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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Baby hardly moving. Please help, because doctors just don't!

49 replies

Nadiaxxx · 11/06/2014 20:44

Hello everyone. I am sorry, this is going to be long, but I want to include as much information as possible. I am currently 30+5 weeks pregnant and my main concern is that my baby boy isn't moving. He has never been a big mover anyway, I felt first movement at 18 weeks for about a week, then baby went quiet from 19 weeks until week 22. I would go days without any movement, but I had scans in between which revealed that everything is fine with the baby. I would feel baby wriggle one week and have the baby "sleep" the second week.
Placenta is posterior, so I should be feeling something. My baby wouldn't move his legs, I never got a kick in this pregnancy, just movement like swimming...Baby have active (with moving his head and reacting to sweets and food), I would get loads of episodes of movement. Then baby not moving at all. For the last week baby hardly moves...
No episodes....I have went to the hospital to get monitored, midwife was touching and pressing the baby so she could rule out what position he was at..and baby didn't move, AT ALL. She put me on the CTG machine and left. Machine kept beeping and beeping (I heard could be due not being connected right or problems with babies heartbeat), babies heartbeat had a large variation, it dropped to 112 once. When baby moved, heartbeat didn't accelerate....Doctor looked at the results and said they were fine, however she said that baby wasn't even moving much at CTG machine, baby just done small movements...They had scan performed then...Baby wouldn't move much...she said yes, not much movement there. She even wrote: occasional subtle fetal movement. Baby is growing OK at the moment. I was sent home and told to come back if movements not improve. Well, they haven't. Hardly feel a thing....no kicks, no swimming...no episodes....few pokes there and then a day and feeling his head move. He isn't moving at night. I have a very bad sleep, so I wake up throughout the night - and no movement. Sweets, coke - don't work. AT ALL. He just lies there like a big rock. He is head down. His feet are somewhere on my side, since movement is never above the belly button...It is strange, how such a large baby have enough room in there? Like there is an empty space between my belly button and ribs....
Of course I am thinking the worst. Not feeling my baby move..at almost 31 weeks pregnant. I am looking for advice. They perform a scan at the admissions, but scanners are really bad so there isn't much to see...I keep thinking maybe he is wrapped up in cord so cannot move? Maybe there is something wrong with his wee legs, so he can't move them? At my anomaly scan, baby wouldn't cooperate, so basically they never checked his skeleton and never told me to come back. I am just feeling so down and upset. I will be going to the hospital again, should I demand a good scan where everything can be visualised...should I go private and get a 4d scan to see if there is cord issues, to see if his legs and arms look ok? :(
They said because baby is growing OK, they can't do anything...Not even a doppler scan. :( So worried and lost...Also, protein was found in my urine on two occasions...when I went to admissions my blood pressure was 144/90 or something like this. Midwife just wrote it down and that's it. When I had a scan at 24 weeks in my home country (I am from Latvia), I have asked the lady - is my baby even moving? She said - well, you obviously feeling it aren't you. But nope, I wasn't. But scan reports state that baby movements are visible....So lost and upset...sorry for such a long post, just wanted to give you as much information as possible.
The fact that at the very start of pregnancy, at 6weeks+3days there wasn't heartbeat and just gestational sac measuring 4 weeks (2 weeks behind) doesn't help either. Makes me think that baby may have serious genetic issues and maybe that is why he isn't moving. Again, please any advice would be appreciated. Sorry.

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cupofteaplease · 11/06/2014 22:35

Please keep on at your health care providers to have another detailed scan. Ask to be referred to a consultant. I am speaking from personal experience, and would always say, trust your judgement and don't be fobbed off. Good luck x

sixlive · 11/06/2014 22:36

I had this in first pregnancy nobody would take any notice. Then I had a failed induction and they finally notice that the baby wasn't moving much, ended up with emergency c section as they were so worried about lack of movement, baby v large. Said baby now a gymnast so making up for the lack of movement!

Iworrymyselftosleep · 11/06/2014 22:44

Nadia I'm at the royal too. I had an ordinary scan in the antenatal clinic (downstairs room in the maternity block) last time I was there four weeks ago where the consultant flipped a switch and showed me the colours pulsing through the cord - I could clearly see the cord, the movement of (I suppose heat in the) blood and where the cord was around the side of my baby. I would call the maternity dept now and ask for advice. Say how worried you are.

imip · 11/06/2014 22:51

I worry, that's a Doppler scan!

Crazeeladee · 11/06/2014 22:51

Don't go to a & e, they will just transfer you straight to the maternity department. At your gestation, the only place that will see you is maternity. If you have had continued attendances with no movements, they should set up a regular monitoring and scans plan. They probably will only scan every two weeks, but you could be monitored more regularly than that. Give them a ring and say you are concerned, when they are monitoring you say that you want a clear plan to be made.

Toothytwo · 11/06/2014 22:53

Firstly, your English is great! Secondly, I understand why up you're worried and I would warn reassurance too, you should trust your instincts. Phone fully they are wrong, but trust them anyway.

I think your plan to go to the hospital first thing is a good one, followed by private if you're not satisfied. Maybe it would be good to write down what you've out here in a list if events plus your questions so the hospital can't get away with fobbing you off.

Hang in there, you sound like you're going yo be a brilliant mum.

Toothytwo · 11/06/2014 22:54

Also, you could ring them tonight, you don't need to wait for the morning if you're worried.

Nadiaxxx · 11/06/2014 23:07

Iworrymyselftosleep, yeah, I seen by consultants sometimes as well. That's where I have been scanned at 28+4...I think the consultant actually done some colourful thing on the scan...was that a doppler??

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Nadiaxxx · 11/06/2014 23:08

Also, I can go to admissions at any stage of day or just at night time when antenatal clinic doctors and midwives go away?

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Nadiaxxx · 11/06/2014 23:12

Also, would it be ok if I asked for senior consultant, rather than a junior one?

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imip · 11/06/2014 23:29

Doppler is the red and blue screen, it's a snap shot of blood flow through the cord.

In my busy london hosp, yes, there would be a problem asking for a snr cons, especially at night as they may not be on.

Because of your existing medical condition, I presume you are already getting extra care? Honestly, I would probably just go private then if you feel like they are not accommodating your needs. You can keep pushing, but it is very exhausting and I've benefited from having a second opinion...

Nadiaxxx · 11/06/2014 23:37

Yeah I am receiving extra care. I don't feel like they fobbing me off. They are happy for me to come in for ctg. However they will be sending me home all the time if ctg is ok. Then I don't know what I should think...like, the reason for baby being sooo inactive throughout pregnancy.and now baby being even more inactive...I assume if something is wrong with babies legs (awful to think that, but different reasons keep popping in my head) there is nothing I can do. It's my baby, I love him so much and will accept him the way he is.
I have read a few other stories that women wrote. One of them kept coming in for ctg, told all is well and sent home. She kept coming back in and they decided to do a c-section. She said her son was all wrapped in cord and wouldn't survive if she had a natural birth. I know every case is different. Suppose I should be monitored and defo getting a private scan...

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imip · 11/06/2014 23:47

Also, don't google too much!!!

A little knowledge is powerful, but try not to take it all on board. Trust me, I know!

Is this your first child? Sometimes it is particularly hard when you have nothing to compare it too. Even with the best care, things can go wrong; but mostly they go right and it does sound like your concerns are being addressed, though perhaps you'd like them addressed.

Book the private scan!

Nadiaxxx · 11/06/2014 23:53

Yes, it is my first! Just started sobbing right now, cannot take this stress any longer...fear is always with me. xxx

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CanISayOfHerFace · 12/06/2014 00:05

So sorry you are going through this stress and upset.

Have you written your list of questions yet? I would get it all down on paper then try and get a good nights sleep before going to hospital tomorrow.

I hope you get some answers and some reassurance x

Nadiaxxx · 12/06/2014 00:08

I will write them down in the morning. Will note movements too. He moves a little bit now...

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NorksEnormous · 12/06/2014 08:24

How are you feeling this morning nadia? X

Nadiaxxx · 12/06/2014 20:56

Hello everyone. Was at the hospital ctg and scan perfect. His legs are at my belly button level, but doctors didn't say that baby was low etc
During ctg he wasn't moving and heartbeat stayed at around 148, then he started to move and heartbeat went up, doctor said it is good. She could look at the cord on that scan, placenta and fluid all normal. I have seen baby kicking. I seen babies leg leg. :)

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CanISayOfHerFace · 12/06/2014 21:07

Great news Nadia! So pleased.

imip · 12/06/2014 21:07

Oh brilliant ... I hope this gives you some confidence now!

BobPatandIgglePiggle · 12/06/2014 21:27

Brilliant news :-)

I have a couple of questions, I hope you don't mind.

Are you on any medication? I hardly felt ds move at all. The only time he did was if I lay bump down in the bath.Even tthen it was only very slight movement. Doctors put it down to the blood pressure meds I was
on - high dose - made ds drowsy.

Are you overweight? I'm a size 16 and sometimes thought that maybe my padding meant I didn't feel him move so much.

PolyesterBride · 12/06/2014 22:52

Great. You must feel relieved. It seems that some babies don't move around that much in the womb, I guess. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

Nadiaxxx · 13/06/2014 02:37

Thanks everyone. xxx

BobPatandIgglePiggle, I am not on any medication.
I am not overweight, in fact my tummy was very slim pre-pregnancy and my bump just popped last week. People could hardly tell I am pregnant before that :D
First pic - 27 weeks 4 days
Second pic - 30 weeks 6 days

Bump is quite low, but sure if babies legs are right at the belly button, then he is low..??

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OneLittleToddleTerror · 13/06/2014 04:59

Hi I didn't feel much if any movement at all with my first. I wasn't worried because I didn't know that wasn't normal. I went through the entire pregnancy without any extra care. DD was born with no problems at 37 weeks via a vaginal birth. So it maybe that it is just all natural for you. Try not to worry but do get a private scan if you need more reassurance.

I had a silent labour so not sure if that is the reason why I don't feel much movement. I also had an anterior placenta but that is common and should still feel fluttering. I'm inclined to think it was due to the former.

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