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Original poster

Counting the kicks

30 replies

sepa · 05/01/2016 20:45

I have counted at least 20 kicks within the space of 41 minutes but still can't shift this paranoia. I'm 30+4 and not sure I can deal with this for another 10+ weeks.
I have anterior placenta which doesn't help. OH tries to keep me calm but i don't think he quite understands how easy it is to just 'try and stay calm'

Is this normal? I have been to triage once for 'reduced movements' I would go there minimum of once a week if it was down to me....

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RubyWoooo · 05/01/2016 20:54

Have you visited the count the kicks website?

The advice is not to count kicks but to monitor the baby's usual pattern of movement.

Is there a reason you can't shift the paranoia?

Original poster
sepa · 05/01/2016 21:09

I have visited the website. I'm not sure. The baby feels as though it has turned (so back against my tummy) so I'm not sure if it is this causing it. The baby has never had a pattern though. S/he just seems to do what it wants when it wants which differes everyday

OP posts:
RubyWoooo · 05/01/2016 21:14

But by now you should have a good idea of what a 'normal' day of movement feels like for your baby?

Original poster
sepa · 05/01/2016 21:22

It literally changes daily. Breakfast I sometimes get movement maybe 4 days out of 7 and more regularly around 8pm but again somedays over the last month this hasn't always happened.

OP posts:
zippyswife · 05/01/2016 21:31

Personally I'm filled with paranoia over feral movement.... This is my third dc so you me think I'd be over it by now. I don't have much advice and like yourself there is t much of a pattern to the movement. I'll be glad when he/she is out and I can stop worrying about movement (and start the worrying about other things!).
Good luck and obviously if you are properly worried phone the
Labour ward. I went several times with dcs1&2 due to reduced feral
Movements and the
Midwives were always great and sympathetic.

Chloebeaubear16 · 05/01/2016 21:34

If it puts your mind at rest ask your midwife if you can have more regular appointments or go up the hospital, don't stress yourself and worry if it can be helped all the midwifes and nurses will be lovely and understand, everyone worries, that's what they are all there for Smile
It is normal and some people just worrie more than others especially if you have complications xx

Original poster
sepa · 05/01/2016 21:35

I have a consultant appointment tomorrow at the hospital so may go to the day assessment unit to get baby checked if I'm still not happy!

I'm not sure why I'm even worried. Sitting here in bed and I am feeling jabs and movement!

OP posts:
Chloebeaubear16 · 05/01/2016 21:37

Go and have baby checked tomorrow they will all be lovely and understand it will put your mind at rest and just go up there again if you feel less movement, don't lay at home upset and worrying xx

RubyWoooo · 05/01/2016 21:37

Yes, if it's playing on your mind then they will be happy to help by offering extra appointments, I'm sure.

Original poster
sepa · 05/01/2016 21:44

I think I will go and see them whilst I am there. The only pattern I have is that I get this worried and worked up every 3ish weeks!

OP posts:
Chloebeaubear16 · 05/01/2016 21:50

Yeah defo ask for an appointment every 2/3 weeks ! X good luck X

Original poster
sepa · 05/01/2016 21:54

I get them every 3 weeks but the bad paranoia slips in 2 days before my midwife appointment (so I have consultant tomorrow about pain relief for a medical condition then midwife on Thursday)

OP posts:
Iammad · 05/01/2016 21:58

I'm 38 weeks and baby has never had a pattern, if I haven't felt movement in a few hours (babys norm have a sleep cycle up to 90 mins).
I try and relax for an hour as sometimes when your busy you don't notice baby moving.
If I hadn't felt anything by then I will phone dau up.

BisherBasherBosher · 06/01/2016 08:01

I OP, my baby never had a pattern either and because of that I found 'Count the Kicks' more of a hindrance than a help and I was constantly stressed out. My baby is six months now and is a healthy, happy, smiley little thing :)

BisherBasherBosher · 06/01/2016 08:02

*Hi OP

Nousername2015 · 06/01/2016 08:13

sepa, you sound like me. I'm 38 weeks now and still fretting. Like you I have also developed a cycle to the anxiety where the few days before a midwife appointment are a nightmare to get through. Sometimes when the anxiety sets in the only thing to set it right is reassurance so the extra appointments will hopefully help. Something that has helped me, especially if I've been away from home (another trigger for anxiety for me) is to use a kick counting app. I use kickme. It's a pain getting your phone out so often but did reassure me to see the list of baby movements after the session. Maybe worth a try?

JE1234 · 06/01/2016 08:25

Counting kicks nearly drove me mad. It didn't help that as soon as I would get to the hospital the baby would inevitably start kicking. The best advice I got from my consultant is just to stop what you're doing and feel for movement. If the baby is moving then you don't need to worry. If the gaps between movements are getting very long (more than 90 mins/the sleep cycle in utero) then call the MAU or Delivery Suite.

RubyWoooo · 06/01/2016 09:44

How are you doing today, OP?

CarShare · 06/01/2016 09:51

I still don't have regular patterns as such either (36 weeks). I've been in for monitoring once when I didn't feel her for several hours. I feel her much more now, but just very randomly. I try to keep my anxiety under control by doing mindfulness exercises and listening to my hypnobirthing preparation (the deep breathing gets the baby moving too so it's win win for me). I try my best to stay away from Google!

goodnightdarthvader1 · 06/01/2016 10:28

I personally feel count the kicks is bollocks. I'm 34+5 and I don't have regular patterns, plus as she gets bigger and changes position (constantly!) the movements feel different. I've been monitored at hospital and baby is fine. It feels like a load of scaremongering and is unfair to expectant mothers.

Original poster
sepa · 06/01/2016 10:28

I called DAU this morning as I had no idea where my appointment is at the hospital. When I was on the phone I said that I thought movement had changed and could they check after my appointment which she said was fine and they would monitor me. Since the call the baby has made a lot of movement but the is unusual for this time of day (and made little movement at 8am when that's usually the time of morning I will feel baby if it's going to have a moving session)
Do you think I should still get them to check while I am there?

OP posts:
JE1234 · 06/01/2016 10:29

Do get them to check. It will give you peace of mind and if it happens again tonight you can reassure yourself that you gave only just been checked out.

goodnightdarthvader1 · 06/01/2016 10:48

Yes, get them to check. Everything will be fine but at least you'll have confirmation of that.

Original poster
sepa · 06/01/2016 14:29

Everything with baby was fine. The monitor was picking up way more movement than I feel.

The obstetrician said that my bump is 34cm at 30+4 weeks which looking on my chart thing is 2cm above the 90th percentile thing. I think I'm going to give birth to a monster!

OP posts:
JE1234 · 06/01/2016 15:21

Don't worry too much about fundal height measurements- my fundal height has been under the whole time but when they sent me for two different scans the baby cane out on 98th percentile both times. Fundal height is very inaccurate, it's just a useful rough tool to track growth.