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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

What are normal movements?

11 replies

MissTwister · 09/04/2015 14:33

Hi All

I am 24 weeks and still on the quest for understanding normal movements! My question is, are you meant to feel the baby ALL the time, like every hour you'd feel X kicks or is this more sporadic? At the moment I might feel 30 kicks in an hour and then nothing for a few hours, then 4 kicks in an hour then nothing for 3 hours etc. There is no discernible pattern either - sometimes evenings are busy and they go wild but last night I hardly felt anything and ended up prodding them to make them kick!

Will this even out? Or is this how it goes?

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comeagainforbigfudge · 09/04/2015 14:36

I have days where I feel very little. General when I'm at work.

Then other days where baby goes nuts!!
I have no discernable patterns because I work shifts.

More I look for when I'm finished work and relaxing does baby start moving

But I don't really count. Probably should!

AnnieLewis · 09/04/2015 14:39

Hi - I am 23 weeks and would say similar to you. You are referring to bump as 'they' are you having twins? I don't know if that affects it?

I'm on third pregnancy so am not noticing movements as much purely due to my two other DC and being busy with them all day. I would say at this stage you should be feeling some movements in every 24hour period but not movements all the time.

Even towards the end you never feel movements 'all the time' as the baby naturally rests for long periods - often you'll notice movements after you've eaten, or if there's loud music for example.

If you are ever worried and feel you've noticed a reduction in movements you should always check it out though, the MW would rather you told her so she can listen in - or send you for a scan if she can't hear a heart beat. Better to err on the side of caution...

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MissTwister · 09/04/2015 14:49

AnnieLewis not twins just don't know if boy or girl, it's tricky!!

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Original poster

MissTwister · 09/04/2015 14:53

I definitely feel them (it!) every 24hrs and several times within this but can have hours and hours of nothing too. Baby definitely has a heartbeat as wiggled just before!

Also I am a worrier so conscious of not popping down the hospital every 2 seconds - apparently under 28 weeks they usually tell you they might be hiding anyway.

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Sanch1 · 09/04/2015 14:54

24 weeks is still a bit early for a discernable pattern, once the baby is bigger, by around 28 ish weeks there will be times when they are awake and moving more, and times when they are asleep and not moving much. You may also notice that they move more when you eat and drink certain things. Its this pattern that you should begin to take note of, and get checked out if it changes. At your stage baby is still a little small and can hide in 'corners' at times so you'll feel less of a pattern with the movements.

wowiesis111 · 09/04/2015 14:56

I was told that rather than counting kicks as such to Start to notice a pattern or movements and notice what's normal for your baby.

My little sprout is more active in the evenings when I'm still and then asleep more during the day when I'm dashing about mainly.

AnnieLewis · 09/04/2015 15:01

Assume its first baby, so you should be getting to see your MW next week shouldn't you for 25 week appt, is that right? I've lost track.. I don't see mine now til 28 weeks as 3rd preg.

Honestly I know its a big worry but at this stage they should def be able to find heartbeat with Sonicaid thingy. Mine sent me for a scan at 16 wks because she couldn't find heartbeat.

They will be very used to anxious Mum to be and won't think you're neurotic or silly if you tell her that you're worrying. Once baby gets bigger you'll notice more of a pattern but the reason there is no 'standard' number of movements per hour or whatever is because they are all so different. Mine were different for different pregnancies, but you will get to know what is normal for you and for this pregnancy.

Make a note of it over a few hours/days if it makes you feel better and a bit more in control.. (i'm a bit of a control freak - or rather was until DC1 arrived, that's the worst thing with pregnancy/parenting, big loss of control!!!)

Original poster

MissTwister · 09/04/2015 15:12

I ate a tangerine whilst reading this and it's going wild again now!

I do have my MW appt next week AnnieLewis so will definitely chat through this with her

Thanks all for the responses

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EffinIneffable · 09/04/2015 17:30

I'm 24 weeks too and have been wondering exactly the same thing. I do usually feel the baby at least a few times each day, but some days he's having a 24 hour disco in there and some days he's pretty chilled. Or perhaps its more to do with what I'm doing and noticing.

I get that it's maybe still too soon for a pattern to emerge and that it's more about noticing what is a normal pattern for your baby than going by a set number of kicks per hour, but what exactly makes up a pattern?

times of day when I feel movement?
location of kicks i.e. low down, to the sides, under the ribs?
relation to my activities like moving, eating and drinking? I don't really have very set routines so this could affect things a lot, including whether I'm paying attention to movements or not.

I'm not particularly worried at the moment, but would like to start tracking movements so I know what to look out for and when it might be sensible to seek advice, otherwise concerned I might miss something important if I'm not paying attention to the right things

AnnieLewis · 09/04/2015 18:31

Hi Effin (and MissTwister) Have you both had a look at the count the kicks website Here

I found it really useful for a bit of guidance, but I think the advice generally is to get used to what is normal for you in this pregnancy, and always go and check it out with your midwife if you are at all worried.

It is a nervewracking time isn't it! I found making notes when I noticed movement over a few days quite helpful, even just from the point of view of being 'aware' and you'll probably find the baby is moving actually an awful lot!

Effin at this stage you'll probably still feel a wide range of 'locations' of kicks as baby still has a lot of space (relatively speaking). Towards the end I usually notice one specific place - ie baby always seems to have its foot in your rib and likes to punch your bladder....oh the joys still yet to come!!!!

Skeppers · 09/04/2015 18:39

My bundle of joy seems to have nestled himself nice and low at the moment and it feels like he's trying to punch his way out. Being booted repeatedly in the vag (let alone from the inside) isn't much fun! I'm 22+4 and I've been feeling movement for a few weeks, but very sporadic- some days loads, others none- just as you described. I'm not going to worry about a regular pattern for a few weeks. Hopefully by then he'd have sorted his life out and not be sitting so low. I swear, he's kicked me in the vajayjay so many times, he must be the world's tiniest misogynist...

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