Reduced Fetal Movements

[littlemissminor]

Hello!

I am 33+5 with my second DC. Up until a few days ago he was breech, but has now turned. I had 1 episode of reduced movements at 30 weeks and one last night.

When I went in last night, he was fine and moved when on the monitor but now I don't think he is moving as much again.

Do I go back again? Every time I go in he starts moving but when at home he isn't - I just feel like I am wasting their time!

I am having a scan tomorrow, so shall I just wait until then?

Go back, everytime. It's not worth the risk.

also 'coz it's a stressful time, I struggled with it but ultimately it's always best to go back and get checked.

Go back. Every single time. You’re not wasting anyone’s time.

Please go right now.

You should definitely go back. They wouldn’t want you to be at home worrying. I’m always panicking about my babies movements! I’m surprised my number doesn’t flash up as “oh no it’s her again” when I call but they have always said it takes moments just to have a listen in and put your mind at ease. Xx

Go to hospital this is your unborn child, your not waisting anybodys time its better to be safe than sorry

Go back. I've been in once with this pregnancy so far (32 weeks) and all was fine but the midwife said if at any point anything doesn't feel right, even if it was the same day, then to go back. She said she would rather see 1000 of me (where the baby started kicking as soon as I got there) than 1 person where the baby wasn't well.

Thanks all, went back, monitored, all fine - back in tomorrow for a scan and to see a consultant.

Thanks again for all being so lovely

@littlemissminor that’s good news :) xx

@littlemissminor glad everything's ok x

Go back each time - doesn’t matter how many times you go it’s not worth the risk. I had several reduce movement episodes and then was induced at 37 & 6 & I am very thankful my baby is here & healthy but I have read some horror stories about still birth & the doctors were also very clear in communicating that any reduce movement should be monitored ASAP. Do not delay it or feel like you’re wasting their time because you are not.

I agree with going back every time but if baby was breech for most of the pregnancy, could these recent episodes be because it feels so different to when baby was the other way up? I say this because my friend recently had her baby turned late in pregnancy. It is her first baby and it has been breech since her 20 week scan. She can't believe how heavy the head is on her cervix! She has no idea how people cope with it! She says it feels so so different and like she will go into labour any second. I also know that when you have repeated reduced movements in pregnancy, they ask you if you would like to be induced when you get to term to be on the safe side. Well that's what they told me when I had 1 episode at 32 weeks and asked what would happen if it happened again and they found nothing when they monitored or scanned. I remember thinking I'd want to be absolutely sure it was the baby being less active because i wasn't 100% sure that time. When you're busy it is hard to be sure sometimes.

I guess it doesn't matter, though, why it feels different, if it feels different then it feels different. I am curious about people saying the baby is breech so early on though, I'm 32 weeks and the baby's position has never been mentioned up to now.

I have an anterior placenta this time but i didn't in my previous two pregnancies. There is absolutely a difference in what I'm able to feel, but I wouldn't just take that for granted as the reason for a change or reduction in movements.

The reason why they recommend induction when you have a few episodes of reduced movements is because it could mean your placenta isn't working properly. Me (and a lot of people)would avoid induction unless it was necessary so if there is another reason why you feel like baby is quiet but in fact they are not, I'd want to know that if possible so I can use that information to decline induction or maybe HCPs wont even recommend it if they also feel it isn't because the placenta isn't working well.

@mistermagpie mine was very obviously breech at the 20 week scan - the sonographer couldn't get all the measurements because it's bottom was tucked away low down, so I had to go and jiggle around a bit to get it to move!

The next time you have doubts, I personally would avoid Mumsnet and go straight to a healthcare professional.

I was supposed to be induced due to reduced feral movements in my last pregnancy but went into labour naturally while I was on the ward waiting to be induced. I personally wouldn't decline an induction, but I wouldn't tend to decline anything that was bring recommended by a Dr in that situation as I feel they know best what will have the safest outcome.

Fetal, not feral!! Although if you'd met my son you might think I was right the first time...

Weathergirl, I suppose what I mean is that I've always though 'breech' would really be something that was an issue when you are getting closer to the birth as at 20 weeks they will still move about so much. My babies were all in various positions at the scans but it was never described as 'breech'.

Thanks all - just back from the hospital - he is measuring 39(!) weeks, so just close monitoring from here

@mistermagpie

The issue with reduced fetal movements is that the doctor makes the recommendation based off of what you say has happened. As I said, I was really busy one day and suddenly couldn't remember the last time I felt baby kick. Until this day I don't know if I was just so busy I didn't notice or baby did have a really quiet day. The doctor can't tell me that. All doctor could say is that if I present a few times with this,they will recommend induction at term regardless of whether they actually find anything wrong on scans.

Breech is always the term used when the bum,feet or knees are nearest to the cervix at any time in pregnancy. They only act on it towards the end of pregnancy.

See what you mean @ChilledBee. In fairness I was offered the induction as when I was being monitored for RFM the baby's heart rate dipped a couple of times so I suppose there was more 'evidence' that something was going on. It wasn't in the end though, he was fine, but I did go into labour that night so that might have had something to do with it.

I was never offered induction in my first pregnancy and had presented with RFM about six times. He was born at 38 weeks though so if it was after this I might have been.