How many times per hour is normal to count fetal movements?

In the late pregnancy, it is normal for the fetus to move more than 4 times per hour. Expectant mothers should not worry too much. The fetus in the late pregnancy is relatively mature, and the fetal movement will be much more frequent than in the early stage, and will reach its peak at 32-34 weeks. However, expectant mothers need to pay attention to the pattern of fetal movements. If the fetal movements are too frequent, they also need to pay more attention. This article introduces the frequency of fetal movements and the pattern of fetal movement changes.

If the fetal movement is less than 20 times in 12 hours, or less than 3 times per hour, it indicates that the fetus is suffering from hypoxia and its life may be seriously threatened. In the early stages of hypoxia, the number of fetal movements will increase, and the fetus will become restless due to hypoxia. When fetal intrauterine hypoxia continues to worsen, fetal movements gradually weaken and the frequency decreases, which is a sign of danger to the fetus. If no emergency measures are taken at this time, the fetus will stop moving and even its heart rate will disappear, and the heart will stop beating, resulting in death. This process takes about 12 to 48 hours. Therefore, once a pregnant woman finds abnormal fetal movement, she must not take it lightly. She should go to the obstetrics department immediately for treatment. Timely treatment can often turn danger into safety.

Through self-monitoring and family monitoring after pregnancy, fetal abnormalities can be detected in time and treated in a timely manner. Generally, fetal movement can be felt between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, reaching its peak between 28 and 32 weeks of pregnancy, and gradually decreasing after 38 weeks of pregnancy. Pregnant women should measure fetal movement from the 28th week of gestation. Once a day in the morning, noon and evening, each time for 1 hour. Pregnant women can sit or lie on their side and place their hands lightly on the abdominal wall to feel the fetal movement. Normal fetal movement is 3 to 5 times per hour. You can also multiply the number of fetal movements measured 3 times by 4, which is equal to the number of fetal movements in 12 hours. The sinking should be more than 30 times. Increased or decreased fetal movement indicates that there is something abnormal with the fetus and you should seek medical attention promptly. After 36 weeks of pregnancy, you can teach your family to listen to the fetal heart sounds in the pregnant woman's abdomen. The heart rate of the sinking fetus is 120 to 160 beats per minute. If you find that it is irregularly faster or slower, it is an abnormal situation and you should go to the hospital for examination in time. It is better to ensure 8 hours of sleep and lie on your left side.

1. Physiological reasons

Frequent fetal movements in late pregnancy are mostly caused by physiological reasons, which can be divided into the following five situations:

1. After a meal, the blood sugar level in the expectant mother's body increases, and the baby also has strength thanks to the mother, so the fetal movement will become more obvious than before the meal.

2. When taking a bath, under warm water, the expectant mother's blood circulation will be smoother, and her body and mind will be more relaxed. This pleasant mood will be conveyed to the baby, so the fetus's activities will become more frequent.

3. In the late pregnancy, the baby can already recognize the mother's voice. He likes to communicate with his parents through dialogue. Therefore, when the expectant mother talks to the baby, the baby will respond and express his feelings through frequent fetal movements.

4. When the fetus is stimulated by music, it will become more fond of "movements", which is a way for the fetus to express joy.

5. Usually the fetus is more active at night. On the one hand, it is because it is more energetic at night. On the other hand, it is because the expectant mother can calm down and feel the baby's fetal movement at this time.

2. Pathological causes

Expectant mothers need to be alert that not all frequent fetal movements in late pregnancy are normal. If the fetal movements have been sparse and suddenly become frequent, you should pay attention, because this may mean that the fetus is lacking oxygen or is being attacked by some disease.

When the fetus suffers from hypoxia, it will become irritable and hyperactive. The number of fetal movements will increase in the early stages of hypoxia. When the intrauterine hypoxia continues to worsen, the fetal movements will gradually weaken and the number of movements will decrease. This is a sign of danger to the fetus. If no emergency measures are taken at this time, the fetus will stop moving and even its heart rate will disappear, and the heart will stop beating, resulting in death. Common hypoxia can be seen in placental abruption, placenta previa, umbilical cord around the neck, etc.

1. Normal fetal movement changes

Generally speaking, pregnant women can feel fetal movements at 20 weeks of pregnancy. As time goes by, fetal movements become more frequent and the intensity increases accordingly, reaching their peak at 32-34 weeks of pregnancy. However, after this period, starting from 38 weeks, fetal movements will slow down and weaken.

2. How to judge whether fetal movement is normal

In fact, in late pregnancy, it is not a problem if the fetus moves > 30 times every 12 hours, or > 4 times every hour. At this time, expectant mothers should not be too anxious, but should treat it with a calm attitude and feel the fetal movement calmly. The number of fetal movements varies from fetus to fetus. Some fetuses have frequent fetal movements, up to 100 times every 12 hours, while some fetuses have relatively few movements. However, if the number of fetal movements is <20 times, it means that the fetus has a problem of intrauterine hypoxia.

3. Calculating the time and method of fetal movement

Another factor that affects the number of fetal movements is time. The number of fetal movements will vary at different times of the day. Typically, fetal movements are more frequent at night and less frequent in the morning. Since the fetus is usually most energetic before going to bed at night, fetal movements are most frequent at this time. Therefore, when pregnant women count the number of fetal movements, it is best to divide the day into three time periods: morning, noon, and evening. Count one hour in each time period, add the three numbers together and multiply by 4. The result is the number of fetal movements in 12 hours.