At what point in pregnancy does quickening typically occur?

Quickening is the term used to describe the first noticeable movements of the fetus felt by the mother. This typically occurs between 16 to 25 weeks of gestation. At this stage, the fetus has developed sufficiently, and its movements become strong enough that they can be perceived by the mother.

Before 16 weeks, the fetus is generally too small and its movements too subtle for the mother to feel them. After 25 weeks, while the movements are often more pronounced and frequent, the initial recognition of these movements—quickening—generally takes place within the earlier part of that time range. Thus, the window of 16 to 25 weeks accurately reflects the period when most expectant mothers first experience these significant movements.