Anterior Placenta: What It Means for Kick Counting
Good News First
An anterior placenta is completely normal and not a cause for concern. About 50% of pregnant women have one! This guide will help you understand what it means and how to effectively monitor your baby's movements.
Understanding Placenta Position
Anterior Placenta
(Front Position)
Placenta is between baby and your belly
Posterior Placenta
(Back Position)
Placenta is behind baby, near your spine
With an anterior placenta, kicks must travel through the placenta to reach your belly—that's why they feel muffled!
If your ultrasound revealed you have an "anterior placenta," you might be wondering what this means—especially when it comes to feeling your baby's precious kicks. Perhaps you've noticed friends feeling movement earlier, or you're worried that you can't feel as much as you expected. Take a deep breath: this is completely normal, and you're not alone.
An anterior placenta simply means your placenta has attached to the front wall of your uterus. Think of it as a soft cushion sitting between your baby and your belly. While it doesn't affect your baby's development or health, it does change how you experience those magical movements—and that's exactly what we'll explore in this guide.
🔬 What Exactly is an Anterior Placenta?
The placenta is the remarkable organ that develops during pregnancy to provide oxygen and nutrients to your baby through the umbilical cord. It can attach to different areas of your uterine wall:
Placenta Positions Explained:
Why Does Position Matter for Kick Counting?
When your placenta is at the front, it acts like a cushion or shock absorber between your baby's movements and your belly. Those kicks and punches have to travel through the thick, spongy placenta before reaching the nerve endings in your abdominal wall. This muffles the sensation, making movements feel softer, less distinct, or sometimes harder to detect.
Key Facts About Anterior Placenta:
- Very common: Occurs in approximately 50% of pregnancies
- Not dangerous: Poses no additional risk to you or your baby
- Random occurrence: You didn't do anything to cause it
- Baby develops normally: Your baby gets the same nutrients and oxygen
- Normal delivery: Doesn't affect your ability to have a vaginal birth
⏰ When Will I Feel Kicks?
One of the most common concerns for mothers with an anterior placenta is feeling like they're "missing out" on early movements. If your friends or online communities are excitedly reporting kicks at 16-18 weeks while you feel nothing, it's easy to worry. But here's the truth: you're not missing anything wrong—the cushioning effect is simply delaying your ability to detect what's happening.
When Movements Are Typically Felt
First-time moms typically feel movement around 18-20 weeks
First-time moms may not feel clear movement until 22-24 weeks
💭 What Early Movements Might Feel Like
With an anterior placenta, early movements are often subtle and easy to dismiss:
- • Gentle bubbles or "popping" sensations
- • A feeling like muscle twitches
- • Light fluttering, often mistaken for gas
- • Soft swishing or rolling sensations
- • Pressure on your sides rather than center of belly
The Good News: It Gets Easier
As your baby grows bigger and stronger (especially after 24-26 weeks), movements become much more noticeable—even with an anterior placenta. By the third trimester, most mothers with anterior placentas can feel distinct kicks, rolls, and even see movement on the outside of their belly.
📍 Where Will I Feel Movements?
Because the placenta is cushioning the front of your belly, you'll likely feel your baby's movements in different areas than mothers with posterior placentas. Understanding where to "look" for kicks can help you tune into your baby more effectively.
Where to Feel for Movement
Most Likely to Feel
- → Sides of belly (left and right flanks)
- → Very low belly (near pelvis/bladder)
- → Upper belly (above navel, later in pregnancy)
- → Toward your back (internal pressure)
Less Likely to Feel
- → Center of belly (blocked by placenta)
- → Around navel area (especially early on)
- → Front of bump where partner might place hand
💡 Partner Tip: If your partner wants to feel the baby kick, try having them place their hand on the side of your belly or very low, rather than the front center. They may need to wait until the third trimester for reliable external kicks with an anterior placenta.
💡 Tips for Kick Counting with an Anterior Placenta
The Count to 10 method still works for you—but you may need to adjust your approach. Here are specific strategies to help you monitor your baby's movements effectively:
Focus on Side-Lying Positions
Lying on your left side is especially important with an anterior placenta. This position:
- Shifts baby's position so kicks may reach your sides or back
- Optimizes blood flow to your uterus, potentially making baby more active
- Removes the placenta from directly between you and baby's movements
Count ALL Types of Movement
With an anterior placenta, you may not feel sharp, distinct kicks—but that doesn't mean baby isn't moving. Count these too:
Shifting weight or position changes
Swooping, swimming sensations
Baby pushing against your organs
Limbs extending, visible bumps
Be Patient with Your Sessions
It may take longer to feel 10 movements than for mothers with posterior placentas. This is normal! The 2-hour window still applies.
Typical experience: Where another mom might feel 10 kicks in 15 minutes, you might take 30-45 minutes. As long as you reach 10 within 2 hours, you're within normal range.
Use Triggers to Encourage Movement
If baby seems quiet, try these gentle techniques to encourage activity:
- • Drink a glass of cold water or juice
- • Eat a small snack (blood sugar changes can stimulate baby)
- • Gently press or jiggle your belly
- • Play music or have your partner talk to your belly
- • Shine a flashlight on your belly (in later pregnancy)
Track Patterns, Not Just Numbers
Because your sensation of movement may be different, it's especially important to learn your baby's unique pattern. Track:
- • Time of day when baby is most active
- • How long it typically takes to feel 10 movements
- • What triggers activity (food, lying down, etc.)
- • Where you typically feel movements
Use our tracking tool
Record sessions to identify your baby's patterns
Trust Yourself—Seek Help When Worried
Having an anterior placenta does NOT mean you should ignore concerns about reduced movement. Even with the cushioning effect, you should develop a sense of your baby's normal activity.
If you're worried, get checked. Healthcare providers understand anterior placentas—they won't dismiss your concerns. It's always better to be evaluated and reassured than to wait.
When to Contact Your Healthcare Provider
Having an anterior placenta doesn't change when you should seek help. Contact your provider or go to the hospital if:
- • You don't feel 10 movements in 2 hours during an active period
- • You notice a significant change from your baby's normal pattern
- • You haven't felt any movement for several hours
- • Something just feels wrong—trust your instincts
Never wait until the next day if you're concerned. Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
Key Takeaways: Anterior Placenta & Kick Counting
- Anterior placenta is normal — about 50% of women have one
- You may feel movements later (20-24 weeks vs. 16-20 weeks)
- Movements feel muffled — the placenta cushions kicks
- Feel for movement on your sides and lower belly, not front center
- Lie on your left side for kick counting sessions
- Count all movements — rolls, swishes, and pressure all count
- It gets easier — movements become stronger as baby grows
- Still seek help when worried — anterior placenta doesn't change this rule
References & Further Reading
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) — Placenta positioning and fetal movement
- March of Dimes — The placenta and pregnancy
- NHS - Your Baby's Movements — Anterior placenta information
- Count the Kicks — Kick counting education and resources