Can the baby feel you touching your stomach while pregnant?

Answer 1

Your baby can indeed feel and react to you touching your belly. The sense of touch begins to develop in babies during the first trimester; however, since the fetus is so small at this point, he or she may not be in contact with the side of your womb enough to register the pressure of your hand. As the baby grows and takes up more space, therefore having greater contact with the sides of the womb, he or she will be able to feel your touch much more consistently.

If you tap your belly when your baby is active in the womb, you'll often get a response from the baby to the touch. You can try responding in kind to the baby - when he or she kicks, tap in the same place - or initiating your own pattern of tapping in different places on your belly.

Answer 2

Yes.

How can you tell?

1. If you rub your tummy and your baby stops moving, or slows down, or changes their movement, this might mean they have felt you rubbing!

2. If you tap your tummy and they tap or kick back, then they have definitely felt you!

3. Even if you don't physically feel anything, you may feel emotionally that your baby has felt you. Trust your intuition.

Answer 3

In the later stages of pregnancy, it can yes.