Less movement - lazy days or should I be worried

[McRoo]

Hi all,

Apologies if this isn't a very coherent message but I'm trying not to freak out.

I'm 27 wks with my 1st so I don't really know what to expect. Usually I have the most active little guy. He used to be regular as clockwork doing dance routines every 2 hours but then, over the last couple of weeks, he has dropped some of the early morning slots slots and settled into a new pattern of some stirring on my commute into work, some big kicks at around 1, again between - 4 and then full on partying from 8 - 11 at night.

However, since yesterday I have hardly felt him. There are faint kicks and movements, and I can feel him lurking under my ribs, but he's not sticking to his schedule and the movements aren't anywhere near as strong as they normally are.

He has gone quiet on me before but I wondered if anyone else out there had experienced this? Does your baby just go quiet for a couple of days for no reason or should I call the midwives?

I was going to give him the rest of today and tonight (as his late afternoon / evening session is usually his most active) before I really panicked though. What do people think?

Thanks!

Get him checked out just to be sure, if you have felt less since yesterday did he move more last night? If not I wouldn't be waiting.

He moved a little bit last night but not until much later than normal and not as strong or for as long. He's been fluttering around today but nothing as strong as he normally does.

I just don't want to be one of those hysterical first time mums, panicking for no reason.

If you are at all concerned call your midwife, but at 27/28 weeks I was told that the baby is only starting to have patterns of activity and there will still be plenty of room for them to hide.

Not that you should base your opinion to get checked or not on this but I had loads of days around that period where the baby would be quieter (but still noticeably in there) than others.

I went in to get checked when I was 32 weeks because baby had a quiet day and my midwife was great but just said that the baby was probably turned inwards and kicking my insides where it's much harder to feel.

Best of luck, please keep us informed!

Yes call. We have a paragraph in our notes saying if there are ANY changes in movement to call the labour ward.

I called earlier in this pregnancy (my second) they asked me to come straight in for monitoring. Luckily everything was okay and I was only there for an hour in total including waiting. Call it is not worth the risk. My experience of movement was quite similar to yours btw some movements the evening before followed by a quiet day.

Mine has quiet days and manic days, and the whole count the kicks/expect a pattern thing has me driven nearly demented with worry. My midwife told me 10 movements in a day is fine, regardless of when they are or how strong they are. Much depends on the position of the baby.

I have found that the best way to get a response when in a major panic is to jump up and down a bit, poke stomach a bit, then lie down. This is probably ill advised but it has put my mind at rest on numerous occasions.

Please make the call, to set your mind at rest if nothing else.

Call the day assessment unit.

I had this last weekend and went in for some monitoring of baby. All turned out to be fine but the midwifes weren't at all dismissive and told me if I had any concerns again, to come straight back and not to worry that it might be a false alarm. They said they would rather a false alarm than a mum waits too long, not wanting to bother them and something IS wrong.

If you haven't already done so, phone now!

Honey
Hope you have been and are resting at home, sure everything is fine. I too last week was sent to get checked out (Was 38 weeks) it had been a stressful weekend and bub was abit quiet, The midwife was insistant (sp) on I should be checked out EVERYTHING was fine but I was worried about bothering them and they were lovely and said ALWAYS get checked out it is never a bother.

Just wanted to say thanks to all of you. I think if it hadn't been for you guys I'd have probably waited until tomorrow but instead I called and went in this afternoon.

They put me on the monitor and everything was fine and the midwives were so reassuring. They said they'd rather see me every day, if I'm worried, than have me wait too long.

Thank you!!

Glad to hear all is good McRoo

Glad all is well.

Glad to hear he's ok, always go and check, I did, next thing I know they're requesting scans and was induced, he was nearly term but had low liquid, the community MW hadn't detected that I was measuring small. He's a bouncy stroppy 3yr old now, but just shows you need to follow your instinct.