Fetal Movement in Pregnancy: What's Normal at 34 Weeks?

Question
dear doctor,
first of all, there is a slight confusion regarding my LMP because i've always had irregular periods all my life, but as far as i can be sure, its around the 7-8th of July,2003. Acc to the first ultrasound conducted, my due date is April 22nd, 2004. I have now completed 33 weeks of pregnancy and am in my 34th week. From what i've heard and been told a hundred times, i should be feeling a fair amount of movements ranging all day, but i do not feel more than 5-6 pushes or kicks during the day though the activity at night is definitely much higher. This has me worried quite a bit.Also i tried the shining a torch in the dark trick and did not feel any significant movement towards the light as was claimed. I was an overweight person even before birth but not obese.I conceived when i was 23, now i'm 24, and this is my first baby.Please give me some logical explanation to put my mind at rest. I'm freaking out thinking there might be something wrong with my baby. I've had 2 ultrasounds the last one at 21 weeks where everything was normal.

Answer
The baby has "wake" and "sleep" cycles. As long as it does move each day, it is fine. It does not have to move constnatly nor does it have to kick that much. It can do sommersaults, hiccups, rolls, kicks, and just movements. If you havc any doubts do "kick counts". This is done by lying on your back (only for this test) and placing your hands gently on your abdomen. See how long it takes for you to feel 10 movements (of any sort). You should feel ten movements within ten hours. It may be during the night or during the day. The baby does not tell time yet and does not know wnen you would like it to move. Don't worry. If the sonogram showed that all is well and you have no bleeding, the baby is fine.