Quickening

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Quickening is a term used to describe the moment in pregnancy when the pregnant woman starts to feel or perceive fetal movements in the uterus.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

The term is derived from the Latin word quicken, which means "to animate or excite". In the past, quickening was often taken as the beginning of life in the fetus.[2]

Medical aspects[edit | edit source]

Quickening is usually felt by the mother between the 18th and 20th week of pregnancy, but it can occur as early as the 13th week in some cases.[3] The sensation is often described as feeling like popcorn popping, a goldfish swimming around, or butterflies.

Legal aspects[edit | edit source]

Historically, quickening was sometimes used to define the point at which the fetus became a life for legal purposes. For example, English common law did not consider a fetus to have rights until the mother had felt quickening.[4]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

Quickening Resources

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD