4th pregnancy, feeling no movement at 17 weeks??

[Thirstysomething]

With my previous three pregnancies I felt them move really early, about 14 weeks or so... I am getting a bit worried. I know some mothers don't feel anything till 20 wks or so, but I thought that was first pregnancies. I really don't want to bother the doctor, but I am starting to get a bit anxious. Anyone else had this? thanks for any advice/reassurance, x

[hubbahubster]

Two words - anterior placenta. I'm a first-timer rather than an experienced mum, but I really didn't feel too much as early as some of my friends, discovered at the 20-week scan that it was because of the placenta's position. I'd call the midwife in your position, but since you're not too far along I'm not sure if they'll be hugely concerned yet. Good luck!

[Thirstysomething]

THANK YOU. I just needed something to stop me worrying. Will now convince myself I have anterior placenta and chug on to 20 weeks. Had a couple of miscarriages, inc one v late one, so prob a bit more paranoid than I would otherwise be.

[Africagirl1]

my second pg and I have an anterior placenta this time and had the same experience. Now 24 weeks and I can feel regular thumping.. it's coming, don't worry

[goodnightmoon]

17 weeks is still early on - 14 weeks is REALLY EARLY to feel movements, I don't doubt you at all but I wouldn't worry since you are still at the stage before most pregnancies are felt! I'm around 17 weeks with my second and have only had the odd bit of movement that may or may not be the baby. I saw the dr the other day who listened to the heartbeat and all is fine. I'm sure your baby is fine too...

[Thirstysomething]

I know -- everyone says it was probably wind or something, my mum is a midwife and she was sceptical too, but I definitely felt 'bubbles' with all three pregnancies from around 14/15 weeks!
thanks for reassurance. Going to forget about it now and enjoy the next few weeks!

[icravecheese]

I know you've already been reassured by above posts, but just wanted to add my experience too.....I am preg with my 3rd baby and with pregs 1&2 felt mvmt very early on (14/15 weeks).

THis time however, I felt absolutely NOTHING at all until at least 20wks, if not later, and even then I had to lie very still & concentrate!! Like you I started to panic a little as everyone said "oh you must be feeling baby move now?".

Went to my 20wk scan, baby was doing somersaults on screen, but I couldnt feel a thing!! Turns out, as per the posts above, I have an anterior placenta. I still didnt feel much movement after the 20wk scan, am now 26 wks & feeling mvmt on a daily basis, but nothing like the massive kicks etc I felt with babies 1&2 - its a little disconcerting at times - not sure how i'm meant to monitor movement or count the kicks when there is so little movement anyway!

But please dont worry - I felt exactly the same as you (i.e. I should be feeling more experienced / confident at this as I've already had 2 babies!!).

[Thirstysomething]

thank you thank you -- JUST what I needed to hear!
xx

[ItsNotUnusual]

Another post to give some reassurance - I didn't feel any movement with this pregnancy until about 18/19 weeks. This will be baby number 4 too, and I had a late-ish miscarriage before baby number 3 so I know how worrying it is. I am now 26 weeks and we now call the baby Flea because it jumps around so much! The scan didn't mention an anterior placenta but they are querying a low lying placenta and I will be having a 32 scan to check.

Hope you are being kicked good, long and hard on a regular basis soon :)

[BumpPlus2]

Hi,
I really wanted to add to the reassurances as your post could (almost) have been mine 10 weeks ago...
I am PG with DC3 and although I felt my first at 18 weeks and DS2 at 14 weeks I didn't feel this little one didn't move til about 21 weeks...Now they NEVER stop!!!
I saw the midife for an extra visit to check the heartbeat as was that worried on one occasion but all is now well (and VERY active!!)
Good Luck and congrats x

[IssyStark]

Yep anterior placenta.

I had one with my son and didn't feel anything until 19w and then didn't feel anything again until about 22w and only regular movement in the late 20s.

This time around I have another anterior placenta and felt stretches/tickles of the standard round ligament pain from about 13 weeks onwards, but only the tumbling feeling of baby bouncing in the uterus a few times post 16w. Haven't felt anything at all for the past few days (18w) but am not worried as this is absolutely normal for those of use with anterior placentas.

[JenniferHolland]

I agree with you all, I never had that. but my sister in law did, it's common enough so don't worry!

[Thirstysomething]

Thank you everyone, so much -- absolutely spot on, anterior placenta and now 25 weeks, been feeling loads of kicks for last fortnight and scan shows all well. Didn't feel anything until about 22 weeks though!
ItsNotUnusual, I had a late miscarriage too, between dd1 and 2, so was in the same boat -- v anxious. Thanks again for all the reassurance and hope everyone carries on with lovely healthy pregnancies xxx

[harassedandherbug]

Good news!! I'm 26 weeks with dc4 and have anterior placenta too, like you I was a worried. Especially as have had a mmc & mc this year. I bought a doppler..... It really helped.

I've had a couple of episodes of reduced movements but they think it's just where he's shifted round behind the placenta again.

[lollystix]

Hi - I'm on my 4th too also with my first anterior placenta and had exactly the same. 35 weeks now and there is no doubt he is in there. His kicks seem to hurt more than any of his brothers

[ReadRideABikeSwim]

Thirsty I am with you!! I am on my seventh baby and have felt clear movements from 11-12 weeks with last three despite people's faces. This time however - now 16+3 and barely a flutter! As other posters have said though - yup- anterior placenta . Let's hope we get some soon. X

[ReadRideABikeSwim]

Sorry just re read and see you are further on ! I think there should be more information on anterior placentas/ movement so we are not left to worry! Enjoy the rest of the pregnancy!

[BumpPlus2]

Hi,
3rd pregnancy and had exactly same thing. Felt DS1 at 18 weeks, DS2 at 14 weeks then DC3 at 21 weeks!!! Crazy and very worrying at the time but not even anterior placenta with me and now 39 weeks and s/he has been kicking like crazy since 21 weeks!

[Oeisha]

thirsty So glad all's ok.

I have an enterior placenta, and am a 1st timer, but oddly have been feeling stuff very low down (cervix/bladder nerfings), and from very early on (12wks- could tell sonographer where she was booting me when having my scan for some of it). Baby's on her head and very low down, so, well, this may explain some of it. Especially don't think an anterior placenta will be hiding stuff from about 26wks...by then baby's reach usually goes beyond the reaches of the. placenta and any changes in frequency of movement should be reported to MW asap (from a convo with MW in triage).

Baby did 'go quiet' - nothing at all for about 18h, and she was usually clockwork with her movements, on Wed, so went and got checked out in triage. She's fine. They were 100% for me going in (I only rang them for reassurance), and were brilliant with me. Since then baby's pattern's obviously changed, but I am feeling a lot of movement again. She'd obviously floated up a bit and placenta was blocking nerfings.

I guess this is my way of saying, just because you have an anterior placenta, still get checked if you're worried. The anxiety alone's not good for you or baby. More than likely baby's just hiding (deprivation-tank-style) but it's not worth the worry for 5 mins of their time.

[BumpPlus2]

Also meant to say I had a reassurance Doppler monitor a couple of times too as was quite distressing feeling nothing...midwife was great though and never complained!

[Oeisha]

Oh, forgot to add, you might want to look at the "Count the kicks" campaign. Lots of information and support there.