Kathy De Leon’s Viral Pregnancy Sensation Hack

For moms-to-be, describing the sensation of their baby moving inside them has always been a challenge—until now. 

Kathy De Leon, a 29-year-old mom from Tennessee, went viral on TikTok after discovering the perfect way to explain what those tiny flutters, kicks, and rolls actually feel like.

During her pregnancy, De Leon’s son, Ellias, was constantly active—kicking, stretching, and pushing against her belly. When a coworker asked her what it felt like, she struggled to put it into words.

Then, three months postpartum, she had a sudden realization.

“I was playing around with my tongue, pressing it against my cheek, and it hit me—that’s exactly what baby movements feel like!” she told Newsweek.

In her now-2.4 million-view TikTok, she demonstrated:

1. Place your hand on your cheek.
2. Gently press your tongue against the inside of your cheek and move it around.

“That pressure, the slow rolls, the little nudges—that’s what it’s like,” she explained.

The video resonated with thousands of mothers who had never been able to accurately describe the sensation before.

• “You deserve a medal. Best description I’ve ever heard!”
• “I’ve had 7 babies and never knew how to explain it—this is perfect!”
• “Finally, a way to show my husband what I’ve been feeling!”

De Leon clarified that while some movements are strong kicks, others are subtle flutters or slow shifts—like a gentle press of the tongue.

“It’s not always dramatic,” she said. “Sometimes it’s just a little nudge, like your baby is saying, ‘Hey, I’m here.’”