Pregnancy Week 17: Feeling Your Baby Move for the First Time

8 min read

Quick answer: At 17 weeks many mums-to-be feel their baby's first movements, known as quickening — a fluttering, bubbling or popping feeling low in the abdomen that is easy to mistake for wind. In a first pregnancy this usually happens between 16 and 24 weeks, and earlier, around 14 to 16 weeks, in later pregnancies. If you have not felt movement by 24 weeks, tell your midwife. If movements slow, stop or change, call your midwife or maternity unit immediately.

What parents need to know

Week 17 is one of the most magical weeks of pregnancy for many mums-to-be, as it's often around this time that you might feel your baby move for the very first time. Known as "quickening," this sensation is one of the most memorable moments of pregnancy.

The Crib

Your baby at 17 weeks

Movements slow, stop or change: call your midwife or maternity unit immediately

Roughly 12cm

About the size of a pear

Crown to rump: roughly 12cm

First movements: 16 to 24 weeks in a first pregnancy

Later pregnancies: around 14 to 16 weeks

Sources: NHS, Tommy's, NCT, RCOG. General information, not medical advice.

How big is your baby at 17 weeks?

Your baby is now about the size of a pear, roughly 12cm from crown to rump. They're growing steadily, and fat is beginning to form under the skin.

What's happening with your baby?

Your baby is increasingly active this week, making squirming, rolling, and kicking movements inside the womb. The skeleton continues to harden from soft cartilage into bone. Your baby's sweat glands are developing. Myelin, the protective sheath that surrounds nerve fibres, is beginning to form, which will eventually allow your baby's nervous system to transmit signals more efficiently.

Your baby's hearing is developing further, and they can now detect sounds from outside the womb. Talking, singing, and reading to your baby may sound fanciful, but there's good evidence that babies recognise voices they've heard in the womb. This can also be a lovely way for a birth partner to bond with the baby before birth.

A close-up image of newborn baby feet resting in a gentle hand, showcasing innocence and new life.

What is quickening?

Quickening refers to the first movements you feel from your baby. In a first pregnancy, these are usually noticed anywhere between 16 and 24 weeks. In subsequent pregnancies, you may feel them earlier, from around 14 to 16 weeks, because you recognise the sensation.

First movements are often described as a fluttering, bubbling, or popping sensation in the lower abdomen — sometimes compared to the feeling of butterflies or gentle bubbles. They can easily be mistaken for wind or digestive activity at first. As your pregnancy progresses, these movements will become stronger and more distinct.

If you have not felt your baby move by 24 weeks, tell your midwife. They'll check your baby's heartbeat and movements. Once you start to feel your baby move, get to know their usual pattern of movements from day to day. There's no set number of movements you should feel, and you do not need to count kicks.

What's happening in your body?

Your bump continues to grow, and you may find it's now unmistakably visible to others. Your body is also undergoing changes you might not expect: your sense of balance may shift slightly as your centre of gravity changes, so be mindful of this during exercise or when on uneven ground. Do not lie flat on your back for long periods, particularly after 16 weeks, because the weight of your bump presses on the main blood vessel bringing blood back to your heart, and this can make you feel faint. Varicose veins can begin to appear, particularly in the legs, as blood volume increases and the growing uterus puts pressure on the veins. Wearing compression socks, elevating your legs when resting, and staying active can all help.

Heartburn and indigestion are common through the second and third trimesters. If they are troublesome, eating small meals often and not eating within 3 hours of going to bed can help. If changes to your diet and lifestyle do not work, see your midwife or GP, who may recommend a medicine. Some antacids are not suitable during pregnancy, so if you buy one from a pharmacy, ask the pharmacist and tell them you are pregnant. Do not take antacids within 2 hours of taking folic acid or iron supplements.

Maternity clothes and your changing body

As your bump grows, you may find your normal clothes becoming increasingly uncomfortable. Maternity jeans with soft, stretchy panels, loose-fitting tops, and maternity dresses can make a significant difference to your comfort. You don't need to spend a great deal: many women find that charity shops, online marketplaces, and maternity clothes swaps provide excellent options. Investing in a good maternity bra is worthwhile, particularly if your breasts have grown significantly.

When to get help

Some symptoms in pregnancy can be a sign of something serious and need checking quickly. This is who to contact, and how soon.

Call 999 if:

you're bleeding from your vagina and the bleeding is heavy (soaking a period pad soon after putting it on), or you also have severe pain in your tummy, pain in your shoulder, or feel sick, faint, dizzy or lose consciousness
you have severe difficulty breathing (you're gasping, choking or not able to get words out) or your chest feels tight or heavy
you have pain and swelling in one leg and you also feel short of breath or have chest pain. A blood clot in the leg can travel to your lungs, which can be life-threatening
you have possible signs of sepsis, such as breathing very fast, being confused or having slurred speech, blue, pale or blotchy skin, a rash that does not fade when you press it, or a very high or very low temperature. Being pregnant makes sepsis more likely
you do not feel you can keep yourself safe (a mental health emergency is as serious as a physical one)

Always call 999 if you think it's a life-threatening emergency, no matter what stage of pregnancy you are.

Call your midwife, maternity unit or early pregnancy unit now if:

your baby is moving less than usual, you cannot feel your baby moving anymore, or there is a change to your baby's usual pattern of movements
you have light bleeding or spotting, even if you have no pain or only mild tummy pain
you have stomach pain that is severe or does not go away after you've rested for 30 to 60 minutes, or stomach pain with regular cramping or tightenings, lower back pain, or pain when you pee
you have a gush or trickle of fluid from your vagina, which could be your waters breaking, or vaginal discharge that's unusual for you
your skin is very itchy (for example, it keeps you awake at night), the palms of your hands or soles of your feet are itchy, or the itching is worse at night. This can be a sign of a liver condition called intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) that needs urgent treatment
your breathlessness comes on suddenly, you're out of breath when you're lying down, or you're breathless and also have chest pain or feel dizzy
you have pain or swelling in one leg, usually in the calf or thigh. This could be a blood clot (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT), which is more likely when you're pregnant
you have a high temperature (38C or above), or you feel hotter than usual or shivery. A high temperature can be a sign of an infection, so it's important to get it checked

If your baby's movements change, do not wait until the next day: call immediately, even if it's the middle of the night. Do not use a home doppler to check the heartbeat yourself. Even if you hear a heartbeat, this does not mean your baby is well.

If you cannot reach them, or you're not sure what to do, call NHS 111.

Speak to your midwife or GP if:

you have not felt your baby move by 24 weeks. Most people start to feel movements between 16 and 24 weeks. If this is your first baby, you might not feel them until after 20 weeks
you're worried about your mental health, or stress, anxiety or low mood are affecting your day-to-day life. If you need urgent help for your mental health, call 111 and select the mental health option, or ask for an urgent GP appointment

Your week 17 checklist

This week:

Pay attention to those first fluttering movements.
Invest in comfortable maternity clothing if needed.
Manage heartburn with small, frequent meals. Ask a pharmacist before taking an antacid, and tell them you're pregnant.
Continue pelvic floor exercises.
Keep up regular gentle exercise.
Enjoy talking or singing to your baby.

Sources & further reading

General information, not individual medical advice. Speak to your GP, midwife or health visitor about your baby’s needs.