Reduced movements?

[blvdbrokendreams]

For what feels like the millionth time but is probably more like maybe ten times im off to the hospital to get baby checked. She has absolutely no pattern of movements and I haven't felt her since this morning. I'm getting incredibly worried all the time and I'm only 33 weeks and have been in and out since 24 weeks. All scans have come back normal and the monitoring is also normal.
I'm scared the Midwifes are going to think I'm stupid and being a nuisance and one of those people and honestly it just makes me want to cry.
Am I being stupid?

No your not being stupid at all! Your following the advice given regarding movements and I’m sure the midwife would rather see you each time just for reassurance than you not go and something be wrong! Honestly it’s all part of a daily shift for them and totally normal particularly if your baby has no pattern it can be so worrying can’t it. I hope everything is ok

No, you’re not being stupid, you’re doing the right thing. Better safe than sorry. I’m 26 weeks and I’ve already been in twice for reduced movements and I wouldn’t hesitate to go in again if I hadn’t felt her since morning. Hope everything is well.

Hi OP, sorry you're feeling so anxious, you're definitely not being stupid! Has anyone spoken to you when you've been in to get checked about what might be going on? 10 times is a worry.

I'm 35+4 and don't have much of a pattern either. I'll generally feel her in the morning and evening but it's hit and miss whether I feel her during the day and the movements I do feel can vary a lot in frequency and strength. Some days she never stops, other days I barely feel her all day.
I've been in twice for reduced movements but have just accepted now that this is what's nornal for her which has helped me relax a bit.

You are absolutely doing the right thing. I was in a lot getting checked too and I remember feeling like I was being a pain but the midwives were mostly lovely. Also, once your baby has been born it will all be a distant memory.

I don't think anyone every regrets getting checked but I'm sure there are very sadly people who regret not getting checked.

You're not being stupid at all! You would never forgive yourself if there was something wrong and you didn't go and get checked because you didn't want to feel stupid!
I was in twice in a week last week! No one ever made me feel like I was being a nuisance. If anything they would tell you off for not going!
Hope everything is ok! 💐💐

You're not stupid, everyone worries when they are pregnant.

My midwife told me that they don't really expect a pattern before 26-28 weeks, because the baby is still fairly small, so can end up moving in a way you can't feel. It was after 28weeks she wanted me to count/look for a pattern.

I'd have to say I felt loads more by 28 than 24 weeks, so it would be so much more noticeable if they slowed IYSWIM.

They never mind you going to get checked out, so if that would make you feel better, that's fine, but just don't worry if there's no pattern yet, because you wouldn't expect it.

So I've been in again for monitoring. Baby started moving straight away which has made me feel really stupid. I just want her here. I'm sick of the worry. She has absolutely no pattern and can have a day of movement and then a day of nothing

@RockCrushesLizard the OP is 33 weeks now - she was 24 weeks when this started.

OP, it's always better to get checked than sit at home and worry. They wont think you're a nuisance - I was always told by the midwives that they would rather women came in to get checked for nothing than stay away for fear of bothering anyone.

You sound like me three years ago: I had twins. My son moved loads and had a perfect pattern. My daughter would move loads one day then nothing the next day that I could feel. I was in and out of triage most days for the last 3-4 weeks and they took it seriously and told me to keep going back if I needed to. They would rather see you 100 times then you not go in the one time you need to. My daughter was fine when she was born, she had a massive placenta so we wondered if she was playing with that the scamp!

I’m going to be really blunt.

Midwives want to deliver live babies.

No midwife in her right mind will give two hoots if you come in for checking. Always better safe than sorry.

Best wishes

I've been in 6 times now and I'm 37 weeks.
My baby has a pattern and then decides to completely change it. Or not move as much as normal.
It's super stressful isn't it but keep going your the only person who knows your baby

Hi OP
Keep going in. I had the same. No movement pattern - was in all the time.

Keep going in. With DS2 I had to go in once because I hadn't felt him move all morning.
My waters broke at 37 weeks, they deduced it was my hind waters but because I mentioned he'd not been moving regularly that day they induced me ASAP.

Honestly, no one considers it time wasting.

You’re not being silly. As other people have said, it’s way better to go in unnecessarily than it is to leave it and risk something going wrong. Reduced movements can be down to a compressed cord, reduced fluid etc and you just never know.

It’s a nightmare and a pain to be in this position - I was in triage last week for two hours by the time I’d had monitoring and scanning and all was absolutely fine (baby started kicking straight away when I was hooked up on the monitor ) but it might not have been so I had to get checked. I’m counting down the days to delivery so I don’t have to always be monitoring for baby movements which have been elusive at times. It’s mentally hard going I feel. I have an anterior placenta and it’s been really giving me the run around!

I'm definitely going to keep going in and he's reassuring to know it's not just my baby who does this. I mean I'm happy to go in but I do feel a bit stupid sometime especially when she starts kicking straight away. I don't want the midwives to think I'm making it up.
Im starting to believe she knows what these machines are 😂

My baby did this. Think I went in about 10x, once even when was away staying with relatives. I’m pretty sure the midwives all thought I was a time wasting mentalist but in the end I had extra scans due to the repeated attendances, the last of which at 37 weeks picked up that she’d stopped growing two weeks previously, suddenly I had tests left right and centre and was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia about two hours after the scan and induced that same day. Don’t get me wrong I’m pretty sure there’s not a link between pre-eclampsia, slow growth and reduced movements (so don’t worry!) but I think it’s important to get checked over whenever you feel worried. Sometimes it’s nothing but sometimes it’s something, as in my case. Pretty sure that the midwives, drs and everyone else we’re pretty glad I’d had all those attendances in the end as it flagged up that there was something wrong. You’re never being silly - you’re looking after your baby - and this is such a common thing that if they weren’t dealing with you, they’d be dealing with someone else having the exact same problem!

I've come back in from last night for repeat monitoring on the CTG and there's a really awful midwife who took my notes and went 'your always here, I'm sure she's fine' and stormed off. I'm definitely going to keep coming in but I'm crying to myself in the waiting room.
I'm not being paranoid. She doesn't move at home and even since the monitoring last night I've had one kick all day. I feel like I'm one of those people now

Op you are not - some midwives are just horrible. I had exactly the same thing as you’re describing, they made me feel stupid and awful. However you have to ignore them. You’re doing the right thing, 100% no argument whatsoever, you are not in the wrong, she is. The flip side of this situation (not going in when you should have) is unthinkable. It’s her job and she should suck it up. Please please do NOT let her or anyone else put you off. You’re not one of those people, you’re a good mum who is doing what’s right for her baby. If I hadn’t done exactly what you’re doing then it would never have been noticed that there was a problem and I dread to think what the consequences would have been. She doesn’t know your body or your baby so not matter what training she has she can’t tell you there’s nothing wrong without checking - arrogant lady, if you have the strength to do it at some point, complain. No one should be made to feel like this. And it might put off someone attending and preventing disaster. Stay strong

@blvdbrokendreams if you're ever worried then you really do have to go in, just to be on the safe side.

I do wonder if this isn't just your baby's pattern now though if this is happening all the time? As I said in my previous reply, my little one has very quiet periods/days too and she doesn't have much of a pattern but I've learnt that this is just normal for her. It's important you don't try and compare your baby to anyone else's as every baby is different.

Have you got an app for counting kicks? Maybe a few days of really concentrating on that and recording every movement would help you see some kind of pattern? And what about the cold, sugary drink then lying on your side for an hour or 2 trick? Does that get her moving?

It's obviously causing you a lot of stress and anxiety which is why i asked if anyone has actually had a proper chat with you at the hospital rather than just fobbing you off or making snide comments.

@sel2223 I use a kick count app and aim to concentrate on her at least twice a day. She does respond to coke, it gives her hiccups which is actually quite funny. I've just seen a lovely midwife

OP this was me when I was pregnant. I dont think it was quite 10 times but definitely was not far off!

sorry accidentally hit post by mistake! anyway, I suffered with anxiety and OCD horrifically when I was pregnant and I had it really bad the first few months after she was born too. it makes watching out for movements even worse - I used to get awful thoughts in my head and think the worst every time. the only thing that made me feel better was going in. if that's what makes you feel better and reassured then you keep going in and sod what they think. it's your baby and your peace of mind.

I did also ask for some help with my anxiety but got nowhere with that - fortunately for me by the time baby was about 4 months old it got better to the point it was manageable. if you're suffering with anxiety which sounds like you might be I would strongly advise trying to get some help for that too, I really wish I'd pushed harder for help

not diminishing your fear btw, reduced movements is important. just that heightened anxiety beyond what would be reasonable can make these last few weeks incredibly difficult - I spent weeks 25 all the way to her birth and beyond a panicky mess

@strawberrypip I do have anxiety and like you from 25 weeks it's escalated. Being on furlough/maternity isn't helping. I have nothing to do but feel her move. There's only so much housework and dog walking I can do. I've been begging for help. My doctor told me to 'hang in there' which was really condescending. I spoke to the perinatal team but she seemed more interested in what happened in my past and wanting my entire life story which honestly isn't that interesting. That call was yesterday and she told me theyll assess the notes and be in touch within 4 weeks which isn't great. So I'm feeling sort of abandoned and dont want to ring the doctors again to be told to hang in there.
Sorry that was longer than I expected

I had reduced movement during my pregnancy and I ended up on CTG daily. All scans normal and the CTG perfect. My waters went at 37 weeks and during delivery the water were going and going. It was concluded that the amount of fluids caused cushioning the baby so I could not feel DD.