Reduced/lighter foetal movements since Friday (it is now Tuesday)

[L0ngg0ne]

As the title suggests, I have felt fewer movements throughout the day from my baby, and the movements are 'lighter' in nature (little taps rather that big ones, and I haven't felt a 'swoosh' in a while). I'd been feeling movement from 18 weeks (I'm currently a day away from 24 weeks) and he's definitely gotten into a routine when it comes to movement - he's been very active up until now!

The reduced/lighter movements have been going on since Friday and it is now Tuesday. At first I put it down to the fact that I was pretty active (up and about, busy running errands and attending a baby shower) on Fri and Sat - baby usually moves when I'm resting/laying down. However, movements have not returned to normal yet and Sun and Mon were definitely lazy, 'rest' days - as it today (Tues)!

I was so worried about this last night that I went to my emergency obstetric unit and they found his heartbeat on the doppler - healthy pace and beating away as usual. Only thing midwife was a little concerned about at first was my high pulse, which she checked once again just before I was sent home and it was fine - so must have just been anxiety.

My question, then, is have other women noticed a randomised reduction in baby's movements for a little while (a few days to a week), around this gestation? Is it a fairly normal, common thing? I'm hoping so, as I can't think of any other explanation for this considering his heartbeat was fine last night!

Yeah I had a few reduced movement episodes in pregnancy and in our area it's automatic consultant based labour and 3x episodes is induced which suited me fine.

I will say each episode needs to be checked asap as it's fine saying your were busy until it's too late to do anything.

Always count your kicks - good luck mama.

@gryffen thanks for your response, but I'm having trouble understanding what some of the things you mentioned mean! Are you from the US?

@gryffen specifically, it's the following parts I'm having trouble with:

'in our area it's automatic consultant based labour'

and

'3x episodes is induced which suites me fine'

I’m around your gestation OP and yes, mine are on and off. When I got checked out I was told not to worry too much before 24 or even 26 weeks as at this gestation the baby has a lot of space to move around so could just be further back in the womb.

I know how worrying it is, chances are everything is fine though

Where abouts is your placenta?

I could have written your post except I'm nearly 27 weeks. I just find it so hard to judge 'reduced' movements. Over the last 5 or so days I haven't noticed as much movement and particularly for two days in the middle but at the same time, I have an active 2 year old and a job and don't really get two minutes to sit still. I've also been feeling under the weather with a cold/dodgy tummy and I did find first time round when I felt poorly I noticed fewer movements.

The baby still has lots of room to move until after 26 weeks but if you are concerned before then absolutely get checked. Try to sit/lie quietly and focus on the movements when you can. Try to notice a pattern (eg evening movements) and see if that changes.

Each time I think 'hmm, haven't noticed the baby move so much today' and I get a chance to monitor it, I've started to feel some small movements. I think I'm just not as good at noticing them this time!

I have an anterior placenta and my gosh I am one big ball of anxiety
My son moved so so much all the time
But this time the movements are much more subtle and just less!
I'm only 22 weeks so I know that it's a waiting game but I really do understand how stressful it is!
You've done the right thing by getting checked!
Hope our babies start giving us stronger kicks soon x

Hi lass no I'm sorry for not being clear I'm in Scotland so totally different to you guys!

In Scotland we have local areas so NHS Glasgow is mine and would be same for Edinburgh, highlands etc.

Consultant based here is strict and you can refuse but they don't have everlasting patience when it comes to safety if mum is resisting help.

I had my first in 2014 and I knew I would be induced so I wasn't worried about birth plan or water birth as those options are removed from consultant led care - I'm on team healthy baby and don't care how they get out as long as they do. (I'm just practical.)

After 10 years of ttc and being told never gonna happen our first baby is a miracle and I'm 12 weeks gone with baby 2 so again I know I am consultant led and I don't care as I know I'm well looked after.

Where in US are you? ☺

Oh and the 3x episodes of reduced movements normally means you are transered from midwife care to consultant and water births etc are removed from options as they need to.monitor closely and probably induce.

Hope that help! ☺

@Caspiana so reassuring to know that other women are experiencing the same as me, which makes me think it isn't at all uncommon - thank you!

@PistFump anterior high, but this didn't delay me feeling movement or anything! In fact, because of the placenta placement, cervical kicks have been very popular this pregnancy!

I've had this over last couple of days and got checked by midwife today.
I know bean was breech last week, he's flipped himself around from where she found the HB so is no longer as noticeable when he wriggles.

@gryffen no, I'm from the UK (London), I just hadn't heard of any of those terms before (maybe it's different in England?) - I assumed YOU were from the US, actually!

Thanks for explaining that in greater detail!

I went through the exact same thing between 24 and 26 weeks - I was feeling almost continuous movement, even when I was busy and moving around I was aware of baby moving. Then I would have a series of quiet days and would drive myself mad with worry. I also took myself in to get checked at 26 weeks and all was fine. I’m now 29+4 and movements have been strong and consistent for a couple of weeks. I’m really hoping there are no quiet days from now on because it’s so worrying! But 24-28 weeks apparently it’s perfectly normal to not have an established pattern and for baby’s movements to change slightly day to day. You did the right thing getting checked though - it’s just not worth the risk.

I'm 26+3 with anterior high placenta and I'm struggling with movements. Some days it's loads and some days hardly anything. I think he gets himself in to a position where we are back to back and he's getting muffled by the placenta.

Could've written your post pretty much word for word a couple of weeks ago. Had a definite pattern of an evening and then suddenly it was light to barely anything. Left it a couple of days before ringing (even though in our area they ask you to check with them re movements after 24 weeks). Doppler and scan all absolutely fine. BP slightly high but almost certainly anxiety.
I could see the baby kicking on the scan but just couldn't feel it, it wasn't that it had stopped kicking :)

Feed back was that we did exactly the right thing to check but it's still really early and they absolutely don't expect a pattern at 24 weeks, so don't worry. There's a bunch of reasons for movements to change any time, but this early they are still small, might be kicking back rather than forwards, your placenta might affect what you feel, etc etc. And definitely don't start counting kicks this early!!

This would not lead to a consultant led birth at this stage at all and the three changes and then induction as an option is something for much later on.

From 28 weeks is when they say to do the checking for ten kicks in an hour thing. Or noticing a significant change in a pattern.

If you want to try to stimulate movement you can try a very cold drink then lay in your left side for two hours. But we tried that a couple of weeks ago and baby didn't play ball at all!

Hi Sun - lol gotcha!

Yeah NHS Scotland/England are pretty different but in the end just be open minded is what I tell people ☺