Anterior Placenta: Baby Kicks and Fetal Movement

You are well into your pregnancy but feel little or no movement. Your friend at the same stage is describing powerful kicks, while you can barely feel a thing. Could something be wrong?

If you have been told that your placenta is anterior, this is most likely completely normal. An anterior placenta is the most common reason pregnant women feel movement later and more faintly than expected.

Why does an anterior placenta dampen kicks?

When the placenta lies on the front wall of the uterus — between your baby and your abdomen — it acts as a natural cushion. The placenta is a thick, spongy organ that absorbs many of your baby's movements.

Think of it this way: your baby is kicking just as much as other babies, but those kicks hit the placenta first, which dampens the force before you feel them through your abdominal wall.

Read more about placenta position in general to understand the difference between anterior and posterior placentas.

When will you start feeling movement?

The timing of the first clear fetal movements varies:

Without an anterior placenta

• First-time mothers: Usually weeks 18–22
• Mothers who have given birth before: Often as early as weeks 14–18 (they recognise the sensation)

With an anterior placenta

• First-time mothers: Often not until weeks 22–26
• Mothers who have given birth before: Usually weeks 20–24

This means you may be 4–6 weeks behind other women at the same stage of pregnancy. This is completely normal and not a cause for concern.

The first movements

The earliest movements you feel with an anterior placenta are often:

• Faint "bubbling" or "fluttering" low in the abdomen
• Movement at the sides of the abdomen, where the placenta does not cover
• Kicks or pressure downward against the bladder
• Movements that are easier to feel in the evening when you are lying still

Where do you feel kicks best?

With an anterior placenta, you will typically feel movements most clearly in areas the placenta does not cover:

Lower abdomen

Your baby kicks or pushes downward toward the bladder and pelvic floor. Many women with an anterior placenta feel their first distinct kicks here.

Sides of the abdomen

The placenta usually sits centrally at the front. Movements at the sides are easier to feel because they don't travel through the placenta.

Upper abdomen

As your baby grows (especially from weeks 28–30), you can feel kicks and pressure at the top of your abdomen.

Under the ribs

Toward the end of pregnancy this is a common place to feel strong kicks, regardless of placenta position.

Week by week: What to expect

Weeks 16–20

• Most women with an anterior placenta feel nothing yet
• Don't worry — your baby is there and moving
• Your midwife can listen to the heartbeat for reassurance

Weeks 20–24

• Many women begin to feel the first faint movements
• Often described as "bubbles" or "tickling"
• Easiest to feel in the evening when you are resting

Weeks 24–28

• Movements become clearer and more regular
• You begin to recognise a pattern
• Kicks at the sides and low in the abdomen are often the clearest
• From now on, start paying attention to your baby's activity pattern

Weeks 28–32

• Kicks feel stronger, even through the placenta
• Your baby is large enough for movements to be distinct
• You may be able to see your belly move from the outside
• Your partner can begin to feel kicks (often a few weeks later than women without an anterior placenta)

Weeks 32–40

• Movements change character — more rolling and pushing, less kicking
• Your baby has less room but should still be active
• The placenta rarely prevents you from feeling movements at this stage

Counting fetal movements

Regardless of placenta position, it is important to monitor your baby's movements from around weeks 24–26.

Key principles

• Learn the pattern: Every baby has an individual movement pattern. Learn how your baby moves
• 10 movements: You should feel at least 10 distinct movements within a two-hour period (when your baby is active)
• Timing: Many babies are most active in the evening and at night
• Rest: Lie down or sit quietly to feel movements more clearly

Special considerations with an anterior placenta

• Movements may feel weaker — but you should still feel them daily from weeks 24–26
• Kicks that hit the placenta are not felt (so you don't count them), but your baby also kicks elsewhere
• Lying on your side can help you feel movements more clearly
• Drinking something cold — many babies respond with increased activity

Can your partner feel kicks?

With an anterior placenta, it may take longer for your partner to feel your baby's kicks from the outside:

• Without an anterior placenta: Partners can often feel kicks from around weeks 24–26
• With an anterior placenta: It may not be until weeks 28–30 or later

Tips for letting your partner feel kicks

• Ask your partner to place their hand on the sides of your belly, not directly in the centre
• Try when your baby is most active (typically in the evening)
• Be patient — it will happen, it just takes a little longer
• The lower abdomen is often the best spot

Anterior placenta and birth

An anterior placenta does not normally affect labour and delivery itself. You can give birth vaginally as normal. The only exception is if the placenta is also low-lying — in that case we are talking about placenta previa, which is a separate condition.

Anterior placenta and CTG monitoring

During prenatal appointments and labour, CTG (cardiotocography) is used to monitor your baby's heart rate. With an anterior placenta, your midwife may sometimes have difficulty positioning the sensor correctly. This is common and does not mean anything is wrong — it simply requires a little extra patience.

Frequently asked questions

Will I never feel kicks with an anterior placenta?

You will. All pregnant women with an anterior placenta eventually feel movement. It simply takes a little longer. By weeks 28–30, the vast majority feel regular movements.

Can an anterior placenta create false reassurance?

Theoretically, the placenta can mask some movements. This is why it is important to learn your baby's individual pattern and contact your care provider if that pattern changes. Do not dismiss reduced movement as "just the placenta."

Is it dangerous to feel kicks late?

No, it is completely normal to feel kicks later with an anterior placenta. But if you are past week 24 and have not felt any movement at all, you should contact your midwife or doctor for a check.

Does an anterior placenta affect bonding with your baby?

Some pregnant women find it takes a little longer to feel "connected" to their baby because the kicks are not as distinct. This is completely normal and does not mean bonding will be affected. You can talk to your baby, stroke your belly, and connect in other ways.

Can the placenta move from anterior to posterior?

No, the placenta does not move. It stays where it attached early in pregnancy. But as your baby and uterus grow, kicks become easier to feel because there is less space.

Is an anterior placenta more common in certain pregnancies?

An anterior placenta is equally common across all types of pregnancy — first, second, or third, natural conception or IVF. It is random and is not influenced by anything you have done.

Read more

• Anterior vs posterior placenta: Everything you need to know
• Placenta previa (low-lying placenta)
• Amniotic fluid levels: Too little or too much
• Breech position: When your baby is the wrong way round
• Follow your pregnancy week by week
• Due date calculator

Sources

1. WHO — Fetal movements in pregnancy
2. ACOG — Ultrasound in pregnancy
3. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Antenatal care guidelines
4. Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine — Fetal movement counting