39+1 weaker baby movements?

[Mummy0718]

Just wonder if anyone else experienced this. I don’t think there’s anything wrong, baby is still moving just less than she used to and the movements are a lot weaker. That’s only way I could describe it. This has been for past 3 days I’d say. I’ve lay on my side, took cold drinks etc and eventually I’ll feel her move but it’s not the usual jabs I used to get.

In your OP you said that baby is still moving just less than she used to

It’s clear that you’ve told the midwives that the movements are weaker (although I’m a bit surprised that they’ve dismissed this concern so readily).

Did you also tell the midwife about the reduction in movements when you rang? Because a change in the normal pattern of movements is something I was told to look out for by midwives and consultants when I was pregnant.

And every midwife I spoke to told me that they’d much rather check a woman out and have it be a false alarm, than have a woman not come in for fear of bothering them when there might be something wrong.

I'm a midwife and disagree with the advice you've just been given. We always ask women to come in for assessment with reduced movements and/ or a change in movements. I honestly would disregard what you've just been told and turn up to Triage and ask to be monitored.

I was always told any decrease in movement should be checked out. Please go up there now

I would insist on going in.

If your newborn got progressively weaker over 3 days you wouldn't hesitate to get them checked out. You are your baby's only advocate, so if you feel uneasy make a fuss.

Who cares if you waste midwives time? A good outcome for your baby is way more important.

Yes, I agree with @chomp- I'm also a midwife.

I don't see it as a waste of time - the midwives are there on their shift anyway. Whether they see 100 other women or 101 including you they're still there until the shift is over.

Go to the hospital/clinic immediately

I told the midwife what had been happening, I hadn’t felt baby as much over past few days and had lay on side etc and can still feel movements but they are much weaker and squirms as opposed to the big movements I’d felt previous. That was the advice I was given and told any movement is counted and to continue doing the same anytime I feel baby isn’t moving as much and concentrate on the movements but the strength doesn’t matter. In my OP yes I stated it was less which it was and is as far as I can tell but I don’t know if the strength is making me miss some movements but was slightly less and was always still moving, it was mainly how weak they were that I was concerned about as I knew she was still moving. If I hadn’t felt any movement or was next to none that would be different

Ultimately it's your baby and your responsibility OP. I hope everything turns out OK.

@Mindchilder I get the impression you are implying I’m willingly putting my baby in danger. I’ve been constantly looking for advice and phoned midwife yet again after being monitored many times throughout pregnancy and following their advice and I’ll be straight down if I feel any differently, only thing I have done is trust a professional in the advice they have given me (so far) and trust me if I feel that isn’t right or anything makes me feel my baby isn’t ok I’ll be first down there as I have been numerous times

@Mummy0718 please listen to @chomp I would just go in say the movements are less etc just get monitored this happened to me (long story short my waters broke early but they wouldn't deliver) we complained LOUDLY and got monitored baby was then whipped out and had to go to neo nates as he had an infection I dread to think what would have happened if we hadn't forced the issue. I genuinely don't mean to scare you and I am sure the other posters don't but you need to get checked out - thinking of you

It was never about wasting a midwives time, it was wasting time if there’s nothing wrong when someone else could be seen that needs help more than we do that’s all. If there was nothing wrong I’d hate fact I was taking a bed from someone else in need that’s only reason I was hesitant to go down straight away and being told it was all ok and being told from midwife also it’s ok again I didn’t want to make an already very busy clinic worse when poor woman could be needing help that’s all, I’d never ever put my baby in danger for goodness sake or else I wouldn’t have been on here asking for advice and lying for hours monitoring and phoning midwife. Almost feel like I have to defend myself here

I think you should just go in, hopefully all is ok but ANY change in movement needs to be checked.
Please let us know how you get on

I had similar situation, I went to the hospital despite midwives saying I should drink cold water, Lay in my side and count bumps- and my baby was induced at 36 weeks. I'd definitely go an get checked out, they will always see you if you go.

Definitely get checked out again. The advice you were given is wrong.

@mommybear1 thank you, I’m going to lie on my side and monitor and if I can’t feel much then I’m just going to head down. Maybe I’m being a bit sensitive but just feel people are being unnessesarily judgemental when I’d do anything for this baby and just didn’t want to cause a fuss for something that is “normal” and trying to follow what I’ve been told! So sorry that happened to u!

It’s an awful situation to be in. It really is.

I went in a couple of times with my dd with a change in strength, pattern. I was told to do all the usual and then call back. When I did and said that yes, I had felt movement but it still felt weak they said to come in. The midwife was adamant they would rather monitor 100 times and find a weld baby than not bother and have a bad outcome.

Personally, three days of a change like that is a lot and my gut would be to insist on being monitored. You aren’t wasting time

Just to reiterate that the advice you've been given is incorrect. If you feel the pattern of movement that is normal for you has changed (less or weaker) then you need to be assessed. A baby's movements remain similar from 32 weeks onwards. I don't want to scare you but 2 out of 3 women who experience a stillbirth felt reduced movements beforehand. Likely all is ok but you should ALWAYS get checked out. In our trust, 2 episodes of reduced movements at term means women are advised induction, or one episode after 40 weeks.

@Mummy0718 aww don't feel bad. People are only saying what they are saying because the advice on reduced and weaker movements is so prevalent in how we notice when something isn't quite right.

Triage will always rather see 100 women who are wasting their time than 1 tragedy where the Mum didn't get checked and things turned out badly.

We only get to make these mistakes once and it's not worth the risk, if I was in your shoes I would disregard what was said on the phone and head on down there for some monitoring ASAP. If you are concerned they will see you, only you know what is normal for your baby and if you feel the movements aren't normal then you must push the matter.

for you, I hope all is well. If nothing else, getting checked will put your mind at ease. Nothing bad can happen from being over cautious.

OP, I'm sorry you feel attacked rather than supported on here, and I'm even more sorry that your midwife/hospital have given you incorrect advice and (reading between the lines) have made you feel like you'd be a nuisance for going in for monitoring under these circumstances - whether that's a 'nuisance' as in 'expecting the midwives to do their job' or as in 'taking care away from someone who might need it more'.

I hope you go in. My first baby kicked strongly and in the same pattern right through to birth, my second squirmed more than wriggled right through pregnancy, and I felt fewer movements compared to my first (anterior placenta), but neither of them changed their pattern towards the end. I'm sure your baby is fine but I would be worrying and I would be going in without delay.

I've been in 4 times, as I said earlier the last time was Tuesday for the exact reason you state. The doctor said to me they would rather you went in, got checked, all well and sent away than sit at home worrying, and they are getting paid to be there after all!
I've felt like I've wasted time loads as every time I've gone in my baby has gone crazy BUT then I reminded myself that I'd rather make a fuss and all be fine than not.
You've taken their advice and they are the professional although mine have never said anything like that so I am unsure the advice you've been given is correct as I've been told many times that counting kicks is not something they do anymore as it isn't an accurate way to monitor, but at least if you go in then you will leave knowing you have peace of mind.
I simply asked myself if I could forgive myself if I left it and something was wrong, it's not a mistake I could take back.
Please don't feel ganged up on or that you have to defend yourself, people are only saying what they would do as god forbid something were wrong and you've been given incorrect advice from the triage.

I'm so sorry you feel some of the comments are attacking  please keep us posted and if you want to chat feel free to DM me. No one doubts (I'm sure) that you would do anything for your baby otherwise you wouldn't have posted or called - sending you lots of love @Mummy0718

Hope you are doing alright. I know your midwives have told you that any movement does count and I had told myself that also. It was only one doctor that I talked to who told me that sometimes it can be the position of baby but also that it is only you that knows your baby. For me I felt movements but they weren't as strong and I had to really concentrate to feel them at the end (as opposed to a couple of weeks before when both my husband and I could sit and watch the baby move). So while there were movements it was a big change from normal for my baby.
You sound similar to how I felt - not wanting to waste anyone's time, feeling like I had when the monitors showed good strong heartbeat ands all was ok etc. But one thing I will say is that when my baby was born I think it showed that my concerns over the movements had been right. If I am ever pregnant again I won't be waiting to go down and get checked out if I am even a little bit worried - but this is due to my past experience.
If your instinct is telling you to get it checked out I think you should even if just to give yourself some reassurance.
hope you and baby are well and baby has given you some reassuring kicks

Been down and monitored and everything is well. Said the trace is good but they offered induction as I’m near term and although the trace is good I’m not feeling what is being picked up. I didn’t know what was the best thing to do so I’m back tomorrow for a scan, speak to a doctor and give my decision. I didn’t know enough about being induced and midwife said she couldn’t really advise and down to me so said I could go and think as next avail slot wasn’t till tomorrow night

I would go and get checked out but also, don't forget there is t a lot of room in there now for baby to move!

@Mummy0718 I'm glad all was good when you went in. It is good you have tonight to think over induction and good idea to have scan and talk with the doctor tomorrow.