Loss of movement early 'ish'?

[Stargirl7]

Morning everyone on this lovely sunny morning!

My gorgeous little seed has been fairly active since around 16 weeks, not every day, but most days fluttering away (usually when sat up). The past 5 days I've felt nothing (am now 20 weeks) and I'm a bit concerned. Is it usual for movement to stop like this? I know they say you can't really track patterns until 22-24 weeks but it's really niggling me :( I've tried the whole cold drink, lying on side and so on, but nothing apart from what feels like a bowel spasm!

If concerned call your midwife or maternity helpline. I didn't feel "regular" movement until bout 25 weeks. Do you know the position of your placenta? Anterior placenta means it will be more difficult to feel movement.

Thanks rafwife, I may do that! Not sure about placenta as scan not until Thurs. So hard knowing if you're worrying about nothing!

I totally get that! I know I was told they'd rather women call and it be nothing, than not call and there is a problem.

I'd also call the MW. But bear in mind that the spasm could have been the baby doing a huge acrobatic movement and moving to a totally different place (well, within reason!) and one where it is much harder to feel movement. Both of my DC were very good at this with one of them "running away and hiding" (to quote the MW) at my 16w check. One moment she had the heartbeat, I felt an odd movement and then nothing. After trying for several minutes, she asked me to come back in an hour & all was well - obviously that was a rather worrying hour. Also, a can of coke always worked much better for me at inducing movement than a cold drink or anything.
And have you been unusually busy or distracted for the past few days? In the early days, when the movements are smaller, it is much easier to miss movements as they are so much more fluttery.

Call the helpline (or out of hours number- usually its the labour ward). Considering many women only start to feel their baby now, they will probably reassure you or make a non urgent appointment, but it will reassure you.

I had a quiet period between the pops/flutters stage and the actual kicks and flops stage, about 21 weeks.

like squizita, i also had a horrible quiet period around 20 weeks. movements seemed to change a lot - at 18 weeks i could feel his kicks externally, they were so strong. then around 20 weeks - 21 weeks they reduced dramatically (maybe he was kicking to the back?). then they came back but not they more like body shifts than strong kicks, which make my whole bump move. worrying for a first timer but i think it's normal!

Thanks all, this first timer thing is so worrying! Wish I knew someone who was, or has been, recently pregnant. I've just called EPU and they have asked me to come in and they will do a sonic aid? Which I think means a Doppler. Will let you know how it goes. Terrified! X

Again, thanks for all the advice ladies.
I went to EPU where the registrar did a quick scan rather than just the Doppler. She apologised for terrible quality, but the better scanners were down in the maternity assessment units not EPU. Anyhoo, hb was measure in the low 120s, which did concern me, as it was a strong 150 bpm at 16 week appointment. I guess it could have been asleep? But the relief that you could see it flickering was a clear 'phew!' moment. The baby was there lying face down (does anyone else have this problem with their baby?! It was like it at the 12 week scan too!!) She was concerned about lack of amniotic fluid at first, but when she pressed further it seemed to be in one corner and the baby in the other?! Have my full 20 week scan on Thursday, so hopefully all will be right; this anxiety is making me insane!! x

The baby's heartbeat does slow down about now, so it may well just be that. :) Sounds like the lack of movement is a position thing. Good luck for Thurs!

Glad you got some reassurance. I had the same this week, was panicked, but as others said, there isn't supposed to be a regular pattern until about 28 weeks. Mine's heartbeat was in the 160-170 range at all other scans, but at my 20 week one, it was just less than 130, which my doctor said was normal. Apparently, as they get bigger, their heart rate slows. I'm looking forward to some strong kicks so I can stop worrying when I don't feel it! It's still not big enough to be felt with a regular pattern so if it's just in the wrong place, you might not feel it for a day or two, she said.