Patient's question:
I got married last year. Recently, I've been experiencing lower abdominal pain, especially during my period. I'm very worried about it affecting fertility, and I'm also extremely sensitive to cold and coldness. Could you please tell me what is the normal frequency of fetal movement?Doctor's answer:
3~5 times, the number of (obvious fetal movements) in 12 hours is more than 30~40 times. However, due to the large individual differences in fetuses, some fetuses may move around 100 times in 12 hours. As long as the fetal movements are regular, rhythmic, and show little variation, it proves that the fetus is developing normally. Normal fetal movements indicate that the placental function is good, the oxygen supply to the fetus is sufficient, and the fetus is growing and developing healthily in the uterus, moving happily.When a pregnant woman finds that the (fetal movements) in 12 hours are less than 20 times, or less than 3 times per hour, it may indicate that the fetus is experiencing hypoxia (oxygen deprivation), and the small life may be in serious danger. In the early stages of hypoxia, the number of (fetal movements) may increase, as the fetus becomes restless due to the lack of oxygen. When the fetal hypoxia in the uterus continues to worsen, the (fetal movements) gradually weaken and decrease in frequency, which is a warning sign for the fetus. If appropriate rescue measures are not taken at this time, the fetus may experience the disappearance of (fetal movements), followed by the disappearance of the fetal heartbeat, and the cessation of the heartbeat, leading to death. This process may take approximately 12~48 hours. Therefore, if a pregnant woman discovers any abnormalities in fetal movements, she must not take it lightly and should immediately seek medical attention at the obstetrics department for timely treatment, which can often turn a dangerous situation into a safe one.