Advice on baby movement?

[PuddingPie16]

I am just over 21 weeks and this will be my 1st baby. However, I have felt him since 18 weeks and the last week or so I have began to feel him everyday. The last couple of days he has been a bit quieter than usual but still moving.

My Midwife is nice but she is difficult to get a hold of unless you text her. She got back to me a day after I messaged her and I mentioned the movement to her and she said that a pattern in movement should be taking place and to call the labour ward if I was concerned. I then called them and they told me the opposite! Movements at 21 weeks should just be sporadic and they don't have concerns unless there is no movement at all. They said a regular pattern is usually from 24 weeks onwards.

Sorry for the essay but what is everyone's experience of this please? I am getting two different opinions from health professionals and it is so confusing!

[PuddingPie16]

Sorry, I should say that they are only concerned if you have felt movement and don't anymore - for anyone who hasn't felt their little one at this stage yet

[vfoster]

I've heard that you only need to worry if you haven't felt anything by 24 weeks too. I think you should only start looking for a pattern/counting the kicks at 28(?) weeks. I'm 25 weeks tomorrow and have had quite a few days recently when I have felt very little (or missed anything due to being busy).
I've heard that laying on your side and having a cold, sweet drink can get them moving but I tried that and it doesn't work for me!
If you're worried though, just continue to call the midwife hospital. I'm of the thinking that I'd rather phone the professionals every time I worry just in case there is something!

[PowerofThree]

At 21 weeks, he's still tiny and has loads of space to move around and 'hide'. It is likely that he's in a different location or facing a different way which is why it seems quieter. At over 33 weeks i still have days where though i feel movements they are less intense because he is still changing position so I feel different things depending where he is.

In my area it's only from around 24weeks that they will get you in for monitoring at the assessment unit.

With the cold drink, my GP was of the opinion it doesn't reliably work when you are first feeling movements because there is still enough space that he may not be close enough to your stomach to feel the cold.

[harleysmammy]

I understand baby's are so small at 21 weeks that they don't tend to have a pattern but I definitely did at 22 weeks with my son and labour ward always used to say unless there's no movement they don't mind. In the end I had to tell them I was feeling no movement just to get them to check me over. Most baby's won't have a pattern but every baby and every pregnancy is different. I didn't feel my baby until 21 weeks and when I did he was strong and constant. My sister felt the baby at 16 weeks but it was very sporadic until 25 weeks so that proves that they can't say no baby has a pattern at 21 weeks and they shouldn't have a pattern because every baby works at a different pace. It's your baby, so tell them you want to be checked to feel more at ease. I highly doubt anything is wrong, even at 36 weeks my son still has quieter days but if you feel anxious then tell them to check you over x