Drastic change in foetal movements

[louise182]

I have been in and out of hospital over the last few days to monitor baby as his movements reduced significantly then stopped suddenly all within in 24 hours. I am used to constant kicks, jabs, rummaging around, it usually takes no more than 20 minutes to feel at least 10 movements'. Then, nothing!

mw's and doctors made such a fuss over reduced movements and insisted i go to triage this time and once earlier in pregnancy for monitoring, then when given the all clear really played it down and almost made me feel like a stupid time-waster!

I got comments like "movement patterns do change you know" and "space is running out, its no wonder they have slowed down you are 38 weeks ". A patronising mw also bluntly suggested next time i just have a cold drink, walk around and count movements myself over a 2 hour period (i politely confirmed i had done all of these things before one of her colleagues asked me to attend triage.......). Bearing in mind i still hadn't felt anything during my time at hospital!

Well anyway im just feeling annoyed as they asked me to bloody go in and also worried me half to death with talk of induction, then i leave hospital feeling like i shouldn't have called for advice in the first place ?!

I understand they must get a lot of over cautious mums to be, or those that are just fed up and might hope to be induced early if they make a fuss, but i had a genuine concern and was made to feel so stupid!

What do they actually want me to do?!

Argh! Just a moan, anybody else experienced this?

Have you had an ultrasound scan as well as ctg monitoring? Have you had a fetal Doppler scan to measure blood flow across the placenta? You are 100% right to get ANY change in movement pattern checked out. I'm sorry they left you feeling like a time waster - you most definitely are not! Has the movements picked up again now?

Agree with Whatever. You absolutely are not wasting time. The movements slowing down thing due to space is a myth I thought. This is just not worth taking a chance on. I think you need more detailed investigations just in case.

They did a scan and all checks on placenta and cord were fine. Ctg was a little concerning for a time but righted itself in the end.

Only once i got the all clear did the stupid comments start, its like they think if there are no problems found then it Must be a time waster!

Movements have picked up a little today but if they are not what i consider 'normal' by this evening they said i can go back tomorrow (for more smart arse remarks no doubt!)

Well good that they have checked that, but I think you should go back sooner than they are saying if the movements slow right down and you are worried. How did they explain the worrying features of the ctg? I am surprised they are making you feel like this. They know better than anyone the potential condequences of not getting these things checked.

Sadly it's that attitude from some (thankfully a minority) of Midwives that lead many women to 'ignore' signs that their baby IS in distress, which can have catastrophic consequences. Thank GOD you are sensible enough to not doubt yourself - you have absolutely, 100% done the right thing, especially so close to your due date.

So glad everything is well, and best wishes for the next few weeks!

I'm sorry you were made to feel that way. They said this after the scans, doppler, ctg of course.... You know you were right to get checked out, right?

I'm a HCP (but not maternity or baby related- don't ask me anything!), and we often get (usually elderly) patients who fret about "wasting our time". I really try to reassure them that they haven't. Sorry your unit didn't try the same.

Don't worry, you are definitely not wasting time.

They always say, and are very firm that if the pattern of movement changes then you must have it checked.

You're not wasting their time and shouldn't be made to feel that way at all.

I went in twice during my pregnancy with reduced movements - 1st time just had ctg monitoring, 2nd time ctg+scan.

On both occassions all was fine and my ds started partying as soon as the monitor was on. I felt bad and apologised but all the mw and doctors said I was not wasting time and was right to go in.

It's not true that babies slow down at the end - my ds moved loads right up to being born.

If you are still worried please please go back and get checked. If any staff make comments again I would complain.

I hope you and baby are ok xx

As others have said you did absolutely the right thing and I think you were just unlucky in the midwife you saw. I have been in once (so far) for monitoring for reduced movements. All was fine and I did feel quite silly and said that next time I'd know not to panic or come in. The midwife said, "no, next time you'll know to come in straight away". She was at pains to reassure me that they really don't mind false alarms.

I've just had a similar thing at 30 weeks - movements reduced, sent in to the assessment unit. They did a CTG, scanned me, checked fluid and placenta etc and basically all looked fine and they couldn't see any reason for the drop in movements. However the midwives all stressed that just because everything was fine on that day, it didn't mean I shouldn't go straight back if I was concerned again, and the doctor actually said I should have a "low threshold" for coming back.

Please don't let this put you off going back in if the movement change again, ANY change in movements should be checked out thoroughly. Sad to read that you felt criticised for doing the right thing

I've been in once for reduced movements and I wasn't made to feel like a complete time waster but...a bit of one, yes. The MW was kind enough but did say a few things like "mothers are given too much information these days and it makes them worry too much" and "it's actually very normal for babies' movement patterns to change" which, all in all, made me feel very uncomfortable about ever calling again. At the end I said "sorry for wasting your time" and she said "oh, no, don't say that" but certainly nothing along the lines of what PumpkinPie or ceara were told.

Baby is actually being a bit quiet today so I'm drinking lots of cold water and hoping she gets going soon!

It happened to me too - you are NOT wasting time. Always always check. Its a warning sign of a baby in trouble. My hospital didn't make me feel bad at all. I am glad it was all fine - so were they.

louise just re-read your OP and had to have a wry smile at "space is running out, its no wonder they have slowed down you are 38 weeks " because I was 33 weeks when I went in and was told "well they've still got loads of room in there, so it's easy for them to get into a position where you can't feel them."

Maybe there's truth in both statements, but it's not exactly helpful... Anyway - I think you have to do (as my DH said) it doesn't matter what they want you do, it matters what you know is important to do, and nobody else will advocate for this baby so you just have to swallow your pride/irritation/etc and make your voice heard.

Keep going up if you are concerned, i stopped being so concerned at 40 weeks as i though dd had no room but i mentioned it to mw and sge sent me to maternity assessment unit and kept me in on a monitor,i think it depends where you go and i think you always get a mw with a shitty atitude somewhere

Thanks for all replies feel much less annoyed after a nap and baby has even started having something of a party now!

I definitely wont be made to feel like i cant call for advice if it happens again. After-all, i know my body and my baby's normal pattern, nobody else! Xx