Fetal movement at 30 weeks (at my wits end)

[CAnn88]

Hi all, so I've been on here with questions about movement before and you were all very helpful!

For the last week I've been having scheduled daily NST's, purely because I've taken myself into the ward with concerns about baby's movements SO many times over the last 6 weeks. I thought she would have some kind of pattern by now but no such luck, she seems to keep changing it up. The issue is that I have read so much about reduced fetal movements and what they can mean, that I'm absolutely terrified that any slight change could indicate a big problem. Does anyone else have this concern? I'm finding that I can't go anywhere or do anything as sometimes I feel like she doesn't move unless I'm sitting/laying quietly. As a result of this I spend all of my time at home using my doppler to try and determine if there are accelerations in my babies heart rate, counting every single movement. When you analyse something this much there are loads of variations, and it makes me panic, but I just can't stop. How long do you go without feeling baby before you get concerned? And how do you counter anxiety about movement? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, I don't know how in going to keep coping!

In the nicest possible way, you need to step away from the doppler. Your post makes it sound like you have gone from concerned to obsessed, which is not healthy. I would suggest you go out and do some shopping, try to relax and spend one whole day without worrying. So long as you feel baby move at least 10 times during the course of a whole day then generally there is nothing to worry about.

I have a toddler and am 27 weeks pregnant so i often find the day goes so fast i havent had a chance to think about baby's movements but if i stop for 5 mins i find i can feel baby moving so its all fine.

You could try meditation or similar to help you try to relax about it.

Im 27 weeks with my 6th baby...I started having babies 25 years ago!

Totally agree with cravingcake.

I think you need to speak to a hcp about your anxiety not fetal movement.

Take care of yourself.

Baby will be much quieter whilst you are up and about as your movements rock baby to sleep, that's why gently swinging newborns in your arms helps calm them.
You really only need to worry if its been several hours and once you have a cold drink and a lie down you still can't feel any movement.
It is better to be safe than sorry but you sound like you're putting yourself under a lot of undue stress. Please try to take a step back and enjoy your pregnancy instead of being so tightly wound.

Don't worry I was the same. I was literally obsessed, even waking in the night paranoid if I couldn't feel him kick. The paranoia didn't stop until I had him but he's 8 weeks old now and snoozing away on my lap
My Doppler was great at giving me peace of mind and daily NSTs should be good reassurance too.
Hope you feel ok, just wanted you to know that you aren't the only obsessed mumma!!

Hi sorry to hear you are getting so worried, it's really difficult being pregnant but still knowing that there is a chance things could go wrong, you are carrying such a precious bundle around with you it can be overwhelming at times and that is totally understandable. The best thing you can do is try to relax and enjoy being pregnant, that's best for both you and baby.
I am 30 weeks and I thought I didn't really feel a huge amount of movement throughout the day as I am so busy, I just get the odd movement here and there. Saying that thought I was worried too so I started saying out loud each time I felt movement and it was actually happening much more often then I realised I was just distracted by the busyness of my day. Have you looked on the count the kicks website? I think they sell wrist bands that you can use to keep track of movement, might be worth a try if it puts your mind at rest.
What have the hospital said? Are they happy that baby is ok?
Good luck, hope you feel better soon x

I've been told a number of times throughout this pregnancy by midwives and consultants that babies don't follow or settle into a pattern so any perceived changes in 'pattern' doesn't matter as long as you feel something it's ok. Remember the baby can sleep up to an hour and a half and just be a bit lazy when awake.

I'm someone where in my last pregnancy movement did stop completely and things were wrong (with happy outcome) and trust me you will know about it. I think the way we are told to watch movement can cause us to become too obsessed. All you have to do is be aware that movement is there and forget about patterns x

Thank you all, it's really helpful to hear from other pregnant or recently pregnant people, the midwives are great but they keep telling me how NST's are only indicative of how tge baby is at that moment in time, so as soon as I leave the hospital I start to worry! Touch wood, everything so far is well with the baby and with my health, it does appear that anxiety is the main issue. I was heavily medicated for mental health before falling pregnant and am coping the best I can without much help from the pros. I just don't know how not to be paranoid about movements, am just so afraid of losing my baby. Am worried that if I go out for a day and don't focus I might miss something. I know it's obsessive, but I've literally been counting every hour and waking up in the night to check she has a heartbeat/is moving. I'm not helping myself I know, but I just don't seem to be able to stop!

OP have you sought any help with the anxiety? CBT can help with this kind of obsessive thought pattern and have quite quick results. You should ask for a fast track referral because you are going to wear yourself out waking up and checking every hour :(

I recommend this book loads but try 'The Worry Cure' by Robert Leahy in the meantime.

You must be able to see that on all the days up til now your baby's movements have actually been fine, but your thoughts are distorted towards/around negative outcomes.

I do understand as have suffered anxiety myself and found baby movements are a very easy thing to fixate on - if they are not moving RIGHT NOW then a red flag can go up - but the poor little thing's got to sleep and rest! Personally the only pattern I can discern at nearly 34 weeks is: sometimes they are moving, often they are not! I hope you can find some support with the real issue, which as others have said sounds like it is anxiety and not the movements.

To be honest it does sound like you are getting too obsessed about it, but to be fair with the amount of magazines, websites and books telling you to be cautious I am not too surprised this can happen. I am
29 weeks and probably too relaxed but as long as I can feel the baby moving a few times a day, even if just a little bit then I know everything is probably ok. My baby's pattern seems to keep changing all the time so don't worry too much.