Baby movements 23 weeks - how to know what is normal?

[Jem9153]

Hi!

I was just wondering if anyone else is the same as me and if babas movements are normal as I’m an expert at getting myself into a worry about things haha

I started feeling him around 16 weeks, he’s got stronger and stronger and it’s definite movements I’m feeling now.

I only really feel him strongly when I’m lay on my back in bed, so mainly on mornings and night times. I’ll feel the odd kick through the day if I’m concentrating but not a lot.

Is anyone else the same? Sometimes I also find he might be a little quieter than usual one night and then makes up for it by going bezerk in the morning!

For example I fell asleep pretty early at 9pm last night, but I had noticed he had been a little quieter than usual as I dozed off. Then this morning he’s moved non stop 😂 I lay in bed and watched him kick me for a good 45 mins consistently!

Is this normal? I’ve read lots about reporting a change in pattern, and I know he tends to move mornings and nights, but the amount of movements is totally varied day by day so I’m not really sure what is ‘reduced’ or ‘increased’ movement, and I don’t know how I would tell.

Does this get easier the further along you are? Will the amount he moves even out as he gets bigger?

It’s my first baby so I am struggling to know what is a concern and what isn’t and I don’t want to be on the phone to MAU every time I worry as I’d never leave 😂

Any advice is appreciated 💕💕

This sounds very similar to what I'm feeling. Most of the time I'm getting strong kicks but then the baby must move and they feel slightly weaker - I do have an anterior placenta so I assume they have moved to a position I cannot feel as much.
I tend to notice the movement in the days when I'm not concentrating so much on work, but when I'm busy I don't notice it.

I was wondering about the quiet/ active spells too, I had a very active baby yesterday morning, then quite a quiet one last night, then a crazy active one at 4am after I got up for a wee. It was so strong it kept making me jump!
It's quite worrying isn't it, I hope it gets easier!

I don't think there's any such thing as 'normal' tbh, especially at this stage.

I'm 23 weeks as well but have an anterior placenta so only started feeling movements this week! Yesterday I felt flutters and kicks throughout the day but today I haven't felt a thing.
By chance, I went for a scan today and baby was fine and doing somersaults the whole time but I couldn't feel a thing. The sonographer said she must just be in a different position as they still have quite a bit of room in there at this stage.

Most women don't see a real pattern emerging until about 28 weeks.

I'm 25+6 and my boy's movements have steadily increased over the last couple of weeks. I didn't have a pattern at 23 weeks at all and I still wouldn't say there's a definite pattern now, but I think we're on our way.

It's lovely feeling baby regularly so no reason to worry and it will only get more regular every week now so something to look forward to

I'm the same as @shmabel - I'm 25+2 and over the past couple of weeks my baby's movements have really increased. There are still times when I wonder if what I'm feeling is just my intestines gurgling, but other times it's clear that it's definitely the baby!

To me it sounds completly normal, I'm in my second pregnancy and was exactly the same at your stage- sporadic movements mainly at night with some days stronger than others. 23 weeks is still really early in terms of monitoring and feeling kicks. You wont really get a pattern for another few weeks yet. By all means keep an eye on movements and definitely call your midwife if your really concerned but I do think what your describing sounds normal

Sounds good to me. I was at work at 23 weeks and I’d generally not feel baby through the day, only first thing and at night, because I was busy teaching at work! At 21-22 weeks I’d only feel baby when I was sitting/lying still and concentrating on her. I also found I felt her more if I was on my back. I’m 33 now and can’t miss her!

Thank you everyone ☺️ I think being in lockdown on Furlough is making me just sit and stew on every movement (or lack of!) but I’m glad it sounds normal

Can’t wait to feel him wriggling about more and more! 💕

I feel exactly the same I had to go get him checked yesterday I am 24 weeks and midwife said all is fine while she was listening to his heartbeat he kicked twice we heard it but I couldn't feel it lol she said sometimes they turn there back towards your tummy so you feel them less for me as long as ues moving through the day here and there nothing to worry about they might not have a set pattern yet anyway

Yeah, don't bother monitoring the movements especially until 28 weeks. It's not a reliable indicator before that.