Around which week of gestation are fetal movements first noticed by a multigravida pregnant woman?

• A. 6 weeks
• B. 8 weeks
• C. 12 weeks
• D. 16 weeks

Answer: (D)

Feeling fetal movement is known as quickening, and when a woman has had prior pregnancies, she often perceives it earlier. For someone with previous pregnancies, the uterus has become more responsive to fetal activity, and the fetus has grown enough by about the second trimester to produce noticeable movements. Around 16 weeks gestation this perception is commonly reported, whereas earlier weeks—like six, eight, or even twelve weeks—are generally too soon for most multiparous women to feel movements. Factors such as the position of the placenta or a larger abdomen can influence when movement is felt, but 16 weeks is the typical timeframe for a multigravida.