10 Different Types Of Baby Kicks And What They Mean

It’s a special feeling for all expecting mums to experience their baby’s kicks for the first time. You begin to experience these kicks after a certain gestational age, and they keep reminding you of the little life that is growing inside you and will soon be all cuddled in your arms.

While your baby’s kicks are an indicator of their healthy development, they are also a kind of secret language, which they use to communicate with you. In fact, your little one kicks in different ways inside your belly, and all of their movements signify different meanings. 

Curious to know more about baby kicks and what they mean? Keep reading to find out!

10 Types of Baby Kicks and Their Meaning

Fluttering

One of the first sensations you may feel is a flutter, which is often mistaken as gas, as it feels very similar to gas movements in your abdomen. In some cases, these movements may also feel like having butterflies in your stomach. 

If you are a first-time mum, you will probably start feeling flutters in your tummy around the 16th week, but if you’ve had a baby before, you may notice them earlier, as you already know you know exactly what they feel like. 

Tapping

While fetal movements may start early, your baby is still tiny, and may not be able to throw in strong kicks and punches just yet. Instead, you may feel tiny taps on the inside of your stomach, like a little knocking on your uterine wall. Also at this point, there will be a lot of layers between your baby and your skin—uterine walls, muscles, placenta, and fat, and that’s why you only feel gentle taps on your tummy. But don’t worry, as your baby grows stronger and bigger, their kicks will get more powerful too.

Kicking

As your baby grows stronger in the womb, their little taps gradually turn into kicks. While your womb offers a comfortable and safe space for your little one, a rapid growth spurt makes them feel cramped and uncomfortable in your belly. To create space, your little one stretches their legs and kicks a few punches at you in the process.

While your baby’s kicks aren’t painful, there are times when you might feel uncomfortable and even experience shortness of breath. If at any point you feel uncomfortable due to your baby’s kicks, then don’t hesitate to consult your doctor.

Punching

Just like kicking, your little one may throw in a few punches too occasionally. This occurs when they stretch their little arms out inside your belly and happen to punch you in the process. Again, you shouldn’t feel any pain due to this fetal movement, but in case you do, you should consult your doctor right away. 

Your baby’s punches could also mean that they are wide awake in your tummy, and unfortunately, this mostly occurs at night, as during the day, your active movements rock your baby to a deep and peaceful slumber.

Rolling

Does your baby really roll inside your belly? Well, the answer is yes! Babies roll quite often when they are in the womb, and a lot of women experience this movement, in addition to their little one’s kicks and punches. This movement means that your baby’s buttocks are on the move inside your belly and usually feel like you are getting a massage from the inside.

Low Kicks

By the third trimester, your baby gets pretty big, and they often feel cramped inside your tummy. To make themselves comfortable, they may squirm and move a lot, and you may also begin to notice where they are exactly positioned, based on their kicks and punches. 

If you experience low kicks (which are below your belly button), then chances are that your baby is in a breech position (with their hands pointing toward the birth canal), rather than a head-first position. A breech baby might be a cause for concern and you may have to consult your doctor immediately to devise the next steps and alter your birth plan.

Tickles

As you near your due date, you may feel a bunch of odd sensations in your tummy. In some cases, you may experience tickles in your tummy, which is usually caused when your baby starts to blow bubbles with the amniotic fluid. So the next time you feel a tickling sensation in your tummy, just know that your little one is having some fun blowing bubbles in your tummy.

Popping

Just like the ticklish feeling, you may also experience a popping sensation in your tummy. It will almost feel like a bunch of popcorn kernels are popping in your stomach. While this may feel a bit odd and unsettling to you, it’s actually a good sign. A popping sensation indicates that your little one is having hiccups, which indicates that their digestive system is developing healthily, as it should. And don’t worry, you do not have to do something special for your baby’s hiccups to stop, they will usually resolve on their own.

Spasms

You may also experience twitching and spasms in your belly, and that may leave you worried about your baby’s health. But don’t worry, this is another movement associated with your baby’s hiccups or the rapid movement in your belly. In fact, you can even see your baby twitch and make rapid movements in 3D ultrasound, during your routine prenatal checkup.

Violent Movements

Sometimes you may feel like your baby is trying to break out from within your belly by throwing violent kicks, punches, and rolls. If your little one does move like that, then it just means that they have run out of room in your belly, and are feeling uncomfortable. 

You can try certain remedies to help calm your baby, such as moving around a bit so that they can get into a comfortable position, or taking a warm bath to ease any discomfort that they might be having. 

Conclusion

Your baby’s kicks signify that they are developing healthily and are active inside your belly. Generally, these kicks don’t cause any pain, but if you do experience discomfort at any point, make sure to consult your doctor immediately. 

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