Unborn babies don’t slow down in the final three months, nor do they tend to respond to cold drinks or sweet food, but they almost universally fire up at night, according to New Zealand research.

Importantly, the results show that if a mother-to-be experiences a slowdown of movements at night, it’s a sign she needs to head straight to medical care despite the ‘antisocial hour’, say the University of Auckland researchers.

The research points to a strong circadian pattern for babies that involves increased movement in the evening, says lead author Billie Bradford, a midwife and PhD student.

The researchers say their finding on pregnant women’s experiences of fetal movements debunks a number of myths, as well as providing guidance to women and healthcare professionals about what is normal.