Reduced Movement 37 Weeks...waiting...

[MumApr18]

Hello,

Currently doing the "lay on my side for 2 hours" thing as advised by a midwife when I phoned up worried about reduced movement. I'm 37+3 and got the feeling they were super busy when I phoned :(

Half an hour in and haven't felt a thing and getting super super worried! I'm not sure if I've felt little flutters but they are just cushioned now due to the baby being so big?

Has anyone any experience of this?

Thanks!

Complain about that midwife OP. With my DD1 I had a anterior placenta and had several spells of reduced movement towards the end. I was always told come straight in and out on a trace almost immediately. No one ever made me feel silly for coming in either.

Good luck, thinking of you.

Hope you get seen soon op. You're in the right place and don't feel like you can't chase them up if they leave you there waiting for hours. Ridiculous advice from the midwife.

Where I work anyone who rings up with reduced or absent movements are told to come straight in. We have to have reduced movements on a monitor within 30 mins of arrival, ideally sooner and absent movements immediately on a monitor.

Every. Single. Person. I met at my last scan at the hospital went almost over the top about ANY change or concern and to come in immediately. They all had the exact same earnestness and look in their eyes. It was quite noticeable.

I hope all is ok OP.

So Sorry for you loss Dinosaur.

My understanding of the guidelines are if movements are reduced you should try and encourage MORE movement by lying on side etc etc. If you feel movement has stopped then go straight in, no mucking around.

I had reduced movement on and off from roughly 33weeks. It always picked up after a bath, walk, scan, generally panic. But at 37 weeks it reduced to flutters and then stopped for a few hours... I went in and was induced that day. Baby born with cord around neck (more than once, and tightly bound...) Highly doubt my little one would be here today if things hadnt been started off.

Go in if the movement has stopped or been reduced to flutters/'is that movement' doubts.

Hope they see to you soon OP! Be demanding if you have to!

Hope all is well op, I rang the labor ward twice late in my pregnancy to ask about reduced movements, both times I was told to come straight in and I was seen straight away and put on a trace for 30 minutes. Thankfully all was well. Hoping it's the same for you

@TheDinosaurRoars l am certain you did all that you could for your baby. I called our midwife unit when l went into what l now know was early labour to be told 'you don't sound like you are in labour', DH was away so only when l called pharmacist friend for advice due to pain and she turned up to take me in to hospital and demanded they see me did l think they may be wrong. I work in NHS too, so more than aware of infallibility, but when given a brush off due to 'guidelines' l too retreated.

Thank you everyone - still waiting! A lady came in there with quite frequent contractions so obviously she was seen first. I hate hospitals, this would put you off coming :( haven't felt any movement since being here and there was a pretty hefty walk up a hill from the car park and been eating some chocolate. Not good.

@OnNaturesCourse thanks for sharing your experience - that really does make it hit home how important it is to monitor movement. How did they spot that the cord was in the wrong place?

Thinking of you xx I was in a few times for reduced movements and as soon as the trace was on he'd kick. Visibly moving the belt.

@8SaltandVinegar haha ahhh I hope that's the case!! It seems like they are super super busy so still waiting...wish I had come up earlier as I'm at the "can't sleep as I'm a giant whale" stage so absolutely knackered!! Much longer and they will find me asleep in their waiting room lol.

Hope you are seen soon OP and all is well.

Are you ok?

I never ever did the wait 2 hours. I’d be waiting all day! Hope you’re ok

Hope you're seen soon. If you have to wait ages longer don't be afraid to go up and point out that you haven't been feeling movement since you've arrived and you're concerned. Obviously I appreciate they're busy but that's not your fault!

Shocking advice from them, hope you get seen soon x

That's a good hour and a half now! I will leave it until I have been waiting 2 hours. I'm the only person in the waiting room but there are quite a few pregnant in labour people coming in and out but the mw's are just strolling about taking their time :(

MumApril18 hope you have someone with you. Terribly stressful and you are absolutely right to go to hospital to get checked.

Thanks @spacecadet48 DP is at home and will pop up if I need him too (we are only 10 mins from the hospital). He offered to come but I know the UFC or the boxing or something was on tonight that he was looking forward to so was nice and let him stay comfy haha.

I really hope you get seen v soon, they've kept you waiting ages.
Keep talking to us xxx

Your baby is probably curled up having a lovely sleep. Don’t worry. We are here handholding.

Are you having a boy or girl? Have you got a name?

Hope you get seen soon. I was in five times with reduced movement, it's very frightening. At no time did they nurses feel like I had wasted their time, nothing worked to get her moving either- cold drinks, poking, loud music, shower , nothing!
Dd is here beside me now at 5 days old not having a clue of all the worry she caused!

I hope so! Thank you so much ladies :)
It sounds silly but it's really warm in this waiting room and I'm starting to get a bit stressy. One good thing is that I can drink as much water as I want because, unlike in the house, there is a toilet 10 feet away and don't have to go upstairs to get to it!! Just need to chill.

@butternutsquashe I managed to resist (loads of) temptation and not find out what I'm having! Have a couple of names in mind but not settled on anything yet :) I'm hoping when I see him/her I will just know! I wonder if there are stats on how many people choose to find out compared to how many keep it a surprise? Most people I tell that I don't know are surprised that I didn't find out!

Start nagging someone. They should have seen you by now. Hope they don't make you wait much longer

I didn't find out either time - I loved the surprise of finding out as they were born xx
Have you asked the triage desk when you might be seen?

I very much wanted a little girl and was delighted to have one! I spent many evenings in the maternity unit with reduced movements. We called her Noa.
By about this time on a scan you can see if your baby has any hair. You could ask to be shown.

Do you have some water to keep you cool?