Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

Original poster

Want to call midwife but feel guilty

23 replies

CJ1990 · 04/04/2018 07:55

Hi Ladies,

Just after some honest opinions...I’m coming up to 18 weeks on Friday and am worrying that I haven’t felt baby move yet.

The rational part of me knows it’s still early, but the other side of me is really anxious and it’s getting too me.

I want to ring the midwife, but I’m worried I’ll be bugging her and wasting her time. She even said at my 16 week appointment that movements may not be felt until 20 weeks, but she did say to ring if I needed her..

Don’t know what to do :( I do want to hold out for my 20 week scan in two weeks so I’m not a nuisance! But it is making me worry every day. :( I just can’t enjoy being pregnant at the moment over the worry. I’m ok once I’ve been to appointments but two weeks later I’m back worrying.

Would appreciate some opinions on what to do! Thank you x

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Afreshcuppateaplease · 04/04/2018 07:55

Do you know where your placenta is op?

Doublechocolatetiffin · 04/04/2018 08:03

It is absolutely horrible when you feel worried in pregnancy isn’t it. I completely unsderstand the fear, I was really stressed in the earlier weeks. You can give her a call if it’ll make you feel better, but she will most likely just reassure you that it’s completely normal not to have felt movements yet. Which is true, 18 weeks is still early to feel movements especially if this is your first.

If you have an anterior placenta then it may well be more like 24/25 weeks before you feel anything.

You could always get a private scan if you’d like reassurance? Some of them are only £40 at this stage. Is that worth considering?

mossyroundhill · 04/04/2018 08:05

I was told I could go in as often as I needed for a heart beat check, as I’d had a previous MMC and was feeling panicky. I ended up going in every couple of weeks until I felt regular movements, and it really helped. Is that something you could have if you ring them up and ask?

Cathster · 04/04/2018 08:05

If it’s your first it is really quite early to feel any distinguished movements. With my first I was 20/21 weeks when I felt her kick for the first time. She must have been moving around lots before that but I didn’t realise it was her rather than my digestive system etc.

Have you heard the heartbeat at your 16 week appointment?

The worry is completely normal, but there’s no harm in ringing the midwife if it’s really causing you extreme anxiety.

Wait4nothing · 04/04/2018 08:05

I didn’t feel anything until around 25 weeks with my first - found out I had an anterior placenta at 20 week scan. Put my mind at ease I may not feel anything until later. I’d say 18 weeks is still early to feel, especially with your first?

Lilonetwo · 04/04/2018 08:06

To feel movement at 18 weeks is quite early still.
If you are worried phone the MW. It's an easy query she will be able to reassure you with

littlecabbage · 04/04/2018 08:07

I didn't feel movement till 21 weeks with my first. I think that is pretty common.

guiltynetter · 04/04/2018 08:10

It depends if you feel you’ll be reassured by her words - it’s very likely she’s going to say that it’s normal, may not feel anything til 20 weeks etc, like she said last time. would that be enough for you?

Original poster

CJ1990 · 04/04/2018 08:13

Not too sure where my placenta is. And I did hear the heartbeat at 16 weeks :) in regards to a private scan I’ve looked and just can’t afford it. Near me they’re close to the £100 mark and we paid for one before the 12 week scan. Husband doesn’t want it to become a thing booking private scans all the time and he’s right..I feel I’d start to need them!
I may leave it until Monday if nothing and ring her then..like you say she will either reassure me and say it’s nothing, or if she’s feeling generous maybe she will let me come into hear the heartbeat again :)
What doesn’t help is my two friends who recently had children / are pregnant felt movement at 17 weeks. Just hate this limbo period :(

OP posts:

Afreshcuppateaplease · 04/04/2018 08:22

If your placenta is at the front you may not feel anything for ages yetA

Girlwiththearabstrap · 04/04/2018 08:42

18 weeks is really early to feel movement first time round. There is absolutely no harm in calling your midwife. However, it depends what you want out of the phone call? She's likely to tell you that feeling movement any time between 18-24 weeks is normal. Mine wouldn't have the availability to do reassurance heartbeat checks but some might.

Doublechocolatetiffin · 04/04/2018 08:47

Have a look on your 12 week scan notes in your folder, some hospitals say where the placenta is on that. That might give you extra reassurance if it is anterior.

FranticallyPeaceful · 04/04/2018 08:50

I’ve had 2 (big) babies and one more on the way and I’ve never felt movements that early. Always in the 20 weeks

FranticallyPeaceful · 04/04/2018 08:50

And my placenta has always been at the back, so not even a placenta issue

GnotherGnu · 04/04/2018 08:54

I was well past 20 weeks before I felt anything with DC1.

lifechangesforever · 04/04/2018 08:55

I'm currently 25 weeks pregnant OP and I felt nothing until 22 weeks.

I even went to my 20 week scan and watched her as she kicked me incessantly and not a single thing was felt. 18 weeks is very early, I know it's worrying but believe me, they will come and then you won't get a wink of sleep.

Do you know where your placenta is? I have an anterior one so makes it more difficult. My friend didn't have anterior and she still didn't feel anything until 27 weeks - midwife wasn't concerned at all though.

You'll get there. Only 2 weeks until you get to see him/her.

FranticallyPeaceful · 04/04/2018 09:00

(And by in the 20 weeks I mean somewhere within there, not at 20 weeks. I was about 23 weeks this time if I remember correctly)

Original poster

CJ1990 · 04/04/2018 09:44

Thanks ladies :) I feel
Much better!

OP posts:

makeanewname13 · 04/04/2018 09:52

I was the same, all my pregnant friends and women at yoga class were feeling movements at 16+ weeks and I just hadn't felt anything at all (literally nothing). I was at my 20 week scan and the sonographer said 'you must be feeling a lot of movement as she's very active in there' and was really surprised when i said I hadn't felt anything. She said I must be feeling movements and just not recognising them for what they were but I still don't think I was?
Then pretty much the day after my 20 week scan, bam - i felt something and there was none of this flutter/butterflies notion, it was full on squirming. Guess my bub is a go-big-or-go-home kinda kid . So don't worry if you've not felt anything yet!

Bluebirdsky · 04/04/2018 10:25

I was over 21 weeks before I felt the baby move and even then I wasn't certain that was what it was. I was about 23 weeks before I was definitely certain it was movement.
Also once you do start feeling movement it is possible that you will feel something some days and not others as they can move into different positions where you can't feel it as well. I know it's hard but try not to worry too much, before long you will be at a stage where they are kicking you like mad everyday!

Thirtyrock39 · 04/04/2018 10:43

Agree with all the previous posters ...if you called your midwife I'm pretty sure she would tell you just to be patient and wait - I don't think they would do anything as you're still early to feel much movement. I felt 'flutters ' from about 18 weeks but not a proper kick till well over 22 weeks

LittleFox01 · 04/04/2018 10:48

I didn't feel movement until 21+2, even at that stage they still have plenty of room to be wriggling around in, so may not feel movement. I think once you get to 24 weeks and still don't feel movement then I'd be concerned, but until then it is normal. They can also change position to which you won't be able to feel their movement also.

I understand how worried you are though, I haven't stopped worrying since I found out I was pregnant and I am now 35+1.

Takfujuimoto · 04/04/2018 11:04

Believe it or not but I didn't even know I was pregnant with my first until 22 weeks!
I was admitted to hospital because of extreme SPD when one morning I couldn't walk without severe pain, they thought it could be a burst ovary or cyst ( previous history) and the scan showed a fully formed 5 month old baby.

I didn't feel anything until week 25, placenta was anterior.

With my other two I didn't feel movement until roughly 23 weeks, so 18 weeks is still very early to expect it.

I think the most your MW would do is offer a doplar scan for a HB but only if you were extremely anxious and worried.
If you had already felt movement and then experienced a loss of it then they would be more likely to see you I think.
Try not to worry, by the end you those little flutters will turn into some jarring kicks and rolls under your ribs and across your bladder

Flip