Fetal Movement at 16 Weeks: What's Normal & When to Worry

Question
Age 27
Children 1, 5yo
LMP May 3,2005

I am apx. 16 weeks pregnant with my 2nd child. I have had 4 good trans vag ultrasounds but not any since I was 9wks along.

Heartrate has been heard on doppler and has been good , most recently on Aug.24.

I have felt some faint "wiggly" movements but they are not every day. It worries me when I go a day or two and don't feel anything. Is this normal for week 16 ? Yesterday was a lot of movement and today , nothing. Should I be worried ?

Also do your chances of miscarriage go down in the 2nd trimester after good heartbeat is  heard ?

Thanks, Melissa

Answer
Usually, fetal movement is not felt until 22 weeks gestation (for the first pregnancy) Since this is your second pregnancy, it can sometimes be felt by 18 weeks gestation. What you feel at 16 weeks is usually gas moving through the intestines, which are being pushed up by the growing uterus. You do not have to feel movement this early. Once you hear a heartbeat, the risk of miscarriage drops to 5% (from 15-20%). Don't worry.