When to go to hospital regarding movement?

[PerrieWonkle]

I had my 20 week scan two weeks ago and hadn't felt any movement at this point, they told me to try not to worry but to come in at 22 weeks if I still haven't felt anything. I'm 22 weeks today and haven't felt anything, not even anything I think could be baby. I've been a nervous wreck all week and I'm convinced they won't find a heartbeat. What time can I go into the hospital? Ive been awake since 6 desperate to go in and hopefully get some peace of mind. I don't want to look insane turning up this early but I really can't relax.

I'm confused as to why the consultant wrote that, if we checked every woman who hasn't felt movement at this stage we would have an awful lot traipsing up to the hospital.

@Prequelle Maybe my consultant wrote that because he knows the reason why I'm a high risk pregnancy and as a medical professional is qualified to make such decisions? Maybe don't make blanket statements about individual cases.

But your consultant should KNOW that high risk or not, 22 weeks is too early to start worrying people over a lack of feeling movement. It's too early for a lot of women. It seems to have caused you unnecessary stress and caused you to have an issue with the midwives who have appropriately triaged you

And the last bit is what bothers me most for YOUR sake because it's important that you feel you can trust them and that they'll take your concerns seriously. Which they do, but they cant offer something that isn't indicated when resources are slim.

You are very defensive op. I thought it yesterday but I didn't say anything. But you are quite rude to people trying to help you.

For what it’s worth, procedures are going to be different around the country. I’m thirty weeks and the community midwife has never used a doppler to find the heartbeat. I’ve only heard it because I went in to the hospital once for reduced movement at 24 weeks.

Also I’ve tried calling the community midwife for other concerns, but was told that after 20 weeks we should always call the hospital (not just for reduced movement).

Is there something about your high risk pregnancy that is relevant to this situation? You didn't mention high risk in your OP, but it seems to be this which makes you think that the midwives should have treated you differently.

In the kindest possible way there is nothing they can do before 24 weeks and viability. So I’m not sure why your consultant was so insistent on you being seen by 22 weeks. All they have done is make you more worried than you would have been.

I also think you’re very defensive towards people who are trying to work. I’m also surprised you managed to speak to a consultant, very lucky they weren’t in surgery or taking appointments with patients.

Realistically, a doppler check would sinoly check the heartbeat. It doesnt check really the health of your baby, and at 22 weeks there's not a lot they could do anyway, so whether high risk or not, I dont see it was helpful for your consultant to suggest it given so many women dont feel movement still at 22w.

Bleeding, contractions etc at 22w, they can sometimes do to stop it developing further, but a heartbeat check is going to just be whether its there or not.

I think OP's consultant is doing this for reassurance rather than medical need.

I had the same in my last pregnancy OP and I can understand your frustration

I completely get your frustration - you were given a specific instruction and then felt you treated like an time waster just for doing what you were told.

And as someone who has had a late miscarriage, every single person medical person I dealt with questioned me, saying things like, "but didn't you notice the lack of movement? How could you not know?" Even if they just came in to double check my name.

Great to hear you were reassured, and I'm sure it won't be long before you can't mistake your baby's movements (or feet jammed into your ribs!)

You're really rude, OP.

I'm also surprised your consultant has said to go in at 22 weeks for low movement. I actually don't believe a medical professional would say that.

I'm high risk myself, and I was told by my midwife, the sonographer and my obstetrician that it's normal to feel movements from 24 weeks, and to worry at 26 weeks.

I literally felt one kick at 25+4. It's completely normal. I can't see why a medical professional would scaremonger somebody about something that's perfectly normal.

@PerrieWonkle, I'm very sorry to ask this question, but can I ask what size you are?

I don't mean this in any judgemental way, it's just that when I went to my 20 scan, my sonographer said that slimmer people are more likely to feel movement earlier.

Do you know the position of your placenta too?

I'm sure that if your scan was okay, then everything is fine, but you have to do what you feel to be the right thing. Hope you get seen soon xx

I can't believe a consultant said that. Or that the OP actually spoke to her consultant. I never ever saw mine during two of my pregnancies it was always someone else covering them

@WithAllIntenseAndPurposes if the OP has a family history of late miscarriage, i can absolutely believe the consultant said that.
No need to be nasty and doubt her.

Honestly why are people just going on about a consultant wouldnt / shouldnt say that.
If he did he did. You wont know either way.
Op and her baby are ok which is what matters.

@IVEgottheDECAF People correct things they believe are untrue so that when people read these posts on future, they don't panic.

I was fraught when I hadn't felt anything by 22 weeks, and when I wasn't showing by 19 weeks, because people on here make statements that "consultants" or medical professionals have said they were the deadlines of when they should feel things. A lot of the time, people say that to give their statements/comments more credit, but it can be really misleading and scary for other MN users, especially when then information isn't always true.

Yes but how many fucking times does it need saying. All this has turned into is people implying OP is wrong / silly / lying!

I work closely alongside consultants and despite them being extremely knowledgeable in obstetrics, they do sometimes need 'gentle reminders' on certain things.

But the OP has a family history of late miscarriage (between 16-24 weeks)
So other people not feeling movement until later, isn't really relevant here.
It's a different situation altogether.

Of course it's relevant. Family history of late miscarriage doesn't mean it changes the fact lots of women don't feel movement until later on and like I said, if we checked everyone who had the same parameters as OP the system would not cope and it would worry mothers who - as we can see from OP - would see something completely normal as something to worry about. It gives false worry but also false hope that a 22 week check would do anything other than give a woman less time to feel movement before having to worry.

It's pretty standard as far as I know to closely monitor women who have a high risk of late miscarriage.
More so than a 'normal' pregnancy.
In the case of ' false hope', surely any antenatal care under 24 weeks could be seen as that?
Give the woman a break fgs.

Closely monitor doesn't mean OP being able to bypass triage at a hospital. It may mean increased midwife community visits.

Anyway I wish OP the best in her pregnancy and hope things go as smoothly as these things can.