• Quickening is the moment most pregnant women await eagerly. What you have seen during your scan is visual, while quickening offers you something more tangible - your baby's first movement. It makes your pregnancy a whole lot more real! For the first time during pregnancy you will feel your baby move, and this usually happens around weeks 18-20.




• Your baby has been moving for a while now but you were not able to realize it because it was too little and immersed in large amounts of fluid. You were also not able to feel the movements because they were weak and not penetrating through the wall of the womb to reach your abdomen; once your uterus has grown large enough to touch the abdomen you will be able to feel the sensations.




• Quickening has been compared to the fluttering of a butterfly, gas bubbles, wind and even hunger pangs. If it is your first pregnancy you will probably feel these movements somewhere after 18 and even 20 weeks. If you have had a baby before then you would feel the sensation earlier, around week 16. This is probably because you know what to expect this time round.




• As baby grows, these movements grow in intensity too. You will start to experience a whole range of movements including kicks, twists, turns, stretches and wriggles. These movements usually start as early as the 8th week and are important as they help in developing baby's muscles. By the end of 16th week the movement is more pronounced as baby starts to kick, though you may not be able to recognize it for what it is.




• Some babies are more active while others are quiet. Don't worry if you have not felt any movement by 20 weeks. In a couple more weeks you should definitely be aware of these delightful sensations. The wait is definitely worth it.