You usually start to feel your baby kicking between the middle of the second trimester and early third trimester, most often around 18–22 weeks of pregnancy, though normal can range from about 14–26 weeks. These first movements are called quickening and often feel like flutters, bubbles, or gentle taps rather than strong kicks at first.

Typical timing by pregnancy stage

  • Many first‑time pregnancies: quickening around 18–22 weeks, sometimes closer to 24–25 weeks.
  • If you’ve been pregnant before: you may notice movement a bit earlier, sometimes around 14–18 weeks.
  • Third trimester (from 28 weeks): movements are stronger and more regular, and you should feel your baby move every day.

An example: someone at 19 weeks with their first baby might feel a few odd “bubbles” every couple of days, while another person pregnant for the second time might have felt gentle flutters already at 15–16 weeks.

What baby kicking feels like

  • Early on: light flutters, bubbling, tickling, or a soft rolling feeling, easy to confuse with gas or muscle twitches.
  • Later in pregnancy: clearer kicks, jabs, stretches, rolls, and even hiccup‑like rhythmic twitches.
  • Near the end: movements can feel more like big rolls and nudges than sharp kicks because space in the uterus is tighter.

You’re more likely to notice movements when you’re sitting or lying quietly, especially in the evening or at night.

When to be concerned

  • If you are past about 24–26 weeks and feel noticeably fewer movements than usual, or they suddenly change, call your maternity unit, midwife, or doctor the same day.
  • In the third trimester, if you do not feel at least several movements in a couple of hours when baby is usually active, you should get checked urgently rather than waiting for the next day.

If you are earlier than 20 weeks and haven’t felt anything yet, that can still be completely normal, especially in a first pregnancy or if you have an anterior placenta (placenta at the front of the uterus), but you can always ask your provider for reassurance.

Quick FAQ style recap

  • When can you feel baby kicking?
    Most commonly 18–22 weeks, but anywhere from 14–26 weeks can be normal.
  • What do first kicks feel like?
    Gentle flutters or bubbles, gradually becoming stronger kicks and rolls over the second and third trimesters.
  • When should I feel movement every day?
    Usually by around 28 weeks, you should feel daily movement and get used to your baby’s own pattern.

If you’re ever worried about how often you feel your baby move at any stage, it’s always safest to contact your midwife or doctor and get checked. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.