Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

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

Flip

Original poster

30 weeks reduced movements

19 replies

ALR123 · 03/11/2015 21:37

3 weeks ago I had reduced movements. Went to hospital and all was fine. Yesterday (now 30 weeks) the same thing happened... It had been almost 24 hrs since I felt my usually active baby move. I went to hospital again and they did monitoring and all was okay, although i was slightly concerned that baby's heart beat was averaging out at 117 when it's usually up between 140-160. The midwives didn't seem phased by this.
They said if I go back twice more for this I could end up being induced. Well last night baby was kicking again as normal but today... very quiet again! If I push down really hard I can feel it but I don't know what to do. I don't want to be induced early but then I feel like when I'm going to hospital and everything is fine that I'm being paranoid.
My husband makes me feel stupid for over thinking it. Did any of you have repeat episodes of this? How did you deal with it? Do you always go to hospital or just wait and see if it picks up?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

DriverSurpriseMe · 03/11/2015 21:40

Always get checked.

I don't like the way they're using induction as a threat to stop you coming. Not that they would ever induce at 30 weeks.

Nousername2015 · 03/11/2015 21:43

I'm 29 weeks and ive been in twice (once at 26+5 and once at 28) due to reduced movement. After the second time I was referred for a growth scan. It seems crazy as everything keeps telling us to go in if we feel something isn't right, regardless of how often. Have you been referred for any growth scans to see if size is the reason behind movement reduction? It seems a bit silly that they would tell you now that more episodes would mean being induced without investigating the possible reason. If you feel uneasy and that something isn't right keep talking to them, they are there to help.

TakesTwoToTango · 03/11/2015 21:43

Totally not unusual for baby to move into a position at 30 weeks where you cannot feel him/her as clearly, but if you are worried, go and get checked out. You wouldn't
Forgive yourself if something happened and you won't relax if you are worried.

Yes, the midwives may well involve an obstetrician if you keep getting reduced movements, they also do not want to miss something serious, but I cannot believe any OB is going to induce you at 30 weeks without finding very good evidence of issues to offset the significant risks of delivery 10 weeks early.

They may well increase monitoring until movements settle and even if at some point in the future induction does become an option then you will be able to discuss it with them and take an informed decision at that point in time (or decline, if you feel that's best).

Nousername2015 · 03/11/2015 21:46

I also keep a note of times that I feel baby move and it's actually more frequently than I count it in my head. Definitely go and get checked tonight if you think baby isn't moving but it may also help to keep a note of movements from now on. 'Gently' remind your husband that movements always need to be checked out, failing that just show him our responses.

Original poster

ALR123 · 03/11/2015 21:53

Thanks for the advice. Just to clarify, they've not said they'll reduce me at 30 weeks but when I questioned why they stamped my notes as well as writing in them, she said that now im into the 3rd trimester if I go back a second time they'll involve a doctor. After the third time they'll investigate inducing me. So that could be in another 6 weeks time for all I know but it's worried me into not going back now.
Husband is so laid back nothing phases him. I'm the opposite and panic over everything. I'll start keeping a log of when I feel it in my phone and hopefully that will reassure me.
Thank you

OP posts:

TheOddity · 03/11/2015 21:57

They can't force you to be induced though can they? They can only strongly advise surely? Don't let that threat put you off getting checked. I would always rather go in and hear heartbeat etc rather than sitting at home waiting for the worst to happen. You are absolutely doing the right thing and really what does your DH know unless he has been pregnant or is a medical professional?!

Nousername2015 · 03/11/2015 22:00

You can download apps where you just hit the button and it will log the time. I tend to use that at weekends if I'm busy, you can then have a look back over consecutive days to establish patterns (if you are that way inclined!). I find it reassuring as I tend to forget that a lot of movement has actually happened. The app I use is called kickme.

NewMrsX · 03/11/2015 22:08

I've had 5 episodes of reduced movement in the third trimester and I'm due to be induced Thurs at 39+5. I remember feeling like you do, especially when I went in on 2 consecutive days but honestly the hospital have been great with arranging growth scans and extra monitoring. They said the aim was 37 weeks unless something was drastically wrong and after 37 weeks make a decision only when necessary.

Always go in and get checked out and remember if they do want to induce and you're not sure you can request extra monitoring instead

Original poster

ALR123 · 03/11/2015 22:33

That's great... I just downloaded kickme. What a good idea! Thanks
And newmrsx it's horrible isn't it. It doesn't help that my midwife is impossible to get hold of so I feel like whenever I have to get advice that can't wait 48 hrs I have to call the hospital.
Congrats on getting to 39+5 and wishing you all the best for your induction :-)

OP posts:

Snossidge · 03/11/2015 22:36

If they do decide that they need to induce you early for the baby's safety, surely that is better than risking stillbirth?

GiddyOnZackHunt · 03/11/2015 22:43

They would be lucky to get an induction going before 35 weeks. I think they're saying that to discourage people who (they think) just want a listen to their baby. If you have concerns you should be checked!

NewMrsX · 04/11/2015 09:50

Yes it's very horrible, I hated ringing every time. There's nothing like that sick feeling you get whilst waiting for them to find a heartbeat. Especially times like a Sat night when day assessment was closed as well so had to go straight to delivery suite but once I got there everyone was so lovely.

I really didn't want to be induced as I'd planned a lovely water birth but I know it's best for baby as a pp said. Good luck to you too!

DriverSurpriseMe · 04/11/2015 10:33

Giddy is right. An induction just wouldn't be possible if a woman is VERY pre term because the body won't play ball.

If the baby is thought to be in danger then they will do a c section - not least because you don't want to put a baby that's struggling (for whatever reasons) through labour because that would be too risky.

TaliZorah · 04/11/2015 13:41

Please go back. I've posted about this before, something similar happened to DS with reduced movements and lower than normal and its only because I pushed for him to be delivered early that he survived. The midwives weren't phased by him dropping from being super active to barely moving.

You know your baby. Don't feel stupid for going back, I was in 4 times a week on the CTGs because I knew something was up.

Not trying to scare you, I'm just saying it's always better to check

TaliZorah · 04/11/2015 13:43

The induction thing is bollocks. It was never mentioned to me, and I was having growth scans, regular CTGs and additional monitoring under consultant care

DinoSnores · 04/11/2015 18:31

About 50% of stillbirths are preceded with episodes of reduced fetal movements, so if there are repeated reduced fetal movements, doctors and midwives need to be concerned that this might be a sign that something is wrong.

They aren't using review by a doctor or induction as a threat (I hope), but just telling you what the local protocol is. At this stage, a baby is very much usually much safer in than out, but review by a doctor seems very sensible to keep an eye on things and then the decision can be made (by you, the doctor, the midwives, with the scan results etc) as to when that balance tips towards being safer out than in.

I used the Count the Kicks app: www.countthekicks.org.uk/mums/mobile-app/

Original poster

ALR123 · 05/11/2015 00:03

Thank you again for the advice.
Just to update.... using the app all day and recording absolutely everything, I felt 14 movements between 6am and 8 pm (so average of one an hour which is nothing in comparison to previous days). Been over to hospital tonight as got very teary talking to my mum. The midwife couldn't find a heart beat and had to go off to find an old fashioned cone thing that she put on my belly and put her ear to. During that minute I was totally hysterical and thought my own heart would stop beating. She finally found it and hooked me up to the monitor. The heart was steady but would then totally disappear off radar again for a minute or so.
she said this could be because the baby's still quite small at 30 weeks and may be moving away from the pads.
I have to go back in the morning for a growth scan and to make sure there's enough fluid around baby..
I can feel it kicking as I write this!
I feel better that they aren't making me feel like I am wasting their time and I'm also feeling positive that everything is Ok with my little one and I think it's just having a lazy few days

OP posts:

Nousername2015 · 05/11/2015 12:11

Hope you are feeling a bit better today ALR and hope the growth scan goes well today.

Original poster

ALR123 · 05/11/2015 15:49

The scan went really well thanks and everything was fine. As a we were walking out i saw my notes said placenta - anterior. I flicked back through and was right when I had thought it had always been posterior. I went back up and they immediately re -scanned me.. It is in fact at the front! Which explains a lot of what's been going on! Even the Sonographer was shocked that it's been recorded as posterior before as she said that it would have been almost impossible that it's ever been at the back!
I feel a lot happier now but not convinced about the info I've had up till now!

OP posts:

Flip