Baby movements- what's normal?

[Artyparty]

Hiya,
I'm 26 weeks and my baby's movements vary every few days; sometimes kicks are so strong I flinch or they wake me up; sometimes very low & fluttery and I have to concentrate to feel them...
I wouldn't ordinarily be worried but I've had a couple of problems & midwives are obsessed with movements. I can't be going in for monitoring every week & they don't recommend the Doppler machines you can by. Constantly saying I should go by MOVEMENTS & come in if concerned. I know I have an anterior placenta so sometimes it's difficult to know.... Anyone else know whether frequency is as good as strength of kicks?
Ta x

Google 'count the kicks' they sell little wrist bands which help you track movements, and I found very reassuring to know ds was wriggling enough.

If I don't feel him for an hour I poke a bit, drink water and lie down. Then count until he's kicked ten times.

He's usally really, really active so I've had the issue of him being really quiet and gotten very scared. He perked up a lot after I ate chocolate and relaxed a little. I've also been a bit worried when he's been insanely active to the point of erratic. The MW have been so helpful and are always willing to monitor his movements if I'm worried.

I'm sorry to ask but is there any reason you can't be monitored every week? I know it might be inconvenient but it's the only way you'll be sure.

I think I went in 4 times in the latter stages of pregnancy. He was just so erratic. Everyday was a different type of movement. So a "change in normal pattern of movement" didn't really apply.

I would try a drink, chocolate and a lie down. Or a nice cold drink of milk. And see if anything happened.

If in doubt always get double checked, you are not being a pain at all - that's what the midwives are there for.

A few times as soon as I was hooked up he would wriggle, once I had to have a scan and he was practically spinning (34 weeks so not tiny) and I couldn't feel a thing !

Please call your midwife if only for your own sanity.

Hi I'm 26 weeks with an anterior placenta, and I still don't feel a huge ammount. I was told to look for a pattern rather than count kicks, so I tend to feel the baby a bit while I'm going off to sleep and again between 11-12 while I'm at my desk. I do feel other bits inbetween but these are the main and regular times so I just concentrate then to check I'm feeling something. Midwife didn't seem to think it was a problem to feel so little, providing that was normal for me.

Thanks Ladies, just don't want to constantly be going in & not that easy with dd#1. Thinking it must be instinctive to know what is ok and what did they do before dopplers? My nan had 7dcs and none of this palaver.... But thanks for the ideas- there is an app for counting kicks which is handy when feeling worried. X

I'm 26 weeks too and movements vary loads. During the day whilst at work I hardly feel the baby but normally feel him move loads on an evening. The mw said I should be looking for 10 movements a day by 28 weeks and sure he does that..

I worry constantly about the moves and I don't seem to be that big either so worry about that too!