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Original poster

Not feeling baby move at 21 weeks

32 replies

CobaltRose96 · 29/10/2018 17:44

Hi all,

I'm currently 21+2 with my first baby (second pregnancy, suffered a MMC at 12 weeks back in April).

I read posts from women at the same stage as me who have been feeling their babies thrashing away like kickboxers for weeks, and yet I haven't felt much of anything. A few pops and flutters, but since I'm suffering from indigestion and trapped wind these 'flutters' could well be gas and not baby. I've certainly not felt anything that made me think 'Ah, that's definitely baby!'.

I had my 20 week scan last week and all was well (although I noticed she didn't move much during the scan....). I DO have an anterior placenta which I understand can cushion movements.

But to not feel anything (or at least nothing definitive) at 21 weeks? Should I be worried?

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Original poster

CobaltRose96 · 29/10/2018 17:59

Bump!

OP posts:

tissuesosoft · 29/10/2018 18:01

Have you tried anything to get baby moving? Mine did trampolining after I’d drunk fresh orange juice. But if you are really concerned about lack of movement- call your midwife/maternity centre

harrypotterfan1604 · 29/10/2018 18:02

I have an anterior placenta and felt hardly anything at all until about 25 weeks. The odd flutter but couldn’t say for definite it was baby. I’m now 31 weeks and this baby never stops kicking me!

MonkeyToucher · 29/10/2018 18:03

I’m 22 weeks, 2nd pregnancy and 2nd anterior placenta. I would say I’ve only felt definite “there is no doubt that is the baby” movements for the last week ish so I wouldn’t worry!

24 weeks is the point at which you should start seeing a pattern of movement so plenty of time yet!

SlightDark · 29/10/2018 18:05

I’m 28 weeks and be other day went to hospital for a trace as sorry BUT as I have been feeling a lot of movement this was wierd.

I was staggered to see that while I couldn’t feel a thing the trace was going mad with heartbeat and movement!

It’s amazing what we feel in there and what we actually don’t when baby is moving a lot.

That said, lots of guidelines do say that 16-24 weeks is normal.

So, at 21 weeks do take heart

Watto1 · 29/10/2018 18:05

I was in your situation when I was pregnant with DD . I was so worried. Within a couple of weeks she was doing somersaults at 4am and waking me up! I'm sure it will be the same for you. Try not to worry (I know that's easier said than done!)

HopeGarden · 29/10/2018 18:18

I had an anterior placenta in my first two pregnancies, and I didn’t feel any baby movements until after 21 weeks both times.

GeoffreysCat · 29/10/2018 18:22

I had an anterior placenta with both dc. I didn't feel anything until nearly 24 weeks with my first and I think it was 22 weeks with my second. Even late in pregnancy I was never able to identify which part of baby I was feeling unlike friends who could identify a foot or hand poking them!

TimeWaitsForNoWoman · 29/10/2018 19:37

Anterior placenta and 24 weeks for me. 25 until I could definitively tell which was the baby and which was gas. The wait is interminable but hang on in there.

Caprisunorange · 29/10/2018 19:39

Anterior placenta and no major movements until later in the 20weeks either.
You shouldn’t worry about regular movements until much later

needsanewname · 29/10/2018 19:47

I didn't feel baby move until around 23 weeks and even then it was just bubble, more like 25 weeks before I knew it was DD for sure.

Is your placenta anterior by any chance?

Midwives will tell you not to be concerned until around 27/28 weeks so you've got plenty of time yet. It will come

Original poster

CobaltRose96 · 29/10/2018 19:47

Thanks everyone! Funnily enough since I posted I've felt quite a few strong flutters. Then again, I've got a bit of a dodgy stomach at the moment (thanks pregnancy hormones) so it may be gas, but they feel kind of different to regular gas flutters. Stronger, and lower down.

Maybe?

OP posts:

Original poster

CobaltRose96 · 29/10/2018 19:48

@needsanewname, yes, I have an anterior placenta.

OP posts:

needsanewname · 29/10/2018 19:48

Ahh just seen you do have an anterior placenta.. it's most definitely going to be a few weeks yet.

Namechangemum100 · 29/10/2018 19:59

I had an anterior placenta with my second baby, I did not feel ANYTHING at all until at least 22 weeks. It was a strange experience because I felt my first at 18 weeks, and there are only 14 month between them so the feeling was still very fresh in my mind.

I guess what I am saying is that even though it feels like it's impossible to not feel anything at 21 weeks I can assure you it is. Please try not to worry :)

badg3r · 29/10/2018 21:48

I didn't feel anything till after 21 weeks with either of mine, without an anterior placenta.

TheDayMyButtWentPsycho · 30/10/2018 00:14

Purely out of interest OP, why do you always state you're miscarriage in the opening line of your posts?
I've always wondered.

Genuine question, that's not a sly poke of any kind.

ChocolateChipMuffin2016 · 30/10/2018 09:46

@CobaltRose96 I had an anterior placenta with my first pregnancy and didn't feel him move till I was around 24 weeks. I remember going to the 20 week scan and seeing DS jumping around and saying that it was strange as I couldn't feel a thing! Honestly its normal and hopefully you'll start to get more frequent and clearer movements soon!

Embobolina88 · 30/10/2018 13:41

Feeling the same. Did have a few wiggles over the weekend but nothing really for a couple of days now. Trying to keep my
Overactive mind from stressing just yet... and avoiding google!!!! Try not to worry, easier said than done after miscarriages, but please try xx

AnneLovesGilbert · 30/10/2018 14:57

Probably because it's a horrible traumatising experience TheDayMyButtWentPsycho which has made her extra anxious about this pregnancy. She's likely feeling completely different having experienced a loss and the doubt a mmc gives you about your own perceptions of your body than people who sail through their first or subsequent pregnancies with no issues at all.

I'm in a similar oat OP, anterior placenta and 21 weeks tomorrow. I'm sure I felt something on Sunday and then again a bit last night and today but only when I'm very still. It's not flutters or bubbles like people describe, more a swirling or swooshing. First time I've got to this stage so hard to know what to expect.

Hope you're being kick boxed very soon

TheDayMyButtWentPsycho · 30/10/2018 15:18

Oh I've no doubt about that AnneLovesGilbert I experience a second trimester miscarriage myself, there's many women on here that have experienced the same and much worse.

I was just curious as to why it was stated at the start of each thread that's all.
No judgement, genuine curiosity.

I actually wondered if it was an anxiety/superstition thing. Only because years ago when I had anxiety I would have to do things in an exact way or I would have to act out superstitions for fear of stuff going wrong.
I actually did my dissertation on it.
I don't have that now thankfully but it did make me wonder if that was happening here.

Embobolina88 · 30/10/2018 15:34

I must admit I start all my posts with details of my past- healthy pregnancy then miscarriage at 12 and blighted ovum at 9. I always think it helps people understand why I’m completely paranoid and anxious as opposed to reading my posts and thinking- what a nutter get over it and enjoy your pregnancy. X

christmashope · 30/10/2018 15:36

I didn’t feel anything with both of my pregnancies till I was 28/29 weeks pregnant! X

AnneLovesGilbert · 30/10/2018 15:38

Embobolina88

mummabubs · 30/10/2018 16:01

Hi OP, I had an anterior placenta and didn't feel proper kicks until about 22/23 weeks. If you're really concerned contact your midwife but it's definitely not unheard of for it to take this long with anterior placentas :)

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