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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Reduced kicks. Feeling fobbed off

44 replies

Superslinger · 15/07/2012 14:06

My baby kicks a lot over the course of a day. I don't count the kicks because it's so many an hour I wouldn't be able to keep up. But then yesterday there were probably only about 3 periods of movement, then over night I've been up most of the night trying to encourage kicks (drinking cold, sugary stuff, sleeping on left side, POKING etc) and felt absolutely nothing (extremely, extremely unusual as I normal feel her every time I go to the loo - every flipping couple of hours - overnight. This morning has been much the same. There've not only been fewer movements, but the ones I have had have been really gentle, and seem slower - baby just isn't itself it seems.

I've called the midwife team and explained all of the above and they've said unless I've counted the kicks they can't do anything, and that I need to lie on my side, have a cold drink and count the kicks for a few hours if still concerned. i.e. I've got to spend the next few hours what I've been doing since about 8 o'clock last night. They've also said it doesn't matter if when baby kicks it's more gentle. They seem obsessed with this whole 'ten kicks a day' thing, but I was pretty sure that the advice was that you should pay attention to any change to your baby's normal routine? So surely if my baby's behaving very differently then this should be checked out?

Sorry for such a long rant, but just so worried and feel there could be something wrong and it could become much worse if ignored. :(

37w

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Kveta · 15/07/2012 14:10

can you just go in to a assessment unit for monitoring? our hospital had a self-referral unit, where we could go with any worries past 12 weeks.

or call back and exaggerate, say you have had less than 10 kicks, and have been lying on your left, and done the cold drink etc.

hope everything is ok.

Loislane78 · 15/07/2012 14:13

I'm 34 wks and my MW said to me 10 kicks in 2 hours. If nothing then the drinks, bath, poking etc. and if still nothing get checked out.

Are these MWs at the hospital? If not, I'd call the hospital and if they are at the hospital just get down there, don't let em fob you off - you know what's unusual for you. Chances are it is ok but if you're worried it's your right to be seen. Don 't worry you're making a fuss, you're just doing what you think is right and there's nowt wrong with that.

Good luck :)

Original poster

Superslinger · 15/07/2012 14:14

Thanks kveta, apparently you can't - they have to advise you to come in before you can turn up. I think unless I get the hundreds I'm used to in the next few hours I am going to have to exaggerate when I call back. I'm just so confused - I feel like I've done all my research and know what to look out for, and now it's actually happening I'm being told just to ignore it.

OP posts:

Original poster

Superslinger · 15/07/2012 14:15

Thanks Lois, they are at the hospital. Just feel really emotional about it all - don't feel I can stand up to them if they've told me not to go in. But maybe I should try. Just feels so, so wrong ignoring it like this

OP posts:

EugenesAxe · 15/07/2012 14:19

Kveta's suggestion is pretty good... just lie to get yourself seen.

It is usual though for activity to drop at 37 weeks; they start bulking up with energy needed for labour & the early days and nutrients for 6 months. Saying that, I think I'd be worried about a very sudden change too.

bonzo77 · 15/07/2012 14:21

Right. Don't call the hospital. Just go in, lie and say (if asked) that you didn't know you were meant to call. Lie and say you have felt no movement whatsoever for several hours. Insist on ctg. do not leave till you are reassured. Your midwives are knob ends. Get seen now. Better a bollocking and a show down with midwives than a dead baby. That's the reality. Tell them that if necessary. Where are you? I'll come with you if required!

cheekydino · 15/07/2012 14:21

That's awful. Just go in, have you got someone who can go with you and demand that you get monitoring? They might put you off going in on the phone but a stressed woman and angry partner/friend in the flesh are a lot harder to ignore. It's worth it to reassure yourself - trust your instincts.

FWIW I'm dreadful at doing this kind of thing myself but after some bad experiences I always urge others better to be safe than sorry. Good luck.

bonzo77 · 15/07/2012 14:23

Oh and no, movement does not slow down towards the end. It may feel different due to the lack of space, but the number of movements should be the same.

Loislane78 · 15/07/2012 14:25

Awww, is your DP there or anyone who can phone on your behalf so you don't have to talk to them? I can imagine its stressful and especially if they are being unhelpful :(

Cheekychops84 · 15/07/2012 14:26

I'm 38 weeks and my little one hasn't been moving as much yesterday and today . She is moving but only a little bit , ive not rang in at the moment as I know their moves so slow down in the last weeks and I'm busy and prob not noticed but if you are not feeling anything at all for a few hours then demand to b put on the monitor ! Have u tried loud music ? And pushing her gently or tapping ?

Cheekychops84 · 15/07/2012 14:27

Oh jus read banjo's comment ! Does it not slow? Well mine deff has she was hyper a few days ago and deff not now ?

flagnogbagnog · 15/07/2012 14:32

I've just had a baby less than 2 weeks ago. Everytime I saw a midwife, at the hospital or in the community, they said if I had any concerns about the baby's movement to call and come in for monitoring. It was said to me so many times that it even made me worry that I wasn't monitoring it enough!

My point is, sounds like you are being fibbed off. Phone back and tell them you are not happy and you are coming in to be put on the monitor. Good luck x

blizy · 15/07/2012 14:35

Babies movements do not slow down in the last few weeks. If you are experiencing a change in movements the advice is to go in and get checked out. They will put you on a ctg for an hour or so, please go and get checked out. Have a look on the count the kicks website, sorry I can't link to it on my phone.

EnjoyResponsibly · 15/07/2012 14:42

I don't normally advocate a trip to the hospital, but in ths case round up DP and get yourself down there. Polite but firm is the way to go until they strap you to a monitor.

5madthings · 15/07/2012 14:44

god they do sound crap, when i had concerns about my babies movements i called the hospital, esp if you are at the end of preg, call the labour ward or at my hospital they have a paws unit (pregnancy and well being suite!) and they just said come on in and were happy for me to go in and have a trace done, baby of course woke up for the moniter, but that is exactly what they want it to do and i never met a midwife that was bothered, they would rather a reassured mum than the alternative!

i would just GO to the hospital, the labour ward as you are 37wks and explain your concerns, cry if you have to!

hope all is ok xx

Beachhutdweller · 15/07/2012 14:47

Ring back and just say that you are certain, based on previous counting and counting now (lying on your side etc), that your baby is moving less. You are very worried, you really feel you should be seen etc etc. Don't let them fob you off again. If all this fails then you can ring the supervisor of midwives for your area - they should be available 24 hours a day - and ask her to advocate on your behalf.

Your baby may just be having a quiet day (mine does) but if this isn't your baby's usual pattern (i.e. having quiet days!) then trust your instincts.

combinearvester · 15/07/2012 14:48

Go in. Say your baby's movements are reduced. If they refuse to assess then ask to see somebody else. Ask them to write the fact that they refused to see you in your notes, ask them to write the reasons why they refused and then sign and date it.

Go to day assessment unit or whatever it is called at your hosp, most antenatal units have them.

whatinthewhatnow · 15/07/2012 15:02

I am a midwife and you should absolutely insist that your baby is monitored. YOU are the only one who knows if your baby's movements are normal, and YOU are saying that they are not. that is a clear indication for monitoring. Then complain about the midwife who gave you bad advice. If you need to, lie and say you've done what they said. Then write to the head of midwifery and tell her that you clearly stated that your baby's movements had significantly reduced and your concerns were not listened to. Very poor practice.

Mama1980 · 15/07/2012 15:03

Go in and insist they check and reassure you. I was always told any change of movement in frequency or pattern should be checked out. Get names and times and do not leave until you feel suitably reassured. Xxx

3duracellbunnies · 15/07/2012 15:20

Do whatever you need to to be seen. Ds was like that, very active, then suddenly one thursday he was much quieter (?39 weeks). Went in for monitoring on the friday, he started wriggling when they mut the monitoring stuff on, but the measurements didn't tally with dates, and they weren't happy. Booked for scan Mon, kept in and induced Tues as he was big (they reckoned 8lb) but very little fluid, born Tues pm at 8lb12oz. Didn't get my home birth, but the dr said they would be much happier at that stage to get out a healthy baby than leave me any longer and risk complications

Your LO is probably absolutely fine, will probably kick the monitoring equipment off and you will feel a bit silly, but something is prompting you to be concerned. Do anything you need to to get in there and get monitored.

EugenesAxe · 15/07/2012 15:55

Look sorry if I've put some of you in uproar with my 'activity does drop off' comment. By that I mean you aren't going to be battered as much as previously because your baby has less space. I don't doubt babies have same waking/sleeping patterns but they will be smaller movements and possibly less noticeable.

Babycentre says this and maybe Babycentre is talking bollocks, but if so it seems weird given it's one of the most popular advice sites for pregnant mums.

Babies movements do not slow down during the last weeks - not what I said, and this kind of comment can be as alarmist as saying they do. I don't want the OP to be sitting there thinking she should be feeling the same kind of strong kicks as before, because as the baby runs out of space, that won't be happening.

Rubirosa · 15/07/2012 16:04

I'd rather be alarmed by reduced movement and find out the baby is fine than not be alarmed and the result be devastating to be honest.

HelenHen · 15/07/2012 17:17

I'd call them back and lie if they're not being helpful. I went in a few weeks back to get monitored even though I was pretty sure everything would be ok. It was of course but it may not have been. Nobody at the hospital judged me for being over cautious and they advised me to come back straight away if it happened again. Don't be afraid of putting your foot down... it's your body and your baby at the end of the day and they really should not be like this.

RachelWalsh · 15/07/2012 17:22

I wouldn't even phone back I'd just turn up and lie if necessary so they monitor you.

3duracellbunnies · 15/07/2012 18:38

Have you gone in OP, hoping all is ok. Forgot to say that ds was a little shocked but fine when born, and a happy bouncy boy planning his 3rd birthday party, hopefully yours will be just as straightforward when she comes.

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