What is fetal weakness?

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.

Pregnant women with thick abdominal walls will find it harder to feel the fetus than those with thin abdominal walls. The amount of amniotic fluid too much or too little also affects the mother's ability to feel the fetus.

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 18th-20th week of pregnancy. During this second trimester, fetal movements are often irregular, but later become more and more regular. The most obvious time for fetal movement starts from the 26th week.

The mother must be very attentive and sensitive to recognize the mechanical pregnancy. These are movements that are like tapping sounds against the side of the abdomen. But this is not easy to realize. Therefore, mothers must learn to recognize, count and monitor fetal movements daily.
Every day count the number of fetal movements in the morning, noon, afternoon or evening, if busy, at least once a day.
Count the number of fetal movements in 30 minutes, three times per day.
Note: When the fetus sleeps, there is usually no fetal movement. The average fetal sleep time varies from 20-40 minutes.

The fetus is healthy when there are at least 4 movements in 1 hour. 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, it is necessary to immediately go to a medical facility to monitor the pregnancy status by other methods.

Low fetal movement may be due to the mother checking fetal movements while the fetus is sleeping or it may be due to the poor health of the fetus. Your baby's activities in the womb do not follow a schedule. Remember that 1 hour a day is enough for your baby to be active and it doesn't have to be at the same time every day.
As the fetus is growing and the mother's belly gradually becomes cramped, the baby's activity intensity may decrease.
In addition, pregnant women with thick abdominal wall will find it harder to feel the fetus than those with thin abdominal walls. The amount of amniotic fluid too much or too little also affects the mother's ability to feel the fetus.

Eight weeks pregnant has begun to move. However, these movements are light and the fetal mass is too small for pregnant women to feel. Usually, the mother begins to feel the fetal movement when pregnant at about 24-32 weeks, so the 18-week pregnancy is less than normal, pregnant women should not be too worried.
When a pregnant woman self-monitors her pregnancy in the last two months, if she sees less than at least 3-4 fetal movements in an hour, she can continue to monitor in another hour or go to the hospital to check.
Pregnancy machine reflects the health of the fetus, so when the fetus is abnormal, it is most likely a manifestation of premature birth, fetal distress, stillbirth. You should immediately go to a reputable medical facility for examination and intervention. In addition, you should also have regular prenatal check-ups to monitor the baby's development.
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Vinmec International General Hospital is highly appreciated by customers for its professional quality and professional service. The medical team here has high professional qualifications, experience, and is regularly and continuously updated with the world's most advanced obstetric techniques to help protect the best health of mother and baby.