these kicks also help your baby grow.

These kicks not only give them a way to stretch or say “hello” to the the outside world, it helps sculpt and strengthen their bones, muscles and joints, according to a new study.

The study published in the Journal of the Royal Society mapped out how fetuses wiggle and grow in utero and what they found is truly amazing:

• • At 20 to 30 weeks, kicks get stronger. According to MRI scans of fetal kicks, they noted that these movements strengthened at 20 to 30 weeks.
  • Stress on a baby's joints depends on how strong they kick. They also managed to measure the strength of the kicks as well as how much stress or strain they put on an unborn baby’s bones and joints.
  • Kicks lessen at around 35 weeks in utero. Researchers found that kicks decreased by 35 weeks of pregnancy. Why? Because there isn’t enough room to wiggle or kick around in the womb.
  • But pressure continues to increase and so does growth. However, pressure on the baby’s leg bones and joints continue to increase. This helps the fetus grow!
  • Movements help babies grow in utero. This study emphasises the importance of how the right movements influence fetal growth. This is likely why preemies sometimes have bone or joint disorders.
  • How a baby moves before birth can affect health when they grow up. More research is needed to get a clearer picture of the relation between fetal movements and bone health later in life, such as osteoarthritis.

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Yes, moms-to-be can encourage their baby to wiggle around or even kick in the womb!

Here’s what you can try:

You can lie down on your left side. Concentrate on feeling your baby’s movements for about 2 hours. You should feel your baby move AT LEAST 10 times. If not, consult your doctor immediately.

Drink a glass of orange juice or milk to wake your baby up. The same goes for snacking. This stimulates metabolism as well as your baby’s wiggles and active movements.

In the same way that you can lull a baby to sleep with music, you can also rouse them and get them moving through your choice of sounds. The song doesn’t have to be too upbeat or loud, just enough to stimulate their sense of hearing and perhaps their love for dancing.

Relax, moms! Like we said, fetal movements differ with each mom. So don’t pressure yourself to feel it exactly the same way as other moms. Don't hesitate to your doctor about your worries.

Once babies hit the 15-week mark in utero, they start to move their bodies as well as their limbs. Most mommies don’t really feel these movements at this stage. But around 16 to 25 weeks along, they can start to feel the wonderful flutters of their growing baby in their belly.

Feeling your baby’s kicks in the womb can offer reassurance that your little one is active and healthy. So naturally, when your baby doesn’t move around as much it can cause anxiety.

The good news is, the number of fetal movements varies with each mom. They also differ in sensation—kicks, flutters, or rolls—throughout a woman’s pregnancy.

• • • You should consult your doctor when fetal movements have significantly reduced.
    • Remember: Babies in utero sleep, too, but usually not more than 90 minutes.
    • Fetal movements usually increase after 32 weeks and assume a steady pattern.
    • Baby kicks should be felt until a mom goes into labour.

If you have any worries, let your doctor know immediately. Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it can also be a time of worry. It's always best to be safe, mommies! Don't hesitate to open up to your doctor even about the simplest of concerns.

sources: Science News, The Journal of the Royal Society, NHS UK, Livestrong

READ THIS ALSO: 7 Amazing facts about baby’s kicks during pregnancy

Republished with permission from: theAsianParent Singapore