Is it normal to feel fetal movement at 16 weeks of pregnancy?

Patient's question:

I heard that fetal movement can be felt around 16 weeks of pregnancy, but I'm already 18 weeks now and still haven't felt anything. Is this normal? What does the first fetal movement feel like? At what point is it abnormal if there's still no fetal movement? Thank you

Doctor's answer:

Starting from the fifth month, the mother can noticeably feel the baby's movements, known as fetal movement. Fetal movement refers to the baby's activity inside the uterine cavity impacting the uterine wall, such as the baby stretching, kicking, or hitting the uterine wall. The frequency, speed, and strength of fetal movements indicate the baby's well-being. Normal, noticeable fetal movements should not be fewer than 3 to 5 times within an hour, and the total number of noticeable fetal movements in 12 hours should be more than 30 to 40 times. However, due to significant individual differences in fetuses, some 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 baby is developing normally. Therefore, your situation does not necessarily mean the fetal movements are abnormal.