Week 23 of pregnancy — what is happening and what to do

In week 23 many people feel their baby's movements more and more clearly, though they vary a lot — from gentle flutters to distinct kicks. There is no single pattern that fits everyone: what you feel depends on things like the position of the placenta, your body shape, and whether this is your first pregnancy. It is worth starting to observe your own rhythm instead of comparing yourself with descriptions online.

When to start observing movements

First movements appear within a wide time window, and it is hard to name one right moment. If you haven't felt anything yet, mention it at your next visit — the staff will check that everything is progressing as expected for your week of pregnancy.

• Note in your app the date when you first felt a clear movement.
• Record the times of day when movements are easiest for you to notice.
• Pay attention to the character of the sensations: fluttering, bubbling, kicks.
• Don't compare the number of movements with descriptions online.

How to keep a movement diary without pressure

The diary is there to help you get to know your own baby, not to turn you into a form-filling machine. The simplest approach: one short note a day, at a time when you are resting and unhurried. Over time you will notice your typical rhythm — and that is exactly the knowledge that becomes useful if any doubt appears.

• One short note a day is enough — no counting or comparing.
• Note what you were doing when movements were clear: resting, a meal, lying down.
• Also record days when movements seem different than usual.
• Bring your notes to a visit if something concerns you.

Contractions and movements — what to note down before a visit

If you are having contractions this week, write down when they start, how long they last, and whether they ease when you change position. Observations like these are far more useful to a doctor than a general "my belly hurts." If contractions become regular or come with other symptoms, don't wait for the scheduled visit.

What to do when something worries you

If movements seem different than before, call your clinic, your midwife, or the labor and delivery ward and say plainly what worried you. Don't put it off until the scheduled visit and don't look for answers in a search engine. The staff will ask for details and decide whether a check-up is needed.

• Call the facility managing your pregnancy and describe what has changed.
• Say when you last felt movements clearly and what you were doing then.
• Don't wait until the next day to make contact if your concern is growing.
• Write down who you spoke with and what guidance you received.
• In a life-threatening situation, call the emergency number.

How to talk about movements at a visit

Bring your notes from recent days to the visit, even if they are very short. The doctor needs specifics: when movements are clear, whether anything about them has changed, and whether they come with other symptoms. Instead of judging whether there are many or few, describe your typical day.

• Say at which times movements are clearest for you.
• Describe whether anything has changed in recent days.
• Mention other symptoms: contractions, pain, weakness.
• Ask how to observe movements in the coming weeks.
• Write down the recommendations while still in the office.

When and where to observe movements

Movements are easiest to notice in quiet moments, for example when you are sitting or lying down after a meal. You don't need to do it at a fixed hour or react to every single sensation — the goal is to know your own rhythm. If you feel nothing at a given moment, come back to it later and ask the staff how to approach such situations.

• Choose one or two times of day when you have some quiet.
• Don't compare the number of movements with other people's descriptions online.
• Keep notes short: time of day, character of sensations, changes.
• Bring your notes to the visit instead of relying on memory.