Quiet baby today

[Rosebud29]

Hi all

I'm 38+4. My Alien has been quieter than usual today. Still making big movements, still getting body parts of various descriptions sticking out, it's just that the movements are less frequent than before. I haven't contacted the hospital as still getting quite big movements. Is he just having a lazy day or should I be concerned? Could someone remind me how many movements I should be watching for over a certain period of time please?

Thank you.

You should be concerned. The pattern of movement should remain the same. Call the ward so they can arrange to check you over. Please don't delay in calling.

what happens if you have an ice cold drink?

10 movements my lil wiggles has never had a pattern and anterior placwnta mw not fused

If you have noticed a reduction in movement then please please go and get checked out. Don't leave it just because you are still getting some movement.

I agree with fairground.

A change in the pattern (less than usual, or more than usual), need to be assessed.

Waiting until movement stops, could mean waiting until it's too late.

10 movements is an outdated and frankly dangerous advice, that I wish midwives would stop spouting (I'd hoped they were better informed now).

Frankie - having an anterior placenta may 'muffle' babies movements somewhat, but when baby is bigger you should feel baby. You don't have to have an exact pattern, but you must know when your baby has more active or quiet times. Midwives not fussing means nothing - it's not them that has to live with it if something happens x

I'm 38 wks and had this exact same thing at the weekend. I still felt baby moving (large movements) but not quite following the same pattern as usual. I had a glass of orange juice in the evening and lay down and still felt a bit quiet so I called the hospital and they asked me to go in. He actually started moving a lot in the car and then when I got there they put me on a heart rate monitor for an hour and everything was totally fine. The mw said it could just be him positioning himself further down as he hasn't quite dropped yet. If you're feeling some movement then I'm sure everything is fine but for peace of mind you may want to call the hospital. I'm really glad I did as they picked up that I had a urine infection from my sample which my mw didn't from my last appt 2 weeks ago so now on antibiotics for that.

Just to be clear - feeling some movement is absolutely not an indication that things are probably fine. Yes, in the majority of cases most causes will be benign. But 11 mothers a day will deliver dead babies, who they thought were a bit 'quieter' than usual.

More than 4000 babies a year are stillborn in the UK per year, one of the highest rates in the developed world.

Any change in movements should be reported.

lithium I wasn't suggesting OP shouldn't get it checked out. Just trying to put her mind at rest a bit with my similar experience, where obviously I got it checked out.

Thanks for your replies. Got monitored at the hospital. Baby is fine.

I am so pleased for you OP x

Heather I apologise if I was snippy, I totally understand what you were trying to do. I was thinking of friends of mine who reassured me, and how I resent them a little for that x

It is worth noting what counts as movement (I say this as someone who has clinical anxiety because of previous losses and is currently having a flare up - 34 weeks I spent most of the last few days lying on my side obsessing and "writing off" movement I felt and DH and I could see and getting in a tizz. I'm on holiday from work, but know this isn't normal behaviour).
Movement which counts should be clear:
-Swooshes
-Kicks
-Wriggles
-Turns
...all of these count. They might get tighter as you go on but not less frequent. Can you tell I have asked for/had briefing after briefing on this.

I use a kick counting bracelet which usually reassures me. Unlike the old 10 kicks thing, I know for example my baby will usually have 4-5 bursts of movement before 12pm, then slow down 4-5 between 12-6pm, then 3-4 but quite energetic in the evening.

The trouble with the internet is, unlike for example my DH seeing the wobble and telling me to turn my bracelet up 1 and not panic, we all see only words on a page. One person's silent might be another's quiet. Another person might incorrectly be counting only 'kicks' or counting to 10- we just don't know.
Golden rule: if in doubt call the maternity advice line/labour ward line.

He seemed quiet again this morning so I laid on the couch and counted about 25 movements in 2 hours so I think he's fine, haha. I think he stuck a foot out so that got tickled :-). Could have been a knee...or an elbow...
He had a proper boogie as soon as I was strapped to the monitor yesterday. Troll baby.

Ps, I say "he" but we don't actually know what we're having. It's just better than saying "it".