Reduced baby movements 18 weeks

[Ilovechocolatetoomuch]

Hi
Trying to keep calm here. I have felt a lot of fluttering since 16 weeks (seconds dc) since I hit 18 weeks I have hardly felt anything and had quite bad stomach ache. Anybody had anything similar?

[RhymingCrickets]

I had similar at around 20 weeks or so, having felt the baby from 16 weeks. (Had stomach ache in general too, but it wasn't linked to lack of movement.) I called the community midwives and they kindly said to come in and they would listen to the heartbeat, although they don't officially worry about foetal movement till 26 weeks (not sure if this is a local or national thing). Anyway, all was well-good heartbeat, and sure enough I started feeling the baby soon afterwards. Very reassuring. The midwife I saw mentioned it is common not to feel movements all the time at that stage because the babies are so small that it's easy to stop feeling them if they move to a new position where they don't happen to be touching the edges.

Good luck!

[Ilovechocolatetoomuch]

Thank you Rhyming.
My rational side is saying don't be silly its still so early, my irrational side was in serious panic mode!

[pastabest]

A lot of people are only just starting to feel flutters at 18 weeks, and they don't start being concerned about reduced movement until after 26 weeks.

However if you are very anxious about it your midwife will probably be happy to listen in with a Doppler to check the heartbeat.

When is your 20 week scan?

[Ilovechocolatetoomuch]

Hi Pasta
Its next week.

[PrimeraVez]

I am also 18 weeks and started feeling movement at around 16 weeks. It was all focused on my right hand side and then the baby had a few quiet days where I didn't feel anything and I felt a bit anxious.

Suddenly yesterday I started feeling a lot of movement again but this time he's over in my left hand side, so I think it was just a case of him moving around quite a lot still.

I would give you midwife a call just for the peace of mind but I would expect she will tell you it's normal.

[UnitedKungdom]

There is no movements to be monitored till 28 weeks. Baby is too small to have patterns and regularity.

[chocolateorangeowls]

At that stage my baby would change position and I wouldn't feel them as much. It's very normal I think.

[flumpybear]

The baby may we'll have just shifted position and you can't feel as much but talk to your midwife as you are worried