Anterior placenta and reduced movement

[Grumpy19]

In your experience, does an anterior placenta = more episodes of reduced movement??
I went into maternity unit last night due to reduced movement. When I got there they used a doppler for a few minutes and we could hear baby's heartbeat.
I was reassured but didn't feel any movement till lunch time today.
On my maternity notes it says 'fetal movements felt before discharge ' this has been signed off but I did not feel him move whilst I was there.
He has still been fairly quiet today but there has been some movement. Is this just something to expect with an anterior placenta? I'm 22 weeks.
Thanks for any advice x

I have an anterior placenta, I would say that yes movements can be more intermittent and more muted, but also if you don’t feel movements, if movements are different or less frequent, or if you are at all concerned, then don’t hesitate to get seen. I have been in twice to triage with reduced movements, both times I kind of thought that it was probably babies position with placenta, but I wouldn’t assume that without checking, just in case there was something wrong.

Not episodes of reduced movement, but it can definitely cause reduced awareness of movements. I had an anterior placenta with my second and it was definitely harder to feel movements - first flutterings happened a lot later than my first even though everything I read said I should have felt them sooner than my first. I was also really aware that what I did feel for the rest of pregnancy was a bit muted. Made it harder to find a pattern and I was glad it wasn’t that way with my first. But I would say that if you are at all worried about movement patterns it’s always worth calling the contact number you’ve been given (midwife/birth unit as appropriate) as no one will ever complain about checking that you and the baby are all ok.

I am 25 weeks with an anterior placenta and I have to say that I still go through periods of reduced movement and less intense movement. I called the maternity unit and they said that they cannot invite me in for a monitoring as it is too early for the baby to have a pattern and he may be hiding behind the placenta or in the pelvis. They said they would only call mothers past 28 weeks.

I would be wary of disregarding reduced movements thinking it’s just the anterior placenta. Any change should be checked.

DS was a posterior placenta and gave me hell with reduced movements - although I’m sure part was first time mum anxiety.

DS2 has an anterior placenta and actually, I haven’t noticed much difference. In some ways, I can feel this baby more. He does have active days and quiet days though and I wonder if this is positioning, when he’s kicking towards the placenta. But it just means I need to concentrate more on the quiet days to feel the movement. The movements are still there, just a bit softer and harder to notice when busy. The movements aren’t actually reduced though.

Yes - I’m 36 weeks and I have an anterior placenta and I’ve been in 4 times since 25 weeks with reduced movements. They tell me it’s common for women with anterior placenta to come in several times and to never just dismiss it as the placenta.
I’ve felt good strong movements throughout and then at times it seems to suddenly change and I wonder if it’s her moving to a position to where she’s directly kicking on the placenta and I can’t feel it as well - either way I have chosen to go and get checked each time and so should you if you’re worried.

@Grumpy19 at 22 weeks movements are still probably establishing their patterns. If they have move fetal movements felt it might be that they felt them through your tummy when they examined?

I had that and can say I had episodes of reduced movement and was told that it can happen with that. I had three episodes after 35 weeks so was put for induced labour at 40 weeks.

Baby girl is now 16 weeks old :)

Just go and get checked every time, that is the best advice I think you can follow :)

Thanks all.
This is DC4 but the first time I have had an anterior placenta. I hsve felt movement (clear kicks) from 19 weeks- strong enough to be felt by DH.
It's reassuring to know I won't look daft if I go back in. X