Movements before 20 weeks

[LouDew]

Hi,

I know in all likely hood I am being over anxious but wanted to see what other Mums to be thought.
I’m currently 18+3, FTM, following recurrent miscarriages. Had an amnio on Monday where we saw the baby alive and well and have the 20 week scan on 30th July.
I’m pretty sure over the last couple of weeks I’ve been feeling the beginnings of movement, fluttering sensations and the occasional pop. The last 2 days though I’ve felt nothing. Not a single thing, or when I have, I’ve realised it’s wind passing through.
Is this something to be worried about this early on? I know that movements before 24 weeks can really irregular and I couldn’t even say I’ve felt anything with 100% certainty. It just worries me that I thought I’d been feeling things and now it’s been a couple of days of quiet.
Has anyone experienced similar and been a-ok? Would a call to my midwife be over the top? Can I call on a Sunday?
Just feeling a little lost and unsure, knowing that it’s mostly likely my anxiety causing me to overthink!

Lou

Also FTM and I was aware of movement from about 18 weeks (even though I was telling myself I couldn’t be!)

Sorry pressed send too soon - it wasn’t until 22 ish weeks that I felt them regularly, and ‘they’ say that baby isn’t expected to be in a regular pattern until 26 weeks. x

I was the same at 18 weeks OP. Even now at 25 weeks I sometimes only feel the baby move a little in bed just before I go to sleep. The baby is still quite small at your stage, so all it takes is for it to shuffle to a different position for the movements to no longer be felt. I know it must be difficult not to worry though xx

Movement for me was 21w with anterior placenta.

Thanks for your responses ladies!
It’s reassuring to hear others who have felt movements later on. I had even thought that the baby maybe in a different position, that makes perfect sense.
I think part of my anxiety is that I’d let myself get a little excited this weekend...we visited Mamas and Papas for the first time. Sense of panic ensued at the thought of jumping the gun and hoping for the best. I still can’t quite believe this is happening and might, just might, result in a live baby.

Lou

Baby is still so tiny at 18 weeks. I barely felt my dd for weeks after 18 weeks. I also had an anterior placenta.
It’s such a worry but it’s normal not to feel too much at this stage.

I don't think I felt anything till i was over 22 weeks.....i had my 20 week scan and she was kicking and spinning like mad but I couldn't feel a thing!
They really are teeny tiny at this stage.
Along as you start feeling movements before 24 weeks ish, that's the main thing, and you should feel the movements gently increase as time goes on.
My trust says to start counting kicks from around 28 weeks as thats when most babies start to establish a proper pattern.

*As long not along

I didn’t feel a single thing until 24+2. Your baby is still tiny and there’s plenty of time to feel movements. Do you know where your placenta is yet as this might make a difference?

I’ve just checked my report from the amnio and it says I have an anterior placenta. I guess that can be contributing to not feeling so much.
My main worry isn’t that I can’t feel anything, it’s that I thought I had and now it doesn’t seem to be happening. Although, as I said, maybe I hadn’t actually felt anything in the first place?! Could’ve just been bodily functions?!

@LouDew welcome to the anxious world of anterior placentas!
Unfortunately, that can have a massive impact on what you can feel and how often....it varies a lot at your stage anyway as baby is very small with lots of space to hide and tuck themselves away then you have to add a big cushion over the top (your placenta) which tends to muffle a lot of the movements and make them softer anyway.
They recommend you start properly monitoring movements from about 28 weeks but, even then, having a placenta at the front can make a difference. It might be harder to see a proper pattern for example and it might take longer to see or feel movements from the outside.
I'm 36 weeks now and still worry about movements.

Having an anterior placenta will make a difference unfortunately. I wouldn’t worry yet honestly even if you think you’ve felt something already. Baby is tiny and may have moved around. I was freaking out as I didn’t feel a single thing with mine until 24+2 but it’s been all good since then really. Hang in there! 🙂

I felt first movement at around 17 weeks but probably only once or twice, and I wasn't 100% sure. I then felt absolutely nothing until 21 weeks but since then have felt it every day. So similar to you! I also have an anterior placenta. If the baby turns around at that stage or moves a bit so it's kicking towards your back or kicking into the placenta you're unlikely to feel it I think.
As a PP mentioned you aren't meant to look for a pattern until later on.

17w with my first, maybe a little before. But with second I hardly ever felt him move until the last couple of months

Currently 29 weeks and I was exactly the same! Only felt semi regular movements at about 23/24 weeks but before that it was very gentle and sporadic.

Now its really regular and you cant miss them! Never feel silly about calling the midwifery until though, I have a few times and they made me feel better about things ❤