FTM - Baby movement changing pattern at 25 weeks . So worried

[DJBebe]

Hi all. 25 weeks, FTM with an anterior placenta. Because of the anterior placenta i started to feel the baby only after 21 weeks and for the last 2 weeks the baby movement followed a set pattern, lots of movement early morning between 6am-7.30am, then after breakfast, lunch and early evenings. I used to joke saying that i enjoy having my own alarm clock in the mornings.
Yesterday it scared me badly as when i woke up i was waiting for the usual morning kicks but nothing happened. I had a glass of fruit juice and the baby finally started to move, but not for too long or as strong as it used to feel. ( During the day, especially after lunch was very active which calmed me down from my scare). This morning happened the same, woke up at usual time but no baby kicks. I felt a very light movement once or twice but nothing not even after i had breakfast.
Is this normal? 😱🥺

You need to phone your maternity unit and get checked out. There's no point asking for advice online as we can't know if everything is ok

A) Completely normal, as the baby grows it will change position frequently and you will get different levels of movement and movement sensation BUT....

B) Phone your midwife - first port of call if you are worried by lack of movement. They will check you over and maybe get you in to monitor movement.

Movements do change as the baby grows, but just phone your midwife if you are worried.

Always phone your midwife if you’re worried about movements.

Hopefully baby just had a bit of a quiet day. My midwife said they only expect baby to be in a proper routine from about 28 weeks, but you will know your baby best!

Phone the midwife unit... Now.

They should call you in to check everything.

Call them.

Don't waste any time thinking 'its nothing' or 'but, COVID...'

Ring them.

They'd rather you come in and it be a false alarm 10 times, than you not bother them and something gets missed.

I called the maternity triage and the midsaid she is not worried because i have no pains or bleeding, also because i am under 28 weeks the baby would not have definite movement pattern.
She also said that because i am under 26 weeks she would not be able to see me. The advice was that the baby probably changed positions.

I have an anterior placenta and I thought I had reduced movements at 24 weeks. Hospital said baby can easily move into a different place and it's only really after 28 weeks that they have a proper 'pattern' and would consider it to be reduced movements.

However they did still get me in and listen to babys heartbeat. Only took 5 mins. Sorry to hear your hospital doesnt do that.

I was told pattern of movement does not change! Or movements do not slow down. I went in about 5 times because I could not feel anything. I got induced at 36 weeks because she stopped growing.

My hospital was good! Saw me anytime I went.

I have an anterior placenta too and didn't feel anything at all until over 22 weeks. Our babies are still so tiny then so the slightest change in position can make a big difference to what we feel.....plus then we have the added disadvantage of the placenta cushioning a lot of the movement!

The official advice is that you should feel something by 24 weeks then you should start to see a proper pattern of movements from 28 weeks....although I'm 32 weeks now and have gone through several patterns and still have quiet days! It's very stressful!

Now you know :)

Hi all. Many thanks for your advice yesterday. I wanted to give you an update.
After 2 days of extreme anxiety the baby has returned to his normal position.
6am he woke me up kicking strong as per his usual pattern. I think i felt 12 strong kicks within a 2-3 minutes period, and the movement continued after i had my breakfast. So happy. 😃

That's great news 😊

Next time though.... Just ring your midwife!

And please don't hesitate, they really won't mind.