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Aim: To investigate the perceptions of fetal movements among women in full term pregnancy.

Methods: A population-based study. Data were collected by distributing questionnaires including one open question: “Please describe your perception of the baby´s movements during this gestational week” to be answered in writing.  All antenatal clinics in one of the counties in Sweden participated. Altogether 505 pregnant women were eligible and fulfilled the inclusion criteria for this study. A matrix, listing seven types of movements was used for the content analysis. Categorization of types of movements was performed with regard to the context described by the women.

Results: 393 (79%) women responded to the open question. Altogether 383 (96%) women perceived fetal movements that were sorted as powerful: firm (78%), slow (24%), stretching (23%), from side to side (18 %) and large (18 %) movements. Most women described movements that corresponded to more than one type of movement. Fifty-three women (13%) also described light movements and seven (2%) startled movements, categorized as non-powerful.  Only ten (4%) women described movements that did not include any of the types of movements in the powerful category. 

Conclusions: In full term pregnancy, fetal movements should include the following three criteria: presence, frequency and intensity.