What is fetal movement?

Throughout intrauterine life the developing fetus is flexing and extending its extremities and total body, rolling side to side and doing flips, hiccupping and even expanding the thoracic as if to be practicing breathing. All of these activities are considered fetal movement. Fetal movement is visible on ultrasound imaging, palpable through the maternal abdomen and can be felt by the pregnant woman beginning between 16-20 weeks gestation. In the last couple of week of pregnancy, fetal movement may decrease due to the lack of space for stretching and rolling in the uterus.