The first time you feel your baby moving, you’re likely to second-guess the sensation: to wonder if what you just felt was actually a gas bubble, a hunger pang, or some other digestive sensation.
But as the gentle flutters becomes more definite and more frequent, your mother detective skills will lead you to conclude that these movements are unmistakable: this is your baby moving around.
Your baby has been moving all along, of course, but it’s not until he gets large enough to make contact with the abdominal wall and his movements become strong enough for you to feel them that you'll actually take note of his movements for the very first time.
You can expect to first start feeling your baby's first movements at around 18 to 20 weeks, and perhaps a week or two earlier than that if you're having your second child and you've previously mastered the art of decoding the gentlest of baby wriggles.
It may take a little longer for other people to be able to pick up on your baby's movements: for the first little while, these movements will be subtle enough that you’ll be the only one who can tell if your baby is doing flip-flops or resting quietly.
It's an powerful feeling, knowing that you are connected to your baby in this unique and all-powerful way, both awe-inspiring and a little overwhelming at the same time.
