Why does fetal movement decrease at 40 weeks of pregnancy?

As a woman, having a baby is a very joyful thing. Sometimes you can even feel the little life beating in your belly, but some mothers experience reduced fetal movement after 40 weeks of pregnancy. What is going on? Will it be harmful to production? So today I will explain to you why fetal movement decreases at 40 weeks of pregnancy.

Normal obvious fetal movements should be no less than 3 to 5 times per hour, and more than 30 to 40 times in 12 hours. However, due to the large individual differences among fetuses, some fetuses may move about 100 times in 12 hours. As long as the fetal movements are regular, rhythmic, and do not vary much, it proves that the fetal development is normal. Normal fetal movement indicates that the placenta is functioning well, that the fetus is receiving sufficient oxygen, that the fetus is growing and developing healthily in the uterus, and that the fetus is moving happily.

The number of fetal movements is not constant. During the 28th to 38th week of pregnancy, the fetal movement is active, and then it weakens slightly until delivery. The pregnant woman's movement, posture, emotions, loud noises, strong light, and touching the abdomen can all cause changes in fetal movement.

Normal fetal movement is a special "letter" from the fetus to the mother to report its safety, and it is also a sign that the fetus is in good condition. Abnormal fetal movement indicates that the fetus is currently encountering difficulties or dangers. So, you have to learn to observe fetal movements.

The fetal movements that pregnant women can feel first appear in the middle of the lower abdomen and often have several different types.

Among them is the turning movement, which is the left and right rotation of the fetus's body. It lasts for a long time, generally 3 to 30 seconds. The turning movement is larger, and you will feel a rolling and pulling sensation;

Sometimes, you will feel the fetus's limbs moving, such as punching and kicking, which usually lasts 1 to 15 seconds. At this time, you can feel the baby kicking or jumping in your abdomen; sometimes, you will also feel the fetus trembling, slowly wriggling or like hiccups.

During the day, there are two peaks of fetal movement, one between 7 and 9 in the morning, and the other between 11 at night and 1 in the morning of the next day. At other times, especially in the early morning, fetal movements are relatively rare. The general rule is no less than 3 to 5 times per hour, and the fetal movement is about 30 to 40 times every 12 hours.

Now, mothers who are reading this article, do you have some understanding of fetal movement? Mothers should pay attention to their diet during pregnancy and go to the hospital regularly to check fetal movements. If you feel unusually unwell, you must go to the hospital for a check-up. For a healthy baby, mothers must also be healthy.