He's a big rascal, his fun starts as soon as night falls...! Pregnant women often say things like this during their pregnancies. Although everyone's pregnancy pattern is different, it's generally observed that babies are more active at night. To understand the reason behind this, we spoke with gynecologist and obstetrician Dr. Aastha Gupta, IVF consultant and infertility expert at Delhi IVF.

The expert explained that this can be a surprising or even exhausting experience for a woman, as she has to cope with her baby's nighttime activity, but it's generally quite normal and is related to the coordination between the mother's body and the baby during pregnancy.

The main factors that determine the baby's nighttime activity pattern are related to the mother's movements during the day. During the day, a pregnant woman is busy walking, working, and doing household chores, and she continues to rock her baby throughout the day, just as babies are rocked to sleep after birth. Continuous rocking during the day soothes the baby, allowing it to sleep more during the day.

When the mother rests at night after a long day of activity, the baby awakens and becomes more aware of its surroundings. It's not unusual for a mother to feel the baby's movements, stretching, and kicking at night, so she's more likely to feel stronger and more noticeable movements at night.

Hormonal and blood flow changes also play a role in the baby's movements. When a pregnant woman lies down, especially on her side, blood flow to the uterus improves, which allows the baby to have more oxygen and nutrients, resulting in more frequent movements. Additionally, being relaxed at night reduces stress hormones in the mother, which promotes the baby's movement.

Another factor is the baby's sleep-wake cycle. By the third trimester, babies begin to establish their own circadian rhythm, but it doesn't sync with their mother's. Some babies are naturally more active in the evening or at night, and this pattern may continue into the first few months after birth. Some newborns remain very alert at night for the first few weeks.

The mother's digestive system can also influence the baby's movements. After dinner, blood flow to the digestive tract increases, raising the mother's blood glucose levels. The increased energy from glucose can make the baby more active, leading to more kicking or rolling movements in the evening and night.

Furthermore, there are fewer distractions at night, so the mother may experience milder or less pronounced movements at this time than during the day. Less activity during the day may occur when the mother is busy. However, at night, with fewer distractions, the mother may notice even less noticeable movements more often.

More activity at night is a sign of an active and healthy baby. However, the expectant mother should be aware of the regular nature of her baby's movements. If the mother notices less than normal movements or if movements stop altogether, contact a doctor immediately.

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