Baby not moving at night

[Ohhiiii]

I'm 36 weeks and baby used to move loads at night - I've always woken up a lot (4-6 times) during the night and a few weeks ago he used to kick every time I got up to go to the toilet, but it's got less and less the bigger he is. Last night he didn't move at all until 4am when I lay awake for half an hour poking him to make sure he was ok. I'm sure it's one of the reasons I sleep badly as I'm subconsciously worried. I had my scan on Monday and antenatal appointment yesterday and everything is totally normal so shouldn't be worried, but it does worry me. Anyone else?

He starts to move normally by the way when it's morning and DP gets up and we start talking 🙄

Baby is probably asleep then. Hopefully getting into a sleeping pattern.

This is what my sleep looks like most nights. It's exhausting 😒

hi there, the advice is if its not your normal you should go get checked out. your right its probably nothing but if its playing on your mind get checked out just to be sure

I'm just not sure what there is to check though seeing as placenta is normal, blood flow is normal, heart rate was normal, growth is normal, amniotic fluid is normal, and then he moves as normal in the morning. It's not just last night as a one off really, it's over the last couple of weeks it's been getting less and less and I have to poke him to get him to move. So it'd probably be a total waste of time 🤷🏻‍♀️

Any sign if reduced movements needs to be checked.

You don't know what's going on in there.

I dint want to scare you but how can you see what the umbilical chord is up and other complications. Go get checked.
I've been in your shoes.

Hi, im 36 weeks too and I have the exact same thing as you. I got really used to the baby being really active at night and would wake up throughout the night and would feel him moving a lot. over the past week or more its really eased up, the movement in general is just a lot more subtle. I find the information about movement really confusing and often contradictory, a midwife has told me that babies have different days of being quiet and more active but then at the same time they say 'but if you notice a change go to the MAU' so it's quite easy to get yourself into a state. after a good few days of the baby consistently moving a lot less (not so much the frequency, well he wasn't very active at night anymore, but more the strength) I went to the assessment unit and everything is fine so they didn't really have any suggestions for me. The consultant just said that all the monitors and everything are fine so she's not concerned at all, so I'm not quite sure what to do with myself really because movement is still a bit reduced.

I know they say that as you near the end the baby is becoming more engaged and descending which makes sense. anyway, just wanted to say that I'm in same position as you and don't really know what to do about it either. they said that if I keep getting worried that I can asked to be induced after 37 weeks - but if all the monitors etc are fine (I've also had scans every too weeks the past 6 weeks) then I don't want to do that.

anyway, best of luck xxx

@strawberrycheesecake1989 definitely look into inductions for this reason. I really really wish done my research, most end in a c section as induction can fail if baby isn't ready. Same thing happened to 5 people in our mums group I met once baby arrived.

They say to go in if reduced movements to check on the monitors and if monitors are fine that baby is just being lazy etc. It is scary.

Did you raise the change / lack of movement at your appointment?

@BabyG123 had a scan today (a fundal height measurement triggered a growth scan so I was referred for fortnightly growth scans with a consultant - had third and final one today (all measurements and checks are fine) but given that she saw that I've been in for reduced movement more than once she said asked if I wanted to book in an induction at 39 weeks (currently 37 weeks) and that recommended that if I have reduced movement again I come to hospital and get induced straight away.

not quite sure what to do really... quite scared of an induction - for one of the reasons you mentioned being a c-section, was really hoping to do things as naturally as possible - also I know that spontaneous labour is a lot more manageable. did you have an induction? of course baby being ok is my priority but I don't want to have unnecessary interventions for no reason either!

@strawberrycheesecake1989 I'm glad all is well. It's so hard if everything seems fine as obviously they do run out of room.

I had a induction for 4 days and it didn't hurt etc just a bit disheartening when on day 4 they said no choice but to section

@strawberrycheesecake1989 must be a worry now they've said that. I'd be tempted to get baby out if I was worrying but if all was ok and they're happy to wait another 2 weeks then maybe it's just the new normal of movements?

I think I was so used to little legs kicking all over the place and then suddenly there's just not enough room to do that any more, so I don't get the big stomach movements. I have a permanent foot on my left side I can prod and it always moves when I do, so I try and reassure myself with that. Woke up 4 times last night and he moved straight away when I prodded him so trying to reassure myself I'm just over worrying. I feel like I haven't felt him in a while during the day and then he moves every time after I think about it so I do think it's just me being anxious. I am ready to ring the midwives though if at any point I feel like I'm not over reacting 😬

It's so hard as reduced movement is drummed in. Obviously for a reason but you do wonder if it's just you at times.

I was so worried I just wanted to go ahead.

Looking back I wish I'd researched more and found the non hormonal sane person. Trying hard to do that with no 2!