18 weeks - only felt movements once, starting to worry

[IDK2020]

Hi,

I’m just over 18 weeks and am yet to properly feel the baby,I’ve.

I’ve had several times where I thought it might be movement but couldn’t be sure wasn’t wind/muscle/imagination.

On Sunday morning, I had the first movement that I was
pretty certain must be the baby (felt like a wriggle inside that made me jump!).

However, I haven’t felt anything since, not even suspected movements.

When you first felt your baby move was it sporadic / not very often to begin with?

I carry my extra weight around my middle so I guess this is padding but still can’t help being worried that I haven’t felt anything since the first clear ,over the. Would really value hearing other experiences.

Thanks

I had nothing until 23/24 weeks

It's very normal to be a few more weeks along before you can reliably feel movements.
Try not to worry

No kicks for me until 24 weeks either

Thank you, logically I know I am worrying too much and shouldn’t but it’s hard not to be concerned. I think having one movement and then nothing is worrying me more than if I hadn’t felt anything yet.

Thanks for your experiences.

Please don't stress, I have a posterior placenta (so its at the back), meaning technically I should have felt movements sooner. I didn't until 22 ish weeks and was panicking that others were feeling movements and I wasn't.

I also carry a bit more padding round the middle and put it down to that!

I didn't feel anything until 24 weeks which was one kick, then nothing until 26 weeks.

I first starting feeling movements at around 18 weeks and yes it was sporadic at first. By 22weeks ish I was feeling baby regularly. At 33 weeks now and she’s currently having a lovely evening. Try not to worry. They are so small at first they have to do pretty big movements for you to feel them.

Oh OP, I know exactly how you feel! I was like this in my first pregnancy. I felt the baby at 18 weeks and again a few days later and then I worried. I called triage and they brought me in. If you call your maternity unit they will get you in for observations (as they are so hot on monitoring movement), but they can only really listen for the heart beat at this point, the CTG (machine that registers kicks and contractions) only works from around 24 weeks. Also be aware that it will be noted as an episode of reduced fetal movements, even if the obs are all fine and you tell them that your anxiety brought you in. I was constantly in for monitoring as my anxiety got the better of me. It will put you on a different care pathway with extra scans etc. Also, I really don't want to sound cold or unfeeling, but if something is wrong with the baby, there sadly is nothing they can do at this gestation.

I really, really do not want to put anyone off seeking medical attention if they are worried about their baby's movements! Please go in if you are concerned!!! I just wish I'd had more support for my anxiety. Wishing you and your baby all the best in this pregnancy!

Sorry, to answer your question. Yes, it was very sporadic and felt very faint when I first felt my first move, and easily mistaken/ confused with something else. I'm overweight but I've never understood why that would mean I would feel less (can see how it would dampen feelings on the outside of the bump). First time I had a posterior placenta but this time it's anterior. I swear I felt something at 14 weeks though and constantly think I can feel the baby (16 weeks) but I'm probably imagining it 🤷 It's so incredibly weird how little you actually know about what's going on inside your own tummy though, isn't it? I had no clue about my baby's position for example. The movements suddenly felt different really late in pregnancy and in hindsight it was blindingly obvious that he had turned breech and I kept feeling his ridiculously massive head under my ribs. I just worried because it felt different...

I just started feeling slight movement in week 22. I have an anterior placenta so it is not very unusual. Still very sporadic and I have to lie down and concentrate a lot to feel one kick.

I got a kind of tickly, fluttery sensation when I first felt our baby - I was 20 weeks.