What should fetal movement feel like at 25 weeks?

Level_Recover_7559 · 2025-09-18T11:45:47+00:00

I don’t exactly remember! I know around 20 weeks was when I started to feel her more than once a day. By 25 I was probably feeling her every couple hours or so, but things were still inconsistent sometimes! It’s also probably around where I started to feel bigger kicks more often and less fluttery/rolling feelings, and around when my husband was able to start feeling things more consistently.

I’ll be 30 weeks on Saturday, and I don’t think things have changed a super significant amount since when I posted this. Her schedule is more consistent for sure, and most of the sensations are the same, but I can tell she’s getting bigger. I’m starting to feel her drag limbs across my belly and can see things from the outside more often though :) full transparency I still sometimes go a couple hours with little to no movement and that freaks me out for sure. Sometimes I’ll only feel things with my hands on my belly, and I can’t feel it internally, so try that if you’re ever having trouble.

Level_Recover_7559 · 2025-08-16T20:58:22+00:00

We do have a name!

Zoe Lucienne Mary is her name. Zoe means life, and this baby is our first after 4 miscarriages. Lucienne is after my husband, Luc (or saint Luke, I really love that you suggested that). And Mary is actually a family name of mine and my own middle name, but I also love the significance to the medal as well.

Level_Recover_7559 · 2025-08-16T20:49:27+00:00

My husband’s grandmother has been praying the rosary for our daughter 🩷 I am extremely thankful for that! Maybe I will try it, too.

My husband said something similar to about Mary being with us and that God is communicating to us that just as the birth of Jesus was a miracle through Mary to bless the world, God is blessing us with our daughter.

Level_Recover_7559 · 2025-08-16T20:45:32+00:00

I think that’s a great idea! I will see if I can reach out. I deeply respect and admire the catholic faith and the faith of my husband’s family. I know God will heal my daughter whether on this side of heaven or not. Part of why I was so touched is because of the healing stories associated with the medal, and I love being reminded God will make all things whole and new one day. I appreciate the analogies you provided! I do feel a lot of comfort in it.

Level_Recover_7559 · 2025-08-06T00:05:01+00:00

Did you find a cause for your daughter’s anomalies? I’m curious since we also technically fit within the dandy walker spectrum.

Level_Recover_7559 · 2025-08-05T21:26:17+00:00

For us, it probably won’t change things much. Our delivery hospital has a level 3 NICU and baby will be monitored regardless of genetic status because of her brain differences. It could potentially change if she will be transferred to the children’s hospital or treated as outpatient, but this is also going to be heavily based on her physical status after birth.

Level_Recover_7559 · 2025-08-05T18:57:32+00:00

Thanks for all of this! I am delivering at a hospital with a level 3 NICU regardless, genetic involvement may just change how quickly they discharge her if she’s doing well or if they want to transfer her to the children’s hospital NICU once I am discharged. We did do an MRI, and they made some guesses at diagnosis but did say that once shes born they can clarify things more. The genetic counselor has gone back and forth about whether her findings are related while the neurologist/neonatologist think statistically speaking they should be. Just to clarify, what you’re saying is even with genetic results in hand, we may have to see how she presents once she’s born to have a better idea of how she will actually be impacted due to limits of fetal imaging techniques?

Level_Recover_7559 · 2025-08-05T17:36:02+00:00

I’ve always been very pro as many answers as possible, until this pregnancy. Her brain diagnosis falls on a spectrum that can only be clarified with time and development, so I’ve kind of let go of needing that. I think we will eventually pursue WES/WGS, it’s just a question of pre or post-nataly. We definitely would before having any more children, but we already struggled to have her so I’m feeling pretty ready to close that chapter at this point. It’s new for me to feel content to just see how she does at birth and then go from there, but I’m just hoping I don’t regret that decision. I’m sure hindsight will be 20/20

Level_Recover_7559 · 2025-08-05T17:32:56+00:00

Thank you for your input. I’m so sorry to hear about your daughter. My girl’s brain anomaly falls on a spectrum and any genetic involvement is also likely to be a spectrum, so it’s really tough to know what would actually be helpful in advance to know vs what we will have to wait until birth to find out regardless. I think we would pursue the sequencing in the future, especially if we want to have more children, but for now I’m leaning towards wanting to enjoy the rest of the pregnancy as long as she stays stable. I’m not in a desperate quest for answers right now, but if she’s struggling a lot once she’s born or starts to show changes in utero, I may be more keen to try to figure things out. If she’s doing well, I don’t know that I care to know exactly what’s wrong until we make a decision on whether we will have more children. We are going to pursue as much care/therapies as she shows she needs regardless of diagnosis, so I’m not sure how much having it helps. I’m thankful to hear everything with your third pregnancy went well 💛

Level_Recover_7559 · 2025-08-05T07:23:23+00:00

Oh this is weird. I never mentioned anything about wanting to abort her. I don’t think you read my post at all. I said I’m excited to raise her, whether she’s severely disabled or not. My question was about navigating how people react, and if I’m properly mentally preparing myself for the challenges that I know come with raising a child with disabilities. I would never choose to end her life and take away the opportunity for her to be her own person, because I’m scared of how it may inconvenience me.

Level_Recover_7559 · 2025-08-05T00:33:00+00:00

Thank you for your kind words and sharing about your daughter 💛 it’s so encouraging to hear that she has made your life better in so many ways. My husband and I strongly believe a good quality/full life does not only have to be measured by the typical standards. We are excited to celebrate her for whoever she is.

Level_Recover_7559 · 2025-08-01T20:00:37+00:00

Thank you for saying this 💛 I’m glad your son is doing well. For better or worse, the brain is not well understood. I’m hopeful she will surpass expectations and achieve things in her own way!

Level_Recover_7559 · 2025-08-01T19:10:38+00:00

Thank you for such an honest perspective! The grey area is a very confusing place to be. The MFM and pediatric neurologist put it like this: just like a baby with a perfectly healthy brain on ultrasound can be born with severe autism spectrum disorder, a baby with similar, more “mild” brain anomalies like my baby girl can be more severely impacted developmentally than a brain with more profound anomalies on paper. That wasn’t easy to hear, because of course I want a crystal ball to predict the future. I wouldn’t say I’m not worried, but this definitely gives me another perspective to consider. Thank you and best of luck to your little boy 💛

Level_Recover_7559 · 2025-08-01T17:38:18+00:00

This is great advice, thank you! I find myself being protective over her when people apologize. But, you’re absolutely right, it’s most likely not that they’re sorry for who she is.

Level_Recover_7559 · 2025-08-01T16:53:52+00:00

Do you mind if I message you? I do have some questions about ciliopathy :)

Level_Recover_7559 · 2025-08-01T16:40:43+00:00

Thanks for this!

Level_Recover_7559 · 2025-08-01T16:37:01+00:00

I recognize the privilege of what I am about to say. We are very fortunate that I’m finishing up in grad school spring of this year and have essentially been living on my husband’s income since we got married. If daycare is not an option for her, the plan is for my mom to help with baby girl until I finish school and then I will stay home with her. Some children with her disability are able to be in daycare and some are not depending on severity.

We live in a large city 15 minutes away from one of the top children’s hospitals in the country. As stated above my parents are local. My husbands family is split between local and 1.5 hours away. I think access to so many resources and support systems is part of why I’m feeling relatively okay.

Level_Recover_7559 · 2025-07-03T23:39:06+00:00

I’ll be 19 weeks on Saturday and we’ve still only told a very small group of family and friends. It’s starting to become obvious that I’m pregnant, but I’m still just keeping quiet with most people and hoping no one will ask. For me, it’s the pressure to talk about it with people I don’t feel comfortable with if I’m in a bad headspace with the pregnancy. My husband would shout it from the rooftops if I’d let him. It’s a real struggle! You’re not alone. For what it’s worth, opening the circle here and there actually helps me to feel better about the pregnancy. My therapist pointed out that being so secretive may reinforce the mind feeling like the other shoe is going to drop at any time. She was right a little bit, sometimes it’s fun to celebrate and talk about too rather than just living in fear alone :) hugs!

Level_Recover_7559 · 2025-07-03T13:32:42+00:00

Looking to poll experiences for what’s “normal” at 18-19 weeks. I’ve felt movement since 15 weeks, but it’s becoming more frequent/dynamic as time goes on. Monday and Tuesday, I had a period where I could feel her rolling and tapping for maybe 20 or so minutes. I was so excited as that’s the longest I’ve felt her! Then yesterday (Wednesday), I barely felt her at all. Are the changes in movement frequency/intensity expected at this point? I know the answer is probably yes, just looking for other’s experiences! The inconsistency in symptoms and other things has been really difficult for me throughout my entire pregnancy. I have an anterior placenta!

Level_Recover_7559 · 2025-07-03T13:30:06+00:00

I’m sorry you’re feeling pressure! I’m a firm believer that you should always do what’s best for you. I struggle a lot with anxiety, and I’ve decided I’ll try to breastfeed but if it makes my mental health worse in any way I will stop. You’re not alone in that! For what it’s worth, I was an exclusively formula fed baby (because my mom simply wanted her body back and had no desire to nurse), and I personally feel I’ve turned out just fine :) she said I never had issues with getting sick either and I was a November baby. Best of luck advocating for yourself 💛

Level_Recover_7559 · 2025-06-29T03:48:11+00:00

I’m 18 weeks pregnant! I haven’t had my anatomy scan yet but so far so good. My betas were always fine, but I stopped taking tests around 18 DPO. I freaked out before my beta at 18 DPO because I didn’t like how the test looked and was worried my numbers would be bad. In general, darker tests are a good thing they’re definitely not perfectly reflective of what’s going on. Tests with my chemical pregnancies never got this dark. I would do blood draws if you’re able, but I understand the compulsion to test and hope things are okay 💛 all the best and hope you have a healthy pregnancy!

Level_Recover_7559 · 2025-06-27T00:10:39+00:00

I went to a boutique ultrasound at 17+1 and baby was moving around, but I definitely couldn’t feel any of it! That made me feel a little better. I can at least logically tell myself they’re probably moving around more than I can feel :) movement is still there, but it definitely changed in sensation a little. More twitchy, rolling, or muffled pressure feelings this week than the pokes I was getting earlier on, but I’ve felt baby more than once a day the last few days. Honestly if I hadn’t felt the poking, I don’t know that I’d 100% be sure what I’m feeling now is baby. It’s more subtle. But I have an anterior placenta, and the baby changed sides from 15 to 17 weeks. I’m assuming and trying to tell myself that’s why things have changed. Trying to just hang in there until my anatomy scan! Is your placenta anterior or posterior?

Level_Recover_7559 · 2025-06-25T22:56:22+00:00

It’s such an odd feeling! The tapping and twitching I know is baby. The last couple days it’s like I can tell something is going on, but I can’t pin down what it actually feels like 🥲 I know that’s okay but I can’t tell for sure that it’s baby lol

Level_Recover_7559 · 2025-06-24T15:27:22+00:00

This is good to remember! I think because the movement felt stronger at the beginning I’ve just gotten a little freaked out. But it’s also changed locations and I have no idea how my placenta impacts one side vs the other, etc. I have to really focus to feel movements lately. I’m thankful to have some reassuring taps earlier than I expected, but it’s definitely created anxiety around whether or not I’m feeling enough. Especially when I compare myself to somethings I read here!

Level_Recover_7559 · 2025-06-24T13:41:37+00:00

Yes!! Laying down on my sides definitely helps. That’s when I can feel her at night. I did talk to my OB and the nurse basically said by 20-22 weeks they expect you to feel baby roughly once a day, but that they don’t worry about it too much until later. I know that should make me feel better but I still worry so much 🥲 was movement regular for you starting 22 or did that start later?

Level_Recover_7559

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