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Original poster

Do babies sleep in the womb?

22 replies

CrystalFlower · 03/04/2021 22:39

I'm nearly 24 weeks pregnant with my first. I'm at that anxious stage, I do feel him but when he goes quiet for a couple of hours it always makes me panic. I tell myself he is probably sleeping and they do have quiet moments but then I realised what happens if that they are meant to move all the time... Is it normal for them to have moments where they are quiet?

Thank you Smile

OP posts:
QuentinWinters · 03/04/2021 22:42

Yes. They sleep. Or they are turned round so you can't feel it as easily.
Relax.

Lou573 · 03/04/2021 22:48

OP, my baby arrived not long after the stage you are at now so I’ve seen what they get up to - they sleep most of the time. Stretch a bit then sleep some more.

PinkPlantCase · 03/04/2021 22:50

Yes they sleep more than they don’t! I read somewhere that if you’re walking around that can rock them to sleep which is quite a cute thought.

24 weeks is still fairly early for movements, they’ll get a lot more obvious as time goes on

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Bimblybomeyelash · 03/04/2021 22:57

When I was pregnant with my first he was aways very active at about 11:00 at night. Sadly for me that pattern persisted after he was born.

Pickles89 · 03/04/2021 23:01

Of course they do!!

AuntieStella · 03/04/2021 23:06

Yes they skerp, often when rocked by your movements (eg walking)

So as soon as you sit down to rest, they wake and practice tap dancing on your ribs

dustydaffs · 03/04/2021 23:21

My ds was born by c section and was asleep when they got him out 🥰

jessstan2 · 03/04/2021 23:45

Yes they do sleep in the womb.

Original poster
CrystalFlower · 04/04/2021 06:05

Thank you everyone Smile I thinks it's just when ever you say to a midwife he has been quiet for a few hours they always say that reduced movement is not good and to get checked, I haven't had any say he is probably sleeping so I guess that adds to the anxiety. I feel a lot better after reading your comments Smile Flowers

OP posts:
speakout · 04/04/2021 06:57

Amazingly they are mostly asleep during vaginal birth too.
Such an active process for the mother- babies are unaware of it.

punkingscissors · 04/04/2021 14:20

@speakout

Amazingly they are mostly asleep during vaginal birth too. Such an active process for the mother- babies are unaware of it.
No wonder they cry when they wake up in a totally different place !
punkingscissors · 04/04/2021 14:21

@CrystalFlower

Thank you everyone Smile I thinks it's just when ever you say to a midwife he has been quiet for a few hours they always say that reduced movement is not good and to get checked, I haven't had any say he is probably sleeping so I guess that adds to the anxiety. I feel a lot better after reading your comments Smile Flowers
If I got worried I used to eat a chocolate bar, that'd usually result in some movement sooner rather than later.
Nellie850 · 04/04/2021 14:23

I could barely feel anything at 24 weeks. Your little babies kicks will get stronger everyday. Also, I was told if I hadn’t felt anything for a while and was worried, have a cold drink, a snack and lie on your left hand side. You’ll hopefully feel movement then. Just remember if there’s ever any doubt give triage a call though Flowers

IHateThinkingUpANewUsername · 04/04/2021 14:28

That’s very interesting about them sleeping through birth! I think mine definitely did in that case, her heart rate didn’t change at all, even as she was moving through the birth canal!

CigarsofthePharoahs · 04/04/2021 14:32

Could always tell when my eldest was asleep or awake from about that point. He also got hiccups a lot!

ElderMillennial · 04/04/2021 14:45

You need to get to know what is normal for your baby and what their pattern is over the coming weeks and if you are ever worried you call the midwife.

JovialNickname · 04/04/2021 14:58

Yes, they go to sleep, a lot! By 24 weeks they will also be sucking their thumb, and yawning in the womb, which is quite sweet. x

CuppaTandCake · 04/04/2021 16:12

Have a look at the ‘Kicks Count’ website.
Baby’s don’t form a pattern of movement until nearer 28 weeks but if you feel your movements now aren’t normal for your baby then yes you should call your unit for a check up.
At this stage they can only listen in with a Doppler, CTG’ (continuous monitoring) aren’t carried out until 26 weeks in my trust and from memory this is NICE guidelines too.

amusedbush · 04/04/2021 19:33

@PinkPlantCase

Yes they sleep more than they don’t! I read somewhere that if you’re walking around that can rock them to sleep which is quite a cute thought.

24 weeks is still fairly early for movements, they’ll get a lot more obvious as time goes on

My friend is a hairdresser and she said being on her feet at work would rock him to sleep and then as soon as she lay down in bed at night it was baby party time Grin
user1471538283 · 04/04/2021 21:35

I was told that as long as the baby moves sometimes during the day or night that's ok. Before DS was born (3 weeks overdue the bugger) he barely moved at all because he had run out of room. Babies do sleep in the womb. They need the rest for their development

BalloonSlayer · 04/04/2021 21:51

When I was in labour with DS1 his heartbeat went " a bit too regular" Hmm which is apparently a sign that it distress may be imminent. They faded about with me in stirrups for a long time trying to get some blood from his scalp. Which was nice. They couldn't reach but the heartbeat went back to normal so they concluded he had just been asleep.

The heartbeat did the same thing again half an hour later so they did a c section (I was thrilled as I was convinced I would need one). DS made one "Aha ha ha," of a cry when born then went back to sleep. Cord blood analysis showed no distress.

20 years on and he is still a dozy bugger.

FictionalCharacter · 05/04/2021 03:47

@AuntieStella

Yes they skerp, often when rocked by your movements (eg walking)

So as soon as you sit down to rest, they wake and practice tap dancing on your ribs

That’s exactly what I found - and not just in the ribs Grin I remember the bizarre feeling of being kicked in the bum from the inside. Or in the bladder!
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