baby didn't move today...18 weeks

[Maggie272]

I know it's early to even feel movements but I've been feeling them since week 14, and in the last couple of weeks the baby was really bumping against me, like little pops or electric shocks in my low belly, and I've been loving it. Last night I ate some chocolate cake, a processed one with buttercream and after two bites felt very headachey and very tired today with headache, a little nausea. The midwife says that because I don't eat that much sugar normally it just didn't agree with me. But today I just can't feel the baby at all, and it's the first time in weeks that I haven't. I'm probably just being a worrier, but hope I haven't done anything wrong. M x

Give your local unit a call, it's better to be safe

If the change in movement is unusual for your pattern, it is important for it to be checked. Don't wait till morning, call now x

Ok, thank you both so much x

Try ice water or ice cream, it worked for me in my 1st pregnancy and my current. I'm 19 weeks and whenever my anxiety gets the best of me I'll have an ice lolly. Usually gets the baby moving around ☺️

Just saw our out of hours doc and heard the heartbeat on a doppler! Feel silly as baby is now jumping around from all the prodding : ) @b0nnieN I will definitely keep that in mind!

For future reference, your baby is so small at the moment that it can turn around and face the other way, rendering you unable to feel movement. That's why you're not supposed to monitor movements yet, it just causes unnecessary anxiety. Besides which, at 18 weeks, they can't do anything if the baby gets distressed, so realistically waiting until morning for this sort of thing is totally fine at this gestation. Unless it actually dies or you've gone into preterm labour, there's nothing they can do until you're further along.

@BecauseReasons thank u, just really glad all is ok and will keep that in mind!

This is going to sound quite harsh but in a weird way may also be a comfort (as it was for me)...

Firstly your movements at the moment are unlikely to be pattern like every day, baby is still really small to there are a lot of movements you still wouldn't be able to feel.

Secondly, in an absolute worst case scenario if anything were to be wrong with the baby, at this stage the hospitals wouldn't do anything to save the pregnancy, like deliver early for example, because it's only after 24 weeks they say a baby has a chance of surviving out of womb. Harsh isn't it? But it gives you the peace of mind in a way to know there's not much you can do either way, and just to wait it out and see, be healthy and keep your fluids up etc, that's pretty much all you can do at this stage.

really glad it was ok maggie x

I had the same at around 18/19 weeks, having felt movement early a quiet day really worried me. But also knew there was nothing they could do. Because they still have a lot of room I think the twist and turn and kick in different directions you can’t feel. 24 weeks now and still worry everyday 🤦🏽‍♀️ But getting more used to know what wakes him up to get some kicks and reassurance xx

@Mummyspider27 that's reassuring! THe doc explained the baby DOES have loads of room and told me to stay away from too much sugar! much more relaxed now, and as everyone said there's not much i can do one way or the other x

Hi Maggie, I had the same thing yesterday at 17 weeks. I DTD and then no moment for about a day, I was so worried but your post and the answers has really reassured me. Please can I ask, why has your doctor told you to stay away from sugar, did they explain any connection between sugar and baby movements? X

@Whatnowwww O because I ate chocolate cake and because I don't normally eat processed (sensitive tummy) or sugar it gave me terrible headache and I had a really bad 'hangover' the next day. You can totally have your cake and eat it too! My baby is moving around now fine. There is no connection - except that I felt sick on the same day I didn't feel the baby but that was just a coincidence.