Here's What Your Baby's Doing In The Womb While You Snooze

Every cute little kick your baby makes when you're pregnant can be fascinating. I always felt like my belly looked like it belonged in a cool, sci-fi alien movie when I saw the poking of elbows and the sliding of feet under my skin. Sometimes the fluttery movement would wake me up at night, as it does most pregnant moms. But what does your baby do in the womb while you're sleeping? It feels like there's a party happening in there — shouldn't they be sleeping?

According to the American Pregnancy Association, as your baby develops, they stretch and flex, and as your pregnancy moves along, they will begin to roll, punch, and kick, too. Your baby's movements can also be responsive to noise, emotions, an uncomfortable position, foods you eat, or sleeping and waking cycles.

According to Deena Blumenfeld, a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE) and Fellow of American College of Childbirth Educators (FACCE) of Shining Light Prenatal Education, your movements can affect your baby's, too. "When mothers are awake, their every day movements help lull baby to sleep," she says. "The gentle walking, rocking, and regular activity acts to encourage baby to sleep. When mom is asleep at night, she's not moving a whole lot, therefore, babies tend to be very active. They roll, kick, stretch, suck their fingers, and so on." Blumenfeld notes that this is one of the reasons why newborns have their days and nights mixed up and why they love motion so much after they're born.

What To Expect also noted that when you're awake and active, you may not notice all of your baby's movement because you're preoccupied with other tasks. But when you go to bed at night, your mind and body are more relaxed and attuned to your baby's movements, which can also make it seem like they are more active at night.

When it comes to that movement, you may not feel a lot n your first trimester, but according to What To Expect, by the second trimester, your baby will begin light, fluttery kicking, and possibly even do somersaults. By the third trimester, you will feel your baby more as they begin to kick, punch, elbow, and sometimes even suck their thumb.

Your baby is doing a lot more than just growing and kicking in your belly, too. Their senses and coordination are also developing. According to the Mayo Clinic, by the end of the second trimester and through the third, your baby will be able to hear your voice, begin sucking motions, open their eyes, and detect light.

Whether it's because he's well rested from sleeping through your busy day filled with lulling motion, or because of the spicy Mexican food and ice cream you had for dinner, when you're trying to catch some sleep at night, you may notice your baby partying more. Might as well get used to it, because this is just the beginning.