I don't know what to do!

[HLMH]

Hi, I'm currently 37 weeks pregnant and need some advice, please.

In the past week alone, I've been to the hospital 3 times with reduced movements, alongside bleeding. Throughout the pregnancy, I think this makes it 6-7 times with reduced movements and 2-3 times with bleeding. Also, for the past week or two, I've been experiencing a heavy sweet smelling discharge (sorry if that's TMI).

Anyways, after being at the hospital the day before with the bleeding, I had an appointment with my midwife on Friday morning and she suggested I speak with the hospital about my options (I had to go back for the anti-d jab), due to how many episodes of reduced movements I've experienced now. She assured me baby's heartbeat is strong, his head in engaged, he's a healthy size/weight and she's certain I'm not reaching my due date.

However, at the hospital (and despite the continued reduced movements and bleeding), the doctor said he's refusing to induce me and that I should "let nature run its course". He wasn't interested in the slightest about what my midwife said and continuously cut my other half off whenever he tried to better explain our situation and experiences.

I just wanted to know: has anyone else been in a similar situation? I'm scared and worried pretty much all the time nowadays. Up until this point I've been a strong believer in having the baby when he's ready, but now I don't know what to think. Why would my midwife suggest being induced if she didn't think it was a safe option for us? Could the doctor at the hospital be wrong at all?

Please help, if possible!

Of course the doctor could be wrong, they’re humans like the rest of us.

I would see if you can see another doctor to get a second opinion. Don’t be afraid to stay put until you get one either!

It sounds like this doctor was quite flippant about your reduced movements, which is concerning and should be challenged x

I have no advice on this I'm sorry..but didn't want to read and run..
Have you spoken to your mid wife since?
I would of thought that the doctor would of been informed about everything, and has made the right decision.
Try and not get stressed. I know it's easier said than done. But your babies heartbeat is strong.
The doctor obviously wouldn't put your baby at any risk..
Sending hugs xx

Based on very much anectodal evidence, I was under the impression doctors are far more likely to go for intervention than midwives. The doctor will have had your notes so that's what they thought was best, but of course you are entitled to a second opinion.

Has your midwife checked your waters?

Movement does tend to reduce as you get close to your due date. The baby gets too big to move around so much.

Thank you for your fast replies!

The doctor was pretty rude, but they were really busy that day on the maternity day unit, so I tried not to let him bother me too greatly.

I haven't seen or spoken to my midwife since Friday. I think I'm going to call her tomorrow to ask her opinion. She knows everything that was going on and seemed unhappy with how the hospital responded the day before when I went in about the reduced movements and bleeding, especially because I was still bleeding and they just sent me home.

I've had two of those spec tests (is that what they're called?). One performed by a midwife at the hospital, who assured me I was no longer bleeding but had old blood that needed to come down, so I shouldn't worry if I see anything unless it's red. Later that night after coming home and the next day, it was red again following the old blood. This led to the doctor performing the second spec test and examining the sanitary towel I was using, to which he said it was "dirty discharge" and then proceeded to show me and my partner the blood he found on the plastic thing, saying it was old despite it looking pinky-white. Just to make sure I wasn't seeing things (in terms of colour), I asked my partner what colour he saw and he agreed it was a really light pink, not brown like the old blood I'd been losing.

Other than those tests, being on the heart monitor and having them test my blood and urine, I had nothing else done. Do any of those methods allow them to check my waters? Sorry if that sounds stupid - first pregnancy and I haven't a clue what's going on.

Thanks again everyone xx

As baby gets less room he will move less..
Try not to worry and have faith in ur medical care.. in my experience they don't take risks and if they believe there to be a problem they would get baby out as u r now full term

Movements do NOT reduce as you get closer to your due date. If you get an episode of reduced movements again, present to the hospital for monitoring again. It may be worth you having a scan to check the blood flow through the cord as that gives a good indication of baby's wellbeing.

Movement does tend to reduce as you get close to your due date

No they don't. This is out dated advice.

www.kickscount.org.uk/your-babys-movements

The baby group we attend said the baby shouldn’t slow down towards the end. Like PP stated: you should feel the baby right up until/during labour.

I currently use an app to keep track of any and all kicks/movements (saves panicking if I can’t think back to last time he moved). If anyone’s interested in using it/passing it along, it’s called Full Term. It’s a free app and it helps times your contractions too.

Just to reiterate again for anyone else who may come across this thread, movements should not reduce.

If they tested the pad I'd guess they were checking if it was your waters. Not a clue what 'dirty discharge' means though

I hope you feel better about things after speaking to your midwife OP.

heratnumber7 bigonesmallone3 that is bullsh*t and such bad advice to be dishing out! Someone could lose their baby listening to that advise. Movements do not reduce as the baby gets bigger, so your research

I was under the impression if you have repeated reduce dmovements they'll offer you induction (that's what NCT this week taught us!) so I'm surprised you haven't been offered it? I'd try talk to midwife or doctor again about your concerns

See that’s what I thought and it’s what my midwife said, too. But last time I went I was on the monitor for 10 minutes before they sent me away saying they were happy with the results... despite the fact I felt nothing during that time and told them that!

@HLMH That sounds like a very short time on the monitor :(! Isn't a NST usually supposed to be 20mins? If you're worried the please get it checked again and keep an eye on the screen yourself. Baby's heartbeat should be between 130-160ish, and will go up and down with movement. Is there any chance you can get seen by a different doctor/midwife? This sounds a bit cheeky but perhaps trying going in late at night (10-11pm) when different people are on duty and the unit is much quieter?

I thought my waters broke a few weeks ago and went in around midnight. Ended up having the best care compared to daytime appointments. The doctors & nurses took much longer to listen to me and also spent much longer monitoring me and doing tests. Of course, this isn't meant to take up resources from genuine emergencies but if you feel fobbed off due to reduced movement then it technically is an emergency and needs to be looked at.

Agreeing with the others, movements should not reduce, but just feel more different. Mine are getting increasingly more painful/intense since she's stretching out the tight space.

Movement does tend to reduce as you get close to your due date. The baby gets too big to move around so much.

This is nonsensel and potentially dangerous advice, please ignore it.

If you continue to be concerned about your baby, go back and ask to speak to another doctor. Induction of labour is not without risk and the doctor may have good reason for not wanting to go down this route but he should have explained them to you rather than dismissing your concerns

Agreeing with the others, movements should not reduce, but just feel more different. Mine are getting increasingly more painful/intense since she's stretching out the tight space.

This. My movements (35+3) are very different now to when I was 25 weeks. Very pronounced and not slow, but more deliberate movements. Big stretches and wince inducing rolls as opposed on the many small flutterings I used to get.

I'm curious and following the thread in regards to your sweet smelling discharge comment, as mine is definitely getting to be like this and my MIL (a retired midwife) has mentioned that waters have a distinctive and sweet smell.

In my trust they offer induction after 3 consecutive episodes of reduced movements.

I think you have to absolutely trust your instincts and speak to your midwife again.
If you're feeling like something isn't right, it needs investigating further, maybe an ultrasound scan?
Hope you get some answers.

10mins for the monitor is the minimum. I had the straps x3 weekly from 32 weeks as she was a small size. The hooked me up for 10mins to check her heartbeat and gave me a button to press when she moved. It she was asleep they'd give me cold water, send me for a walk or make me cough to wake her up so they could record some kicks.

I would definitely be raising this with the hospital. I don't want to scare you but DDs birth was a shit show from start to finish. We now know that the midwife was negligent but I didn't challenge her because although i had a niggly feeling I wanted to trust the care I was receiving so I didn't say anything. DD nearly died and I'm still overwhelmed with guilt everyday. If you feel somethings wrong it probably is. Fortunately DD went to an amazing special care unit and is fine now.

We went to the out of hours unit once before and I agree: they definitely were more patient there! I was in such a state and one midwife in particular stayed by my side, constantly checking the monitor and assuring me everything was looking good.

Usually, when I’m on the monitor it’s for around 30-40 minutes, but sometimes longer if there’s any issues.

Yeah, the movements are definitely different but they weren’t reduced until recently. He’s usually throwing some odd shapes and letting those around us know he’s awake too! I think from around 33 weeks, he was waking me up several times in the night with those weird rolls that turn your stomach haha and he ALWAYS moved nonstop after meals, sometimes even during them so I’d have to take breaks during eating (because some of those rolls feel gross haha). I’d definitely rather deal with those than sleep through the entire night and peacefully eat like I currently am though.

Movements have been slower again today and I’ve done everything I can think of to get him to stir, so it may be another trip to the unit. If I do get dismissed again, I’ll definitely be calling my midwife to ask for advice about the whole thing. I get the whole “leave them until they’re ready” thing, but it’s getting to that point where I’m constantly stressed and worried, thinking he’ll be safer out than in. I’ve been going back to my app every time he moved and so far, in the past 6 hours and 4 minutes, he’s moved four times and they’ve mostly been rolls. I’ve also got sharp pains in my groin, along with extra heavy discharge.

Sorry twink. That was the advice 20 years ago.
Having said that none of my babies moved much for the whole 9 months.

My baby's movement slowed down towards the end of my pregnancy and I went into hospital for monitoring each time and was on the trace for approx half an hour-40 min. The first time the baby went crazy when the monitors were put on and the second and third times I had to drink copious amounts of cold water to wake him up!

The hospital advised me that their policy was to induce following 3 instances of reduced fetal movement (this was at 38 weeks) but my husband and I declined after NCT classes suggested many inductions were not actually necessary.

After the third time we went home and spent the entire weekend concerned that baby still wasn't moving as much as he had been earlier in pregnancy and the consultant had told us that at this gestation they are "safer out than in" if there were concerns.

To cut a long story short, we eventually opted for an induction at 39+1 and have ended up with a lovely healthy little boy who still spends most of his time sleeping! However, I am glad that we went for the induction as I decided that I would never forgive myself if something went wrong with the baby due to me refusing medical intervention. That said, I did end up with an emergency c section and quite a complicated recovery - not quite the water birth that I had envisaged but most certainly worth the return of a healthy child!

Whatever happens, I hope you have a stress free birth and a happy, healthy little boy or girl!

I had "reduced" movements with DD however when I was checked in hospital thed baby was moving fine but I couldn't feel the smaller ones at all. She arrived 10 days late at 10lbs. Hope yours is something like this too

Still have my kick counter going and so far in the past 12 hours or so, he's moved randomly 16 times. Sometimes it's him rolling around, other times it's kicks. It's barely even a fraction of how much he used to move.

I always feel like I've overreacted when I go in and the monitor picks up on him moving, but the last 3 times, I haven't been able to feel the movements myself. I've had to trust that the machines can feel what I can't.

I'm not sure what the hospital policy is here - the doctor simply said "let nature run its course". It's late enough for me to go to the out of hours unit, however, so I'm debating giving it an hour, seeing if baby moves at all and if not, call up and ask for advice.

Fingers crossed it's just me being unable to feel the movements!

OP, don’t wait, don’t debate, don’t call- go, now. If it’s “a fraction” of what it used to be, you need to be seen and not fobbed off.

Give them a call now, don't wait and stress yourself out further