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Original poster

Reduced movements

27 replies

LISALOTTA9 · 13/09/2018 16:03

I am nearly 33 weeks pregnant and finding the changes in movements really hard to get used to. I spend my days worried that baby isn't moving and can't work out a pattern like everyone seems to suggest I should. Some days I feel hardly anything. Some days baby is going crazy. If I went to hospital every day I didn't feel much I would be in the hospital 2/3 times a week, even though there technically has been a reduction of movements.

I feel movement every day, but there is no pattern at all. I can't tell what is normal or not and I think I just need to hear experience from people who have had children before?

Any advice? I'm so anxious...

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Stuckforthefourthtime · 13/09/2018 16:16

Have you tried a kick counter app or making notes? I understand, 3 of my babies were kind of the same all through and then the last changed hia movements a lot in the last trimester (moving similarly often but not as dramatically) - people who've never felt it wouldn't necessarily understand the stress! Fwiw he's a few weeks old now, v healthy and I'm feeding him right now He was the first of mine to experience some distress during labour and had to get extra monitoring, I think now that he just never liked being squeezed and so it wasn't all in my head either.

When I aas worried I'd have a sugary drink and lie or sir for 45 mins and concentrate, usually that would be enough to get him going again 😊 I did also go in a couple of times in the last few weeks, they were really nice, even the second time where he basically danced a jig as soon as they put the darn monitor on...

Your midwife might also be able to help - and if you do get worried, always go in, they will never make you feel silly and better safe than sorry and all that.

Original poster

LISALOTTA9 · 13/09/2018 16:16

Even just sat at my desk now, I'm worrying to the point that I can't function because baby hasn't moved. As soon as I get on the train home I am guarantee baby will go crazy and kick me like a footballer!

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Original poster

LISALOTTA9 · 13/09/2018 16:18

Thanks @Stuckforthefourthtime - do they tend to see you quite quickly when you go in? I understand I might not be top of their priorities but really suffer with anxiety in hospitals since someone very close to me died in front of me in a&e.

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Stuckforthefourthtime · 13/09/2018 16:40

I'm sure it depends on what's going on but in my experience it was quick - also at least in the final weeks you go into maternity triage not a&e which might help. Again, if you're sitting at your desk worrying but not enough to leave then really do try a cold sugary drink, the temperature and energy often dues the trick. And the kick counter apps or taking notes will help you build a pattern, if this is a daily anxiety for you.

SinkGirl · 13/09/2018 16:47

Call your midwife - mine was worried about me feeling unwell and called and made an appointment at the day assessment unit for me that afternoon. I was seen bang on time at 5:30pm (and was taken to theatre for an emergency section at 7:30pm). One of my twins had stopped moving and was in real trouble.

I know it’s awkward and annoying and you just want to be home in bed after work but if you’re worried please listen to your instincts and get checked out. Hopefully they’ll just be able to reassure you that all is well even if you aren’t feeling much, but better safe than sorry.

In hospital they make you press a button every time you feel a movement. If there’s an app for that, great. If not, carry a tally chart broken down into hours and see if you can see a pattern.

SpottingTheZebras · 13/09/2018 16:49

Go in. Trust me when I say they would rather see you several times a week and everything be ok than you not go in and your baby is unwell.

SinkGirl · 13/09/2018 16:50

and don’t feel you’ll be a bother - even before they knew everything was very bad, the staff said it was always best to go in, they were happy to see me every day if I was concerned. Reduced movement IS a priority and the best system you have as a Mum to know if something isn’t right. There were so many times I was worried about other things and didn’t go - things would have ended really badly if I hadn’t listened to my midwife that day. Not trying to scare you, just trying to urge you to get checked out :)

Liz3891 · 13/09/2018 16:53

I used to get worried too because of the advice to sit and wait for 2 hours or wahtever it was. If it was the wrong time of day, I could easily go 2 hours with no movement. The kick counter apps helped me realize that (roughly) my baby is a lot more active in the afternoon and evening than the morning. So I don't worry if I don't feel much/anything in the morning now but if I were to go a day without feeling movements by say 3pm I'd probably start getting concerned.

firsttimebabybirther · 13/09/2018 16:56

Please just go in and get checked , midwives would rather check in on a well baby and mother who they have checked 5 times in the last 2 weeks rather than the alternative.

Do the 2 hour trick as some midwives will ask if you've done this before coming up , lie on your side for 2 hours , drink something quite cold ( look it up for more accurate instructions)

But PLEASE do not ever avoid getting checked because you feel like a bother , explain your anxieties to the midwives too they may be able to help with this.

Pregnancy is scary OP, your on the home stretch now , all the best

firsttimebabybirther · 13/09/2018 16:58

@Liz3891 just completely disproved my advice , what she has said makes WAY more sense! Once I learned my baby's routine I knew when to worry , had an anterior placenta so only ever felt movement at night and on my side so if I never felt movements then , up I would go.

Anm4 · 13/09/2018 17:28

Im 35+2 and my boy has NO pattern of movement at all it has been over the place since i first felt him. I mentioned it to my consultant and he said that some babies just don't, i also have an anterior placenta which can block his movements but when he does move its like there is a toddler in there! Some days he moves practically every hour, yesterday it was a few during the day then loads at night so can never tell, this is just my experience with this baby (number 4), if you are worried though always get checked, my consultant said they would rather me get checked daily than use a doppler or just wait it out, i haven't actually gone up and been checked because for me his no pattern has been his pattern if that makes sense it hasn't come out of the blue x

Original poster

LISALOTTA9 · 13/09/2018 20:37

Just spoke to the midwife and she told me to lay down for two hours then go to hospital after if still can't feel anything. I'm still at work and heading home now. Baby has moved a bit but not as much as usual. Don't think I'll be able to stay awake enough to drive. Hoping for some movement on my bus journey which is an hour. Starting to worry now.

OP posts:

SinkGirl · 13/09/2018 20:53

Don’t panic or think the worst - relax as much as you can, drink something cold, hang in there. If you’re especially worried and haven’t been feeling a normal amount of movement, you don’t have to wait two hours - seems like you’ve been pretty focussed on movements for hours already now.

Sending hugs - let us know how you’re doing as I’ll be thinking of you

Original poster

LISALOTTA9 · 13/09/2018 21:02

Thank you @SinkGirl - I've felt a few big movements in the past 20 minutes, but now I am worried that just because I've felt these, it's not proof my baby is okay. I just don't know what to think but I'm so tired and not sure I will make it to hospital in the car and back. I live in the back of beyond. Fingers and toes crossed. So typical DP is away.

OP posts:

SpottingTheZebras · 13/09/2018 21:05

That is outdated advice to wait for two hours. Can you go straight to hospital now and ask the assessment unit to monitor you?

Original poster

LISALOTTA9 · 13/09/2018 21:09

@SpottingTheZebras I can do, I didn't realise it was outdated. It was advised by the midwife. Ugh I could cry!

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SpottingTheZebras · 13/09/2018 21:18

Please do go and get the baby monitored. It’s not reduced movements that you need to look out for but a change to movements as big, unusually energetic movements can be a baby in distress. The only way you will be able to reassure yourself is going in and being hooked up to the monitor. The monitor will track the baby’s heart rate and pattern which is another indicator of health.

SinkGirl · 13/09/2018 21:22

Can you call the maternity unit / labour line / whatever you have and say you’ve felt a few big movements but overall it’s reduced and see what they say?

GuntyMcGee · 13/09/2018 21:22

If you have ANY concern about fetal movements you really must contact your local maternity triage or maternity assessment unit (whatever number is on your notes if you have any).

When talking about pattern of movement they're looking at the normal times of day that your baby is more active. There is no expectations of you counting movements but from 28 weeks there would be an expectation for your baby to be more active at certain times of day.

Most women find their babies more active after food, or at bedtime or some find their babies are early birds. This is the pattern you're looking for. Almost like a daily routine. Any deviation from this, including movements not feeling as forceful (diminished movements) needs checking out. Don't feel embarrassed to call the assessment unit. It's what they're there for. They'd rather see a woman every single day of her pregnancy than her not access care and something terrible happen.

Don't ignore your worries. If in doubt, get checked out.

SinkGirl · 13/09/2018 21:23

Yes, big frenzied bursts of movement can be a sign of distress too. Is there anyone you know who could take you to hospital so you don’t have to drive yourself?

Original poster

LISALOTTA9 · 13/09/2018 21:27

Don't know anyone in the area (we live on farm land). I'll have to drive myself and if I'm there late just be very careful and stop on the way back. It's hard being 1.5 hours from anywhere. We are checking in to a hotel when I go in to labour!

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SinkGirl · 13/09/2018 21:31

Oh bless you. That’s really tough. If they discharge you late at night are there hotels open all night nearby where you could stay? Might be safer. Or explain that you’d have to drive 1.5 hours and they might be able to keep you in.

Original poster

LISALOTTA9 · 13/09/2018 21:39

Baby has started moving a bit more. Will they even take me seriously if I go in and they can see baby moving through my skin? I swear baby has hardly moved all day and as soon as I think about going in they are moving more.

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Original poster

LISALOTTA9 · 13/09/2018 21:46

Ffs baby is doing acrobatics now! I mean I'm happy but feel a fool getting checked out. Pregnancy is much more stressful than I thought it'd be...

OP posts:

SinkGirl · 13/09/2018 21:55

I remember all this second guessing so well, it’s awful.

Are the movements she’s doing now normal for her - eg are they more frenzied, rapid, etc?

If it seems like normal movements for her then that’s great :)

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