Baby's Movements

[liesal79]

I should properly let you all know they background as well - I am a nightmare! I have been suffering with Anxiety throughout this pregnancy (I am 24 weeks) and have suffered with several miscarriages.
Yesterday I didn't feel a lot of movement - but to be fair - I did sleep for 4 hours in the afternoon. I drank a cold drink and ate a biscuit and lay on my left side and while I felt kicks, they weren't very strong -

I can feel kicks this morning - not as strong but a bit more regular - and I am at work sat up. Do I need to speak to someone, Am I over-reacting???

I think at 24 weeks the movements can be a little more changeable - they are still quite small and can tuck themselves away sometimes. you've felt regular movements today which is good, but if you're really worried do call someone. I'd say monitor through the next couple of hours, and try to relax and not worry!

I'm in the same boat. I'm 26 weeks today and for the past couple of days my normally very active baby has been unusually quiet. The kicks feel quite gentle like they did when I first started feeling movement, and it takes a lot to get him moving. He had a burst of movement last night after a hot chocolate, when a glass of pure oranges with ice and a sweet snack didn't work before that.

It feels like he has maybe changed position, and his back is now against my belly so the kicks don't feel or look as brutal as they were! I also have an anterior placenta so could be that too.

If you're worried at all then give your midwife a call and explain how they feel different and see what she says. I'm probably going to call later if he doesn't liven up a bit because I'm sure this worrying is no good for him or me! I had this a few times with DD too and was asked to come in for movement monitoring each time.

Causing no end of worry before they're even here!

No, you are not over reacting! Get yourself checked out. They won't turn you away. I went in 3 times during my pregnancy with reduced movement. Each time everything was fine and dd was just in an odd position so I couldn't feel much movement. But I felt so much better hearing her heartbeat and knowing she was ok.

You might also find it useful to look at the count the kicks website. They do fantastic work trying to raise awareness of a babies movement during pregnancy and I found it so useful during my pregnancy.

Let us know how you get on. Good luck xx

Thanks all - I have an anterior Placenta as well - I have a can of Cold Fanta - which isn't that nice in the morning but at work and no orange juice, so am seeing how I go! :)

At 24 weeks, movement can vary in strength. Patterns will start to be established (which will become clear Iver the next 2 weeks).

Call your midwife. However, do not let what happened to me (5+ hours a day lying on my side because I thought otherwise I was being lax in movement checking ... an anxiety symptom ... made worse because when I posted here people half read it, thought I meant once/actually had reduced movement and lectured me to do more!).

This needs to be managed sensibly so you monitor movement safely but also don't become obsessed. I would strongly suggest visiting the "count the kicks" website and following their advice (their wrist band and app are also good) . Always call your MW and explain the situation calmly to her if you are worried. She may well call you in.

Finally, be a little cautious about relying on us forum strangers to count your kicks for you! We don't know what weak/strong means to you. Many of us (because I've been told this and it caused panic attacks) think patterns are formed at 20 weeks ... or dangerous at the other extreme, movement quantity goes down after 30 weeks (it doesnt). We all have either positive or negative baggage (imagine if I had answered this thread mid anxiety cycle... ).

So basically:
-If worried always call your hcp 24-7 and take their advice
-Get your ideas about what is normal from Count The Kicks or a midwife. Opinions on forums vary too wildly, you could end up too panicked or too relaxed depending on who you listen to.

I have also had multiple losses and have anxiety btw. So I know how scary it can be especially when a stranger online tells you to go in for reduced movement at 18 weeks and the midwife is aghast and how important it is to check movement.

Also I struggled at work. Is there a quiet room you can lie on your side in for 1/2 hr? I ended up using the table in a lunch area one very hot day I was working on my feet! Couldnt feel a thing too hot and active. At 20-28 weeks the size means lying on your side can suddenly make movement apparent! I lay down, had a cold drink, breathed deeply "down to the bump" and suddenly felt reassuring kicks towards my sude/back I missed when standing and walking.

Thank you all.
I called my midwife who, after listening to me (thanks Squiz I was calm) decided to calm me down more to come in, and just have a check.

They took my blood Pressure, urine sample and found the heartbeat in a record time of 2 secs! Everything is fine, and she said to me that at 24 weeks, there may be a pattern, but if baby moves and as he is still small, he may be kicking into my back! I feel better for having checked, and as I am only in 1/2 today, I intend to go home in a bit and chill out.

Thanks All :)

That's good news! I'm 27 weeks and sometimes mine does have "quietier" days when she's still kicking but not as strong and it feels like she's kicking in the way rather than outwards if that makes sense?

At first I used to worry but I'm realising that she does still have a bit of room to move about (I think she did a full rotation yesterday which did not feel very nice). It think it's in the coming few weeks where they start to run out of room and kicks etc should become more regular.