Do movement patterns change as you get toward the end?

[Bondy83]

34+6 today and a bit concerned about movements. It's not that I don't feel him move but I'd say his pattern for movements have changed over last couple of weeks I don't feel as many big movements as I have done previous (sometimes I've felt as if he's been spinning on his head he's been moving that much ). Now its more like smaller nudges and the odd foot sticking out. I went to hospital with reduced movement & although he didn't really move that much when I was there his heart rate was nice healthy and strong, I then saw mw few days later routine check up everything seemed fine bp, urine test, heartbeat etc.
Am I being paranoid? He's head down ( not yet engaged) is it just that there isn't that much room anymore to be doing all the twists and turns he used to?

The number and frequency of movements should not change.

But, yes, in the last month or two they do run out of space to big flips and rolls. So if he has been doing big dramatic movements they may well turn into kicks, elbows, etc.

But, as ever, if you are at all worried it is best to get checked out.

Nobody here can tell you that your baby is fine. Get ANY change in movement checked out. Heartbeat, BP, and urine checks do not prove your baby is ok.

Count The Kicks dispute the idea that babies "run out of room". Do get checked, even if that means going every day. The alternative does not bear thinking about.

No, what I have said is in line with Count the Kicks see here. They don't run out of room to move, but they do run out of space to do big flips and rolls.

From the section about 32 weeks: "Your baby will not run out of room and should continue to move up to and during birth."

Maybe it's semantics, but CTK always refute this phrase.

They refute the phrase in the context of anyone saying that reduced movement is normal because the baby has 'run out of room'

That is not the same as what I said, which is that they run out of room to flip and roll. Which they do. They do not run out of room to move. But they do run out of room to flip and roll. I also said, as my very first statement, that frequency and pattern of movement shouldn't change.

I am sorry if you feel that the language is confusing and the two statements could be easily confused by people. That wasn't my intention. But I honestly don't know how else to describe the fact that they stop having the space to do loads of 180 degree flips, etc as anything other than running out of space to do them.

If you have had two check-ups (one at hospital, one with mw) and the fhr and all else was absolutely fine, and the movements have not diminished since these checks (ie you went to the hospital because of the reduced movements) then you are really saying that you don't trust the fhr traces/ mw/ professionals.

This is absolutely normal. Anxiety is pretty natural at this stage.

If you are still concerned about the reduced movements, do seek professional reassurance again.

I'm a little confused abiut the context though - ordinarily I would be suggesting you contact your mw, but it seems that there has been no change in the movements since you were checked both at hospital and your subsequent mw Appt? Reduced movements should always be checked - but yours have been, twice?

The mantra is always check if you are worried. No one here can reassure you.