There's a fascinating reason why babies move around in the womb so much

One of the most incredible things about being pregnant is when you get to feel your baby moving around inside you.

Starting out as little flutters, they gradually move to full-blown kicks – which can be incredibly exciting (although sometimes a little sore!). 

However, Baby is not just moving around for the craic; there is a very good reason why they are so active: they are trying to develop strong bones and joints. 

According to research conducted by a team at Trinity College, if an embryo doesn't move "a vital signal may be lost or an inappropriate one delivered in error, which can lead to the development of brittle bones or abnormal joints". 

In order for joints to bend, they need to be covered in a smooth, lubricated cartilage. 

And according to Prof Paula Murphy, who co-led the research published on Monday, "in the absence of embryonic movement, the cells that should form articular cartilage receive incorrect molecular signals, where one type of signal is lost while another inappropriate signal is activated in its place."

The experts, who used chick and mice embryos in their research, found that "cells in the early embryo are thus directed to make a decision to either form bone or cartilage, depending on where they are." 

However, Paula did stress to the Irish Times that a "normal amount of movement is all that is needed".