23 weeks reduced movement

[charr18]

Hi, I'm a first time mum at 19, I'm 23+3 weeks and the past 3/4 days I've not felt my baby move as much, I didn't feel his first movements until 20 weeks as my placenta is anterior. Then when I started feeling him moving about it seemed to be all the time, I'm just a bit worried, I've not spoke to my midwife yet as I can still feel him and just feel as if she'll say 'if theres no pain or bleeding and you can still feel movement there's no cause for concern' or something along them lines, but it's not half as often or half as strong as before. I'm just wondering if maybe it's quite common or if the placenta will be in the way again and cushioning the kicks? Thanks.

Firstly, don't worry what the midwife will say. They will have heard it all before and reduced movement is never something you should feel silly worrying about!

Secondly, chances are that baby has just moved into another position where they're harder to feel. It happens! it happened lots for me and I got myself in a right tizz sometimes worrying(which was all for nothing since that little baby is now stirring from her nap). But if you're at all concerned do not hesitate to contact a midwife, that's what they're there for! Your number one priority is your baby so you needn't feel bad for worrying about them.

Everyone's going to tell you to go and get checked if you're worried.
But I wanted to say I've had periods of reduced/ little movement all the way through - currently 33 weeks. So by all means get checked if you're concerned, but I think it's pretty normal to have stuff like this.

I'm 26 weeks and my baby's either kicking for ages or not much at all, my midwfie told me not to worry by 28 weeks she said I should feel around 10 movements a day and will notice more of a pattern,

But if your still concerned speak to a midwife for peace of mind x

Honestly, your MW is probably either going to be lovely and reassuring and say that it's too early to count kicks or a bit mean and say that it's too early to count kicks. I called up at 27 weeks worried about reduced movement and they said that it was too early to worry about as baby could have got itself into an awkward position where I wasn't feeling anything. (Incidentally this response goes against the RCOG guidelines which I will post below! But there we go )
I had another episode at 33 weeks and went in for a trace; baby was fine. But I suppose my point is that they reacted very differently at 27 weeks v. 33 weeks.

Tbh 23 weeks is a bit early to worry, see RCOG guidelines which suggest that you should only be worried before 24 weeks if you haven't felt anything at all. www.rcog.org.uk/files/rcog-corp/Your%20Baby%27s%20Movements%20in%20Pregnancy_0.pdf

You say that you are still feeling movement but it's just different to before? It probably is the case that the baby has shifted position. As long as you are feeling something I would say at this stage to try not to worry.