Please help - reduced movements - am I just being paranoid?

[concernednc]

Have name-changed for this as irl am a medical dr and feel a bit silly being so indecisive/asking for advice from strangers at gone 1am in the morning!

Currently 36 weeks pregnant with my second, no problems in this pregnancy so far, usual pattern of baby movement is very little during the day then crazy party in tummy around bedtime, then generally movement if I wake up during the night.

Tonight, very little movement around bedtime (but was tired so fell asleep fairly quickly) and then woke around midnight and, well, very little to be honest.

Around half an hour ago I decided to be proactive about this and have drank cold water and been lying on my left side counting movements, and there have been around 4 definite movements (guidelines say over 10 in an hour is fine and can wait for in hours for review, so I'm a bit borderline)

So just can't decide what to do. On one hand, don't want to in any way risk baby so think should call maternity unit. On other hand, I have felt some good movements, its the middle of the night, DS (and DH, although less bothered about waking him) are sleep and if I go in I will be seen by people I know professionally, and I don't want to be making a fuss if its nothing.

Please help!

OP you are not making a fuss about nothing.

Make the call, and make it now.

I'd say call them. Wouldn't you much rather kick up a fuss and find it's been over nothing than worry for the whole night? Your baby sounds ok & responsive to the cold water BUT I'm no midwife.

I know their advice to me was always to call, you're not bothering them it's what they are there for. Hope everything is ok, I'm sure it will be.

Ok ex Midwife

You are a mum and you are worried.

Call labour ward.

Forget guidelines - your baby's normal pattern is different enough to concern you and that is enough to concern me, even at 1am.

You might ring and discussing it against a good history might be enough to reassure you but if not then you are absolutely right be monitored, yes even in the middle of the night.

It's probably nothing, it will probably resolve but not worth ignoring.

Let us know

Call labour ward and go in.

You have noticed a difference, so you should get checked.

You are not time wasting.

I am not medically trained. I do have personal experience of similar though. They really won't mind you going in.

Def go and have your baby checked out.Better be safe than sorry, you will feel much better afterwards. Hope everything is ok.

Always have reduced movements checked!

Please call, I'm sure everything will be fine but its just not worth sitting at home worrying. I went in with reduced movements at about 33w and of course baby started dancing when I got there, they said they'd rather I rang and got checked than anything else, it's what they are there for!

I had a bit of a panick earlier, have felt him move but not as much as normal. Got in bed and he started dancing about. Gona talk to midwife at appointment in the morning though as it can't be good for him with me panicking.

I called Triage on Saturday night because I was worried about reduced movements - I was still feeling baby move but nowhere near as often as normal and his regular pattern just wasn't there. I only felt him if I stimulated him whereas normally he doesn't stop. They told me to go straight down where I was put on the tracing monitor. Everything was fine thankfully but I definitely needed that reassurance. They asked me to go back on the Sunday and Monday too for repeat monitoring and they also performed a scan to ensure everything was ok. A very thorough service I hope it all turned out well OP

I am just about to start a thread saying don't hesitate to call if you are worried! I did last night and the folks at labor ward were lovely.

Hope all is well OP.

Thanks everyone - I called just after 2am and they said come straight it; obviously as soon as I got there she was moving so much my stomach looked like a mexican wave and I felt incredibly silly. They were however still lovely and monitored me for half an hour to reassure all was normal, and overall I was pleased I went... especially since the first thing DS said on waking this morning was 'baby gone' which would've definitely upset me if I hadn't been seen and reassured last night.

Thank you for all your concern and support x

Glad you were reassured.

it's always best to get reduced foetal movements checked.

Very glad you went. Interestingly, I've just seen my midwife and she said that what happened to you happens a lot - reduced movement, and then as soon as you get to the hospital, it's party time.

Glad you got it checked, being a Dr. doesn't always give you the answer.

DF (who is doctor for the local hospice) still took her DC to the GP when he was really ill with chicken pox. All mothers need a second opinion sometimes. Even if their professional judgement says they worrying too much.

So glad OP :)

Apart from anything else at all it's not good for you or baby to be worrying and stressing - so even if it's just for a little reassurance because you can't put your mind at peace it's worth going in.

When i went in last night my BP was up. Purely worrying all evening had pushed it up! It was down again once i'd heard baby's heart beat

Ahh the magic of a CTG monitoring...

Nothing pleases a midwife more... Even at 2am

Glad all ok