Quickening

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.

History

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.

Medical aspects

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. The sensation is often described as feeling like popcorn popping, a goldfish swimming around, or butterflies.

Legal aspects

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.

See also

• Fetal movement
• Pregnancy
• Abortion
• Fetus

References

Quickening Resources
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