What is normal pregnancy, what is abnormal?

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Le Hong Lien - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital. Doctor Lien has over 10 years of experience as a radiologist in the Department of Ultrasound at the leading hospital in the field of obstetrics and gynecology in the South - Tu Du Hospital.

Mechanical pregnancy not only helps the mother feel the growing germ in the body, but monitoring the fetus is also an effective method to check the health of the fetus. So what is a normal pregnancy, what is abnormal?

Fetal movement is an indicator of the health status of the fetus. When the number of fetal movements decreases, it is a warning sign of poor health of the fetus. When the fetus does not move or moves weakly, there may be a weak fetus or stillbirth. Pregnant women will begin to feel fetal movements in the 20th week of pregnancy. Usually during this second trimester, fetal movements are usually irregular, but later on, they become more regular. The most obvious operating time is from the end of the week 25-32.
If after 5 months, still not seeing the pregnancy is an ominous sign. Pregnant women with thick abdominal wall are more difficult to feel the fetus than those with thin abdominal walls. Too little or too much amniotic fluid also affects the ability to sense. The first impression is usually gentle, as if something moved in the abdomen. As the fetus gets bigger, the mother will feel more clearly the baby's kicking and rocking movements. In the last months of pregnancy, pregnant women need to differentiate to avoid confusing fetal movements with uterine contractions. The uterine mound makes the entire abdomen firm, depending on the degree of pain, while the mechanical pregnancy is only felt in one abdomen.

It is best to count fetal movements after a full meal. It is recommended to count fetal movements 2-3 times a day, at irregular times.
When the fetus is asleep, fetal movement will be reduced or absent. The time the fetus sleeps is about 20-40 minutes, usually no more than 90 minutes.

Pregnant women need to urinate to empty their bladder before counting fetal movements. Place your hand on your belly to feel the baby's movements. Count the number of fetal movements in an hour.

Normal pregnancy when there are more than 4 movements in 30 minutes. Three times in one day. If the fetus moves less than 4 times, the mother must lie down and count fetal movements for one hour, or 2-4 hours. If in 1 hour there are more than 4 fetal movements, the fetus is healthy. If there are more than 10 fetal movements in 4 hours, continue counting 3 times in a day as before (the fetus is healthy).

If there are less than 4 fetal movements, the pregnant woman must lie down and count fetal movements for the next 1 hour or for 2 hours.
If in the next 2 hours, there are less than 10 fetal movements, immediately go to a medical facility to monitor the pregnancy status by other methods.