38+1 weeks less frequent/strong movement

[StacyHall]

Hi I don’t know whether to be worried, baby was kicking into my ribs first thing this morning but since then I’ve hardly felt anything and the movements I have felt have been

It's very hard to judge; if you have any concerns call the hospital now. They really don't mind checking things out.

Sorry I posted before I finished!**

Movements haven’t been as strong as usual, does this happen before labour? He’s usually quite wriggly. My partner isn’t worried because he was kicking this morning and I can be quite a worrier so I don’t know if I’m just overreacting! Help!

Any change in movement should be checked, and the labour ward will be happy to see you and reassure you.

Call them.

No it doesn’t happen before labour - call the hospital right now to be safe. Likelihood is everything is fine but it’s not worth taking the chance.

Hiya, call triage ASAP, if it’s unusual for your baby. In the interim try drinking a glass of something icy cold (supposed to get baby moving!) or prodding your tummy to get them to move. The hospital will be lovely, and will probs have you in just to be in the safe side so they can monitor you - I’d suggest taking your hospital bag just in case. I say that not to scare you, just I didn’t when I went in the second time and I ended up staying in with pre eclampsia and I had nothing!

Good luck, and I hope all is ok x

Any reduced movements should always be checked it may just be baby has moved position but it's better to double check.

Any change in movements needs checking out. Please go to hospital and get checked out x

@Iwantaunicorn the advice you’ve given about drinking something cold and prodding your tummy is very outdated advice x

You need to call your hospital now. Any change in movements from 24-26 movements needs to be checked out. Please don't wait. Babies don't stop moving before labour or because there is less space. They will want to monitor you. You have probably got a movements matter leaflet somewhere with your notes that tells you to do just that.

Hopefully you've already rang, but if not do it now. The number is on the front of your green notes.

Call the hospital now

It's a myth that babies don't move as much in the 3rd trimester or just before labour

Any decrease from normal movement needs to be checked

Try drinking a very cup of cold water and see if it causes him to wriggle whilst you're on the phone

Go get it checked out! Not to scare you but one of my DCs had reduced movements when I went out they decided to induce me. Turned out DC had a prob with the cord which could have been serious if I hadn't been induced. They'll either get baby out or put your mind at rest! Good luck

• when I went to get checked out

@chickhonhoneybabe it’s what I was told when I was pregnant 3 months ago, and the advice I was given to do whilst waiting for my apt when I also had reduced movements - got my babies moving a little bit which reassured me ever so slightly during the horrible wait for the hospital appointment x

Iwantaunicorn that is really concerning.

Health professionals shouldn’t be giving out that advice as theres no evidence to support that drinking a cold drink or eating something sugary makes baby move.

They should have put you on a ctg if you were over 24 weeks gestation, to monitor your baby’s movements, or if you were under 24 weeks they should use a sonicaid, to listen to the fetal heart rate, as line with RCOG guidelines.

www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/cold-water-and-fetal-heart-and-movements/

chickhonhoneybabe I've been given the same advice by both my consultant and a PAU midwife recently - within the last month.

Almostthere15 what do you mean any change from 24-26 movements?

Sorry I realised I wasn't clear. It's that by 24 to 26 weeks you get an established pattern generally. From that point on any change to regular movements should be checked

Always check with your care provider, I did and they checked the baby was OK. She was minding her own business luckily. While I was still at home I had something sweet and lay on my side, but still went to hospital.

@chickhonhoneybabe obviously I haven’t made it clear enough, I had reduced movements, called my hospital because of this, they booked me in same day for an hour after I called. They advised in the interim between hanging the phone up and leaving for the hospital to try the advice I posted above. This was in addition to all the checks they do at the hospital, as I’ve written in my previous post, to have a drink of something cold and prod the tummy in the interim ie between calling the hospital, and going to the hospital. At no point have I said that’s all they’ll do!

I actually found it a little reassuring because my babies (I have twins) moved slightly. As it happens in my case, I was 35 weeks pregnant, measured about 54 weeks pregnant and had a hell of a lot of fluid which is why I wasn’t feeling them.

There might not be any scientific evidence that it works, and yet it can work, and a lot of healthcare professionals recommend it.

Iwantauncorn I do understand what you are saying, and I’m happy that you had some reassurance during your pregnancy.

The issue I’m trying to point out is that it’s safer to get checked out at hospital.

Some women may not bother getting checked out after following the advice of having a cold drink, prodding their tummy or eating something sugary.

chickhonhoneybabe I agree with the point you’re trying to make, if in doubt, get checked out.

Hope you’re ok stacyhall

Hi all thank you for your messages sorry I haven’t been back online. I’ve been to the hospital for monitoring and they checked my cervix, my cervix isn’t ready for labour yet but I’m having a scan tomorrow and they have booked me in for an induction on Saturday as I have a lot of pelvic pain and I’m over 37 weeks so they aren’t worried! Turns out he was having a lazy day!

Great news better to be safe as they say. Hope it goes well for you x