Anyone else's baby gone quiet in later pregnancy?

[RobynNora]

I'm 34 weeks and mine has been so quiet over the past couple of days! His movements have been much milder and he hasn't been wriggling like a loon in response to iced water, like usual. Is anyone else experiencing similar?

I went to get him monitored at the hospital today and all is absolutely fine, so I'm more curious than worried. I'm wondering whether it's because he's getting bigger or going through a growth spurt or perhaps just sleeping more at this stage?! Very aware that baby movements should not reduce in later pregnancy, but maybe it's normal for them to become more muted. I also have an anterior placenta so I guess it's also possible that he's just found a new position.

You should be feeling your baby move even when you're in labour.
Ever since I got to 32 weeks I've noticed a change in my babies movements. I got it checked out too and all is well (currently 37+4) and I thinks because space is tight but I do feel him moving a lot it's just not as pronounced as before. As you said most likely due to lack of space.
I was also told it was because he was transverse and now he's engaged the movements have picked up again

Please, please call your midwife and get checked. It’s absolutely vital to get any change in movements checked, please don’t just sit it out. I’m sure baby is fine but don’t mess around in these situations. Phone, now. Please.

Whoops I just read it properly and saw you’ve been already, I feel silly now! Glad all is fine but you absolutely did the right thing to take it seriously.

Same, I am almost 33 weeks and movements changed from donkey kicks to rolls and stretches around 3 ish weeks ago. Got it checked and all was fine too. He is still keeping to the pattern despite change in 'quality' of his movements, so most likely as the space is getting tighter one feels movement slightly differently, no space to do backflips anymore.

@GeorginaTheGiant Aw thanks for the concern! I appreciate it and you're quite right. One of the reasons I got it checked out pronto was because of seeing so many comments like yours on here over the years so it's well worth saying. Maybe someone will read your comment here in future and be jolted into action!

@Mc3209 that's really good to know! Mine are exactly the same - from kicks to rolls, but at similar sorts of times. I'm finding the rolls less obvious, so need to pay much more attention. I guess it's the equivalent of us moving from a great big swimming pool to a piddly bathtub.

@lockdownpregnancy I'm glad all was well with you too. That's interesting that you went through a stage with the movements not being as pronounced and that they've picked up now he's engaged. I'll be watching out for that. Not long now for you - how exciting!

Have a cold drink - our midwife suggested that to get some movement. Remember the baby has less room to move around too.

But - as ever - when in doubt, call your midwife, always get it checked out.

Yes i can relate @RobynNora I've noticed it too and went to get checked last week at 37 weeks. All was fine, the midwife said movement shouldn't decrease but the nature of them can change, like more rolls rather than kicks etc. She did say to keep on eye on it and come back if im feeling reduced movement again

@RobynNora so ready for him to come now! I also find that when he moves now he is engaged I get a lot of shooting and pelvic pain as he's applying pressure now he's where he's supposed to be!
Plus I pee a lot more as with him being engaged I've got a lot of pressure on my bladder

I still get rolls jabs kicks pokey limbs and all sorts of movement from baby at almost 38w. Mine literally never stops!

Hi @RobynNora,

I totally sympathise as I am 33 weeks and 5 days and the past weekend, baby's movements completely changed. I went from being able to physically see and feel their movements with my hand, to being only slightly sure if I had felt them or not. The movements went from being obvious to internal ... which is ridiculous to say I know as all the movements are internal! But they felt deep within and muted.

By the end of Saturday I wasn't happy - even after eating about 8 Quality Streets and a Double Decker! 🙈 So I went in to be monitored. Even on the screen I could see where baby was supposedly moving but I couldn't feel it. All was fine but my trust are amazing and repeat it the next day if Mum isn't happy.

Went on Sunday - again could feel baby but the movements weren't convincing so my trust scanned me Tuesday but by Monday morning the little pickle was back to normal. They obviously just knew it was the weekend! 🤣🙈

I literally just said to DP an hour ago, I only have approx 8 more weeks max. of movement watching/worrying to go. And as I first felt baby around 18/19 weeks, I've already done about 15 and so 8 doesn't seem too bad.

I do get anxious about it due to a precious MC but we haven't got long now to go.

We've got this! 💪