Background: Decreased and weak fetal movements in late pregnancy are associated with adverse neonatal outcomes. Enhanced knowledge about the women’s perception of the movement may improve the possibilities for identifying fetuses at risk. It has previously been established that there is a risk for stillbirth if fetal movements are reduced or weak. It has also been generally understood that frequent and strong fetal movements during the last three months of pregnancy are signs of satisfactory health of the fetus. Since observation of fetal movement depends on the mother’s perception, it is important to study these perceptions more carefully. Objective: To investigate the perceptions of fetal movements among women in full term pregnancy. Design: A population- based study. Setting: All antenatal clinics in one of the counties in Sweden March 1, 2011 to October 31, 2011. Population: Altogether 505 pregnant women were eligible and fulfilled the inclusion criteria for this study. Methods: Data were collected by distributing questionnaires including an open question: “Please describe your perception of the baby´s movements during this gestational week” to be answered in writing. A protocol, listing seven types of movements was used for the content analysis. Main outcome measures: Perception of fetal movements among women in full term singleton pregnancy. Results: 393 (79%) women responded to the open question. Altogether, 383 (96%) women perceived five different types of fetal movements that were sorted as powerful: strong (78%), (24%), stretching (23%), from side to side (18%), and large (18%). Most women described movements that corresponded to more than one type of movement. Fifty three (13%) women 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 movements in the powerful category. Conclusion: In full-term pregnancy, fetal movements are usually recognized as powerful.