Anterior placenta and baby movement

[Mistyautumn]

Hi all. Just looking for some advice from those further along than me or who have already been through this before.

Was getting worried that I wasn't feeling baby movements (had previous MC and am generally paranoid/panicking about lots). Found out at 20wk scan that I have an anterior placenta. Having done some research and it seems likely that with an anterior placenta I won't feel movement so often/ until a bit later.

If you have or have had an anterior placenta - when did you start feeling defined movement or regular movement?

Hi! I have an anterior placenta. I'm 37 weeks and I have to say that sometimes it's been a right pain in the arse. Lots of lying on my side, downing glasses of ice water!

I think I felt movement 24/25 weeks, but this wasn't regular at all. By 28 weeks I was trying to do the "count the kicks" thing, but some days it would be stressful trying to get to ten in an hour. I would say since 32 weeks onwards is when it's been regular for me, but even now I still have to do a bit of encouraging from time to time!

I've been to Triage for it twice, they've always been fab, so if you're worried at any point, do go.

Yep, this time and last time. Didn't feel anything regularly unti 24 weeks-ish. Movements are less if a 'kick', which is what you may be expecting, and more like a nudging/rolling. I know it's worrying, but you'll start to recognise what's normal for you after a few weeks.

DC1 was a champion hiccupper, which accounted for most of the movement I felt! This one is more of a shoulder-barger.

Oh, if you get the chance, lay down with your hand on bump. Sometimes I can actually see/feel more from the outside (with my hand) than I can feel from the inside.

Currently 33 weeks and still no regular pattern of movement/10 moves in an hour. Midwives have told me that if goes to under 12 movements in 12 hours to ring them.
As above there have been a lot of cold drinks, jiggling belly, eating chocolate to get a response. Some days she is very quiet/ some days my colleague can see my bump dance from accross the room.
I have realised that laying my hands on my bump is more efficient than "feeling", sometimes i put my hand on my stomach and feel the movement through my hands but not my body if that makes any sense.
First definate movement was i think at about 24 weeks, but not regular or every day at that stage. I think it was 2-3 weeks after that that DP felt her move for the first time.

2x anterior placenta here and no movement until 20+ weeks either time. Then it was more easily felt under my diaphragm, like popcorn popping at first and then big kicks. Stretching at the side, particularly with DS who was transverse until very late. Punches in the fanjo with DD! It's very easy for them to pummel you where you can't feel it, especially if they go back to back, but if you don't feel any kind of stretching or rolling then get yourself to the maternity ward and let the MWs check you out.

I agree about looking at your tummy for movement too - as I type I've just looked down and she tummy is moving but I can't feel it!

If in any kind of doubt, ring the midwives at the hospital. They really don't mind and are very good at telling you what to do/reassuring you.

I had an anterior placenta and I never felt regular movement, even later on. I kept a movement diary and there were numerous days where I felt less than ten movements in a day - I never felt more than twelve or so if I remember correctly. I tried all the tricks like drinking cold water etc but they never resulted in movement for some reason. We bought a Doppler and used that for some reassurance. I know some people don't like them but we knew what we were listening for (there were times we had to tell the midwife where to find the heartbeat!). We were told about 'count the kicks' at an antenatal class but I never felt the amount you're supposed to; according to that I should have gone in for monitoring daily.

Thanks everyone for coming back to me. Feel much more at ease now. Everything was saying not to expect movement until later but not saying when that may be. Was disconcerting reading preg books saying that I should have been feeling lots of kicks and rolls.

Think I may have felt baby move a few time. Sort of bubbles in my stomach where my intestines used to be pre baby!!!

Thanks everyone. Xxx

Pelvic floor exercises get my head-down baby on the move!

I agree that watching and feeling tummy with hands is a better way of monitoring movement than 'feeling' from the inside.

Im 33+6 with twins and an anterior plplacenta. I first felt proper movement around 20wks but it's very hard to feel regular movements where the placenta is. When you get bigger you'll find you feel more around the edges of it rather than through it. I was hooked upto a monitor this morning (for other reasons) and the mw was laughing at how much they were moving around, I felt very few of the movements. Then the same thing happens when I have my scans, I can clearly see them bouncing around but very rarely feel what I'm seeing. An anterior placenta really does absorb a lot of the kicks, it's my first one, other 3 have been posterior and I'm still surprised at the difference it can make, more so considering there's 2 in there. If you're ever worried speak to your mw.

Well you guys have all saved me a google as I foun out I had an anterior placenta yesterday (private gender scan at 16 weeks) and I thought oh I should google that as I don't remember anyone saying anything with ds1

I'm glad I saw this thread! I have an anterior placenta, I'm 27 weeks and worrying about the fact I don't seem to feel much movement - what I do feel isn't strong. I have been on the verge of phoning midwife several times due to not feeling movement, then feel a few movements and decide not to. I've definitely never felt 10 in an hour!

I have an anterior placenta and just spend the day in the assessment unit after baby went "quiet". I didn't start feeling movements until 22-23 weeks, since then it's been fairly regular except at 26 weeks and this weekend (32 weeks) when the baby changed position and I stopped feeling anything for a few days. According to the midwives this isn't that unusual and they'd rather a worried MTB called them and got assessed than worried.

I'm in the same boat and what really helped keep me calm when I couldn't feel any movement was buying a little fetal heart monitor. It was the best £20 I ever spent!

I found out on Friday (because midwife couldn't get a heartbeat at 25 weeks and I had to have random scan!) that I have an anterior placenta but I do still feel baby quite a lot, above and below where the doctor said the placenta was anyway. Kicks to the top of the stomach and in the bladder mostly.

23 weeks here with an anterior placenta. I felt the first movements at 20 weeks, which initially were like little bubbles bursting, but then moved onto stronger kicks which DH could feel within about a week. They are mostly to either side, or down below. I have had a couple of days with little movement though, and agree it can be worrying.

Nearly 34 weeks here and I didn't feel any definite movements until 24 weeks. I remember being worried with everyone asking me if I had felt the baby move yet etc. etc. Its normal with an anterior placenta.

Same here , I'm 38 weeks now n god do I feel the movements!! I started feeling regular ones from 22 weeks