32 weeks no movement since I woke at 8, finding it hard not to phone midwife for six hours

[mustthinkofabetterusername]

Second pregnancy. Am just over 32 weeks. Baby usually very active when I'm awake. I normally lie a few minutes, and don't get up before feeling baby move. Woke at eight. But had to get up at 8.30 to get first child up. Still haven't felt any movement.

This isn't normal for my baby.
But all info I've found online says wait for six hours of no movement, before contacting community midwife.

Horrendous section first birth, really want relaxed hypnobirth this time round, so don't want to contact services unnecessarily (as I need a "clean sheet" ie no medical issues) to be allowed to try for natural birth this time.
Any advice? what would you in this situation? Does anyone have any experience similar to this?
MANY THANKS in advance.

When I was pregnant with DD2 (only six months ago), the advice here was to contact if there was a change in movement - not counting kicks and not counting hours without movement. Any significant change contact the midwife/hospital and go in for monitoring. It won't effect your 'clean sheet' for your labour as long as there is no issues. Please call.

When I was totally anxious about no movement, i came here and was told to do the cold drink thing. It worked but it was the same a couple of days later. I got encouragement here again to call the midwifes. I did, they reassured me hug included.
But while I posted here, I looked online and not once I did see that option of waiting 6 hours. I don't know where the OP has checked but it sounds very strange.

bessie84

Hope the silence means she's gone in, and hope all is well OP.

Hope you're being seen OP.

Hi OP here's hoping all is well and you've been and got checked and baby is fine. I don't know why they'd advise 6 hours, sounds totally wrong to me.

Hope all is well op

Many thanks for your support and advice ladies. Got sorted here and this bump is now extremely active again! Looks like it was just a longer sleep than normal :)

Fantastic news!

Great news!!

Thank you pansy

PHEW - so glad little hooman is okay :-)

This happened to me this morning, woke up and didnt feel anything for about 5 hours, did all the right things, cold drink, sugar, laying on side but nothing worked. I went to get checked out and I am so glad I did, she started kicking as soon as they put the trace on. Oh the relief, go and get checked out asap for your own sanity!

I know, it's such a relief and slightly embarassing when the baby starts doing Riverdance after presenting owing to reduced fetal movements! In addition to having a longer sleep than normal, the baby was also in breach today, which probably accounted for my not perceiving any activity where it usually is at that time of day. Staff were very good and re-assuring. All's well that ends well :)

*breech

Glad all is well. Always better to have a false alarm than a lifetime of regrets X

Great news!

I'm glad everything is OK, but I do think that some posters on this thread have been unnecessarily harsh with the OP. Many of us understand, I a, sure, why she felt she had to wait six hours.

To say that midwives never mind women coming in for what turns out to be a false alarm - that's a ridiculously sweeping statement, and a clear overgeneralisation. However rare it is, some women are made to feel an inconvenience and a time-waster and a hypochondriac. So I do think we need to be more sympathetic to women such as the OP who find it very difficult to ask for help for their very legitimate concerns.

Yes of course - but it's also worth bearing in mind that the UK has one of the worst stillbirth rates in Europe and the developed world. Therefore it's actually better to be overcautious and to be seen as a nuisance. Things are improving thanks to campaign groups and awareness raising among medical professionals, but the fact that the rate has been higher means that it's actually more important to be informed about potential signs and act on them and to be aware that the general public opinion might be based on outdated information which is actually now thought to be unsafe.

I don't think anybody has been harsh to the OP with the exception of the comment about priorities. Some people have come across as shocked by the six hour recommendation, which is right, because it is shocking, but that's not criticising the OP, I read it more as alarm/worry for her.

Wonderful to hear everything is all good OP, really is great news!

I don't think posters have been harsh at all, I for 1 had a stillbirth and I would always encourage any women with reduced movements to Get checked out straight away. It is always better to be checked and it be nothing

The midwife delivering antenatal classes where I work really hammered it home to everyone how important it is to go in if you have reduced movement to the parents last night. They honestly don't care if it's a false alarm, traces need to be done to check the baby isn't unwell.

Oh good. Glad to see all is well. :-)

If I've ever felt I had reduce movement I haven't waited, just went straight in. I think sometimes you are made to feel an inconvince, especially in my first pregnancy. I don't care though. Only you no what's normal for your baby.

I had reduced movement and she was in fact in distress and has an emcs. If in doubt always call the midwife. The midwife said I was very lucky to come in when I did.

In fairness to the midwife I spoke to on the phone, midwife I saw in person and doctor I saw in person, all were extremely understanding and kind during this incidence of concern. They provided repeated re-assurance and advice to come back if there were any further concerns, regardless of whether that was later the same day, the next day or in two weeks time.

For the fullness of discussion, I should add that that was not my experience during an incidence of concern during my first pregnancy. The scenario was that of reduced fetal movements following a medical proceedure. I contacted fetal assessment, who were clearly busy, understaffed and stressed. They barked orders over the phone, and I did what I was told. They got the results of what they wanted me to do and saw no reason thereafter for me to come in to be seen (fetal dopplar, scan etc). On that occasion I truly did feel like I was an inconveniance. Had I known then what I know (a little) more about now in terms of counting kicks (in the context of what is NORMAL for MY BABY) I would have been much more assertive, demanding that that very least fetal doppler was done.

So in theory that should have made me go straight away this time. But the reality is we are effected by past experiences, whether we like it or not.

I've not felt particularly criticised by any of the posts on this thread. I understand any increduality expressed was towards the information I was previously given by local services (re: waiting six hours). There was one extremely direct post about priorities ("clean sheet" vs hypnobirth/repeat section). But I understand the poster was well intentioned and this direct approach did help clarify my thinking on the matter.

Pregnancy isn't always easy. Motherhood isn't always a smooth ride. But I still love the MN community, warts and all! Because like what people say or not, it can only helpful to get another point of view, to challenge or confirm your own thoughts on a subject.

Thank you again for your time and help in this matter :)