How do you monitor your baby's movements when they have no regular pattern? (35 weeks)

[JasmineLondon]

Hi, does anyone else have difficulty monitoring their baby's movements because baby has little or no regular pattern? If so, how do you monitor it and when do you know to get concerned?

I'm 35weeks and had 3 false alarm trips to hospital to be monitored, 2 of which were suggested by GP and MW because movement I described to them sounded not normal.

But my baby does not have a set daily pattern of movements. Very common to have just two or three small movements in a morning right up to say 2pm. MWs surprised by this, even though i eat a good breakfast etc. From then on, if he's having an active day, I could get a whole afternoon of big moves and kicks -lovely. But after an active day he tends to have a quiet day where I can barely get a handful of weak kicks from him - worrying.

Anyone else experienced this? - and how did you monitor baby's movements and know when to be concerned and when not?

Thanks v much!

I have a similar problem. Mine is definitely not going to be a night time sleeper - hardly feel anything through the day then it wakes up in the evening! I might get a couple of movements about lunch time but that's it. Thought it might be I just don't notice them coz of working, but had a day of enforced rest and it's been the same. Makes it awkward if I speak to midwives as they ask if baby is moving ok and I have to say "too early to tell".
Have you tried a kick counter app? I believe the general idea is "what is normal for you", or 5 movements in 2 hours. Doesn't have to be big movements. I was advised before to have a cold sugary drink, lay on my side and count kicks. This was after a fall - but could be done any time if worried.

I'm only 28wks but yes, exactly the same us you. Some days I won't feel baby at all until tea time and don't get many big movements during the day at all. Always really active at night though.

Do you have an anterior placenta by any chance. I'm 36 weeks with an anterior and I often have to lay in a certain way to feel "big" movements or swishes. I often also feel them stronger than anywhere else, not to put too finer point on it, in my vag midwife said that's pretty standard with an anterior.

dizzy - just checked my notes and it says placenta is posterior high, so guess that's not it. But I totally got your point about where you feel the moves! I often get the sensation that the baby has plucked some kind of guitar string that runs down into my fanjo, makes me twinge and wince

wagammama and RAF - thanks, helpful to know its similar for others. I'm thinking of doing a full on count the kicks regime for the next few days in order to see if I can find a pattern.

It's def easiest to feel baby when I lie flat on my back, and harder when I'm upright. Weirdly, I can quite often see my stomach move but not feel it inside me ... V odd.

Wow jasmine sounds like you have my baby! Exactly the same! How weird infact I was so worried this morning had ice in water and then laid back in worst possible position slumped back on sofa and could see bump moving but couldn't feel a thing! I also have high posterior placent dont know Iif that makes a difference! Panicking like crazy this am and then this evening feels like he is burrowing any deeper and he will be out! I am often reassured by hicups but if ur baby doesnt get them then that can be tricky! This is my second n yes much quieter than ds1! So I suppose you just need to accept that you may need more monitoring and go in if it feels different to the pattern you have described

Wow jasmine sounds like you have my baby! Exactly the same! How weird infact I was so worried this morning had ice in water and then laid back in worst possible position slumped back on sofa and could see bump moving but couldn't feel a thing! I also have high posterior placent dont know Iif that makes a difference! Panicking like crazy this am and then this evening feels like he is burrowing any deeper and he will be out! I am often reassured by hicups but if ur baby doesnt get them then that can be tricky! This is my second n yes much quieter than ds1! So I suppose you just need to accept that you may need more monitoring and go in if it feels different to the pattern you have described

Sorry posted twice by mistake oops

With my first I had an anterior placenta. And I couldn't monitor movements as it was very irregular. And mostly in the evening/night. So I told my DH that we will have a boy who will be awake during the night and sleep during the day..
Well he did that in the first three weeks since then he sleeps 10-12 hours at night... Goes to bed at 9/10 pm and wakes up 8/9 am...

Jasmine I also have an average placed placenta but see movement/feel it from the outside before I feel it inside! Weird.

I'm 31 wks and yeah, I also have a baby with fairly unpredictable movements. He doesn't move during the night at all which has had me waking up panicking several times but now I'm used to it and hoping that means he'll be a good sleeper! He went through a very active few days earlier this week where DH actually filmed about 10 mins of crazy activity on my belly. And yesterday he was a lot quieter. As long as I feel something every day I'm generally relaxed about it. I guess I would only panic if I hadn't felt anything in 24 hours or so.

Thanks guys, really helpful to know its the same for others too.

corazon - thanks for good advice about just accepting I may need to get it checked more often, that's helpful. And although I'm sorry to hear you also have silent times when you worry, it's a relief to hear this is your DC2 and you can tell the difference between this and DC1 movements ... they kept emphasising at hosp that this is my first baby, so I thought maybe it's only first timers who panic and go in for checks.

No indeed I have been in for a few times to be checked over! Although I have had two previous mc so think I just worry aswell. I said to dh a few weels ago (now 39 weeks) that cant wait for baby to arrive so I can stop kick counting! I also think I have got more worried since finishing work as nothing really takes my mind off it.
I think what heatherbell says is true as long as she feltl something in the day then she tries not to worry although the rush of relief that I feel when he has been quiet and then I feel something is amazing

my little one is the same, this is my 7th baby and I've never been told before to keep an eye on movement tho' so this is one of the newer guidelines I think?
In my opinion and experience of previous pregnancies the movements of babies tend to vary from day to day, some days can be really active and wriggly while others are quite nearly all day.
I think if you feel slight taps or hiccups or any movement it should be fine, but that's just my opinion.
If you're worried get yourself checked out.

corazon really sorry to hear about previous mc and so understandable that would increase worry ... I don't have that in the mix too, but I still said to MW yesterday that I'm not sure how I can do another 5 weeks of worries and movement monitoring!

heaven thanks, good to hear from a 7 times pro that irregular movement is par for the course!

Heaven there are new guidelines and a charity promoting counting kicks. HCP seem to mention to me (as someone with anxiety after losses) that the most important thing is "normal to you" not x kicks per hour, and that sometimes miscommunication of new guidelines creates anxiety and panic.
Mine seems to dislike mornings (little tickles) but loves dinner time!

I saw my midwife today and asked her about this. She said as long as you feel 10 movements a day, there should be nothing to worry about. It could be all at once or throughout the day. Mine tends to be either when bubs wants feeding or just after I have ate and when I have got home from work as am able to relax. Gets very active if I have a book or my tablet resting on the top of my belly.

I bought one of the count the kicks wristband. I have found it really useful to help me keep track of the baby's kicks, it's only £3.50.

countthekicks.org.uk/shop/