How many times with reduced movements?

[sunshineonmyshoulder]

Hi all,

Been over to the hospital a few times due to reduced movements. Each time I’ve been over thankfully everything has been good. Heart rate is good and she’s continuing to grow. We’ve had traces and scans done.

I feel today she’s less active, I’m going to take the steps to see if I can get her more active and if not call over to the hospital. I was just wondering if they would ever think of delivering the baby early? I’m 37 weeks today. I don’t know how many times you have to be over with the same thing and obviously they can’t see anything wrong so would they even consider bringing her early?

Thanks

Hi. Unless there was good reason to deliver the baby, I doubt it they wouldnt.

When ive had reduced movements, ive had had a cold drink, laid on my left side. Or when i went in, the midwife squeezed the baby to feel the head and feet, baby didn't like it cos they were wriggling like hell after it. So ive done that a few times and its worked.

If not, go to get checked out, but if again everything's fine, theyll probably just send you home.

Most places have a 'three strikes and your [baby's] out" rule, especially from term, which you are now. It's not completely a rule, more a sort of guideline that you and your midwives and doctors can discuss.

If you do feel you have reduced movements, do see a midwife. Sadly about 50% of stillbirths are preceded with episodes of reduced movements. Clearly that doesn't mean that all reduced movements will lead to a sad outcome, but you are your baby's best advocate so don't feel bad or silly for getting in touch again.

www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/patients/patient-information-leaflets/pregnancy/pi-your-babys-movements-in-pregnancy.pdf

It's better to go in rather than waste time with things like drinking a cold drink - okay to try for 10 mins but don't wait an hour which is sometimes suggested.

When you go in, ask whether induction would be appropriate.

I don't know the answer but with my son, gosh I was there so many many times I have lost count. The last time I was in I was kept in for an emcs. Very slow movements, hardly moved for 2 hours on the trace. When he came out, the cord was around his neck. Very lucky to have him here. It was at 37+4. You are full term so chances are even if baby comes today, she will be fine.

I was admitted at 37 weeks with reduced movements and spent 5 days having daily CTGs and scans which all showed DS was fine, they had no concerns but he wasn't moving at all and I had to kick up an almighty stink after days and days of monitoring. They agreed to get him out at 38 weeks even though clinically they couldn't find anything wrong. We'll never know what caused him to stop moving but I'm glad I fought for him, he was clearly trying to tell me something wasn't right.

Keep going back no matter how many times it takes.

Sunshine and anyone else who would try/suggest trying to get baby moving, have a look at the Tommy's guidance here:

www.tommys.org/pregnancy/symptom-checker/baby-fetal-movements

In particular 'Can I make my baby move'. Very sadly in two thirds of stillbirths, mothers can recall reduced movements beforehand. Everything is probably fine, but I would just go in myself, and I'd ask at what point they might deliver while I was at it.

I really really recommend going in whenever you're concerned. I was in a few times, twice past 37 weeks. This meant when I came in in labour they monitored me very carefully, which is lucky as his heart rate dropped dramatically and they were able to realise this quickly and perform emcs. On my second reduced movement they offered early induction if I wanted it, but I didn't and they were fine with this. My waters went naturally at home but due to the history they had me come in straight away and monitored x

Where I am, with a second incidence of reduced movement after 37 weeks they like to induce. The explanation I was given is that they can't see everything they need to on a scan at that stage, so best to get the baby out.

(In my case, I agreed to induction but said I would pop home first and get my things (lived a 10 minute walk from the hospital). Promptly went into labour when I got home and DS was born 45 minutes later at home, as planned!)

I would always go in and have the baby checked if you're concerned. Agree about not wasting time with cold drinks etc. it's not worth the risk.

When I was pregnant with my first I had three times reduced movements and policy for that in our area if you aren't already consultant based is to get seen by them and induced so your delivery plan is doctor led.

That was fine with me as I had her at 38+5 and born with no issues.

I had several episodes of reduced movements from 27 weeks onwards (once at 33 weeks where it took a minute to find a heartbeat, which was the longest minute of my life watching the midwife's face - I also had a positive FFN test so was kept in but baby stayed put). I was put under consultant care and was induced at 37+1 as they weren't happy with the frequency that movements reduced. I went in every time as nothing other than the monitors would get the baby to move!

I also had reduced movements with one of my twins and after the second episode at 36+4 they induced me the next day (I was due to be induced at 37 weeks then anyway as it was twins).

Always get checked out; if baby is fine, brilliant, but if they aren't best to get them seen to asap.

I went 4 times, and the only thing it did was that I was sent for extra scans after the second one. Whatever it is, not worth the risk and definitely go to have it checked. My scans confirmed baby was smaller (if not the RM no one would have known, as I was considered low risk).

I had to go in for monitoring for reduced movement's and whilst i was there there was a lady opposite me with reduced movement's. The midwife said to her 'you're 39 weeks and you're telling me your baby hasn't been moving a lot so its protocol to induce you'. Obvs i dont know the rest of her circumstances and it might just be my hospitals protocol but I imagine at term its safer to just get baby out if theres any worries at all.

I was told I’d have been offered induction at 40+3 when I had reduced movement. My waters had also broken (they thought they hadn’t at first) so I was induced for that reason.

Just go in hun... i had so many episodes i can’t count but it appears at my hospital you could never fail the monitoring anyway. There were episodes where baby wouldn’t move for an hour at least and they would panic and get me drinking ice water and poking me like a stressball until they got 1 movement and then they would sign it off.

I was eventually induced at 38+5 after 4 sweeps and daily monitoring from 37 weeks, at my hospital they wouldn’t do it before then as they didn’t want to intervene before 39 weeks due to guidelines so it gave them a good grace period!

I'm not clear from your post if you want an earlier delivery or want to avoid it? Every episode of reduced movement needs medical attention and monitoring. So please do go to hospital. If you want an early delivery, I would very clearly ask for a section or induction and would point to the repeated episodes of reduced movements and the fact that your baby is now term.

The 37 week mark really is a big milestone; in most circumstances, any manifestation of increased risk from now on, will mean the baby on balance is better out than in. I was in hospital for another reason for close monitoring towards the end of my pregnancy with stressed doctors making a day-by-day calculation on whether to deliver that day or not, and the second I hit 37 weeks 0 days, they recommended delivery that same day. Any anxiety they had about a delivery earlier than this melted away at the 37 mark.

I went in during slow labour with reduced movements, first time I'd been. Babies heart beat was dropping so got an induction then about an hour later had an emcs due to heart rate. He'd pooed inside and had the cord around his neck so I'm very very happy I trusted my instincts. Absolutely go and get checked, and if you're concerned then speak to them and ask what your options are since you've been having reduced movements so often.

I’ve had reduced movements for the entirety of my pregnancy mainly due to an anterior placenta and, probably, a raised BMI of 29.

I’ve been having CTGs every other day since 30 weeks to monitor the baby and she’s been absolutely fine. This has also been coupled with measuring at least 3 weeks behind at every measurement (39+4 today and still have barely a bump!) but it seems she’s just sitting far back and with legs going into the placenta so they’re not worried.

I’m booked for an induction on the 29th Jan (40 + 5) if she hasn’t come yet but only because they’ve said there’s no point leaving her in with me not feeling movements as it causes added stress.

I think the risks of delivering at 37 weeks outweigh the benefits with reduced movements. Do you know where your placenta is? They told me that with an anterior placenta they would always wait till 40 weeks.

Best to keep her cooking as close to 40 weeks as possible!