Week 26 - No movement

[MnM156]

Exactly what I said in the topic. The baby was moving a lot the day before yesterday but now nothing. I know you all would ask me to call the triage and go for a monitoring. The issue is that I have already called and they are not inviting me in as I am not yet 28 weeks. They said it is not possible for babies to have a pattern at week 26 and the baby might be hiding.

But I am still very very worried. What else can I do? I feel like crying.

You poor thing. You got any ice in the freezer to have a nice cold drink and have some sweets? Just thinking of the classic remedies to get the baby moving.. xx

I bet your baby is now in a different position. Maybe go for a bouncy walk to get the baby to move. They are right though - there's still a bit of space in there for baby to 'hide' x

My go to with DD was a tin of celebrations - the mini mars bars used to make her wild (or was it an excuse for me to eat the celebrations? 🤔)

Failing that a cold Diet Coke normally does the trick?

I'm 19 weeks with twins Thursday I felt them both loads. Friday nothing. Today I ran the Doppler over just to check and found them both straight away. Both placentas are anterior though

I’m 30 weeks now but did have days when baby didn’t seem to move about as much in the weeks before. Like people have said try a cold drink, I have a cold fizzy drink and that usually gets him moving. Try laying down for a while and you may notice more movement.

Have you got an anterior placenta?
To be honest it's very normal for this stage I was exactly the same , in tears all the time when I couldn't feel her and I still am some days at 35 weeks!
If you were confident you were in a pattern I'd push more to get seen but please don't worry because this can be completely normal baby still has lots of room to hide and change position without you knowing xxx

I used to put the cold can on my bump which usually worked.

When I was 26 weeks pregnant my little girl spun round into the breech position which meant I wasn't feeling her move hardly at all. Around this stage they are still quite small so can easily get themselves into a position that makes it harder for you to feel them move! My little girl also used to sleep for a long time and have days where I only felt a couple of movements. I suggest going for a walk, getting on all fours and rocking backwards and forwards, drinking something really cold, eating a sugary snack and some star jumps or laying on your left side for a while. If you are still concerned please call triage back! They should see you even to just have a listen in to baby

Thank you so so much for your replies. I will try all these things today and see if it helps. It is really frustrating. Maybe I am getting paranoid as well. I do need to relax and have positive thoughts. My next scan is at 28 weeks and I cannot wait for it. Hope I can come back with some positive news.

@AlviesMam
I do have an anterior placenta but I have been feeling regular movements since Week 22 and they have been very frequent and strong. Suddenly not feeling him move has scared me to my core.

A private scan to put your mind at rest?

@MnM156 I completely understand your worry but it's more likely the baby has moved positions and is hiding behind your placenta this is so normal I was exactly the same. I'm 35 weeks now and still get quiet days and freak out.
Ring again and push for peace of mind.
Baby turned breech for me when I couldn't feel her anymore and I knew something was definitely different. X

Try above and if no movement call back maternity unit. They will see you. Baby will probably jump about when you get there but best to be safe. They don't mind.

I am also 26 weeks with an anterior placenta and I have already been to triage twice about movements because I really really struggle to feel them. So I sympathise, it’s so stressful. All I can say is it has thus far been fine, and they keep saying that at this stage even a small change of position can mean you can’t feel it anymore! I would maybe also try your midwife - mine has been nice and willing to listen in once a week, just to keep my mind at rest (obvs I still worry...but at least I only have a week at a time til reassurance....!)

(For me none of the usuals ‘tricks’ to get them
Moving help...they are moving, just position plus placenta means I can’t always feel it)

Might be controversial but a home Doppler is helping my anxiety (I've lost 7 pregnancies before) - I don't use it all the time just when I'm feeling anxious. I'm able to find both my twins on it and at the midwife appointment this week when she was looking for them I actually told her where I usually pick them up and then she found them straight away so I'm obviously issuing it right

I got mine second hand on eBay for £20 I think

I cannot thank you all enough for your support and replies. I think I am just getting paranoid. The thing is that the baby has Clubfoot/Talipse and our fetal medicine doctor told us that there could be a slight slight chance that the reason for that is a neural tube or chromosomal defect and if that is the case then there is a slight chance of baby's growth stopping. They have called me again at 28 weeks to rule that out. But obviously any change in movement gets me emotional and I cannot stop panicking. I am sure he has just change his position as I was feeling him a lot the day before yesterday.

@ivfbeenbusy thanks for the suggestion for the doppler. I have just ordered mine. It will hopefully be delivered tomorrow.

I have had a nice breakfast and am now going to relax for an hour and hope for the movements to come.

One more question though: I used to feel the baby quite low under the belly button since week 20. But the day before yesterday I felt a few movements in the middle of the stomach. Does that mean change of position or baby moving up or something? I am a FTM and have no idea of these things.

Baby will be moving up now and movements will get higher when you feel them.

My 18 month old nephew has bilateral talipes and I know how much extra worry that added to my SIL's pregnancy because you worry about underlying causes.

I'd ring back and ask again. Just tell them again that movements were very regular and you've had nothing at all for 2 days.

They definitely move higher as pregnancy progresses. One of my twins is well below the belly button - more like top of pants position on the right . The other is level with my belly button on the left

@MnM156

If you've never used one before remember that there is a main artery in your stomach which will have a "pulse" and also the placenta has its own "pulse" - these will be around the same heart rate level as your own heartbeat. So it should be obvious when you pick the the babies heartbeat up - my twins are around 148-158 beats per minute compared to my heart rate/placenta which is around 70-80. It can take a while to find the first time and they move around a bit so you may only catch it for a few seconds

A Doppler can't replace reassurance scans - picking up a heart beat doesn't mean that reduced movements should be ignored so if you are still concerned still ring the hospital/midwife x

Please please please op remember that home dopplers should only be used for fun, never for reassurance. They can tell you that at the moment of listening in, if indeed you're hearing the baby's heartbeat, that their heart is beating in that moment. This is not an indication of anything else.

Thanks a lot everyone. I just called the triage again. They have asked me to take an hour and lie down (again) and then I am to call again in an hour if still unsatisfied. They also told me that at this stage they would only hear the heartbeat from the doppler. Not offer any more monitoring if the heartbeat is there. So I am just waiting to see if anything happens and will then go for the doppler check at the hospital.

@ivfbeenbusy thanks a lot for the great tips. I have never used one and had no knowledge of placenta having a pulse as well. Thanks again.

@GunsAndShips
I feel like I am swimming in an ocean of unknown die to his Talipse. It is unilateral in mine but we have had sleepless nights over it. Cannot wait for the 28 weeks scan to have more answers. I just know that we are on a journey for another 5/6 years till the issue resolves. It's one thing being mentally prepared for what is to come and another to worry abt the baby in the womb.

If you’re worried still call back, they’ll listen in and at least hearing the heartbeat should give you some kind of reassurance.
No monitoring until 28 weeks seems standard but they should be offering to listen in if you’re worried x hugs x

I went in before 28 weeks and they at least let me hear the heartbeat which was reassuring in itself. Hope all is okay x

How are things now?

I wish you all the best for your 28 week scan. The talipes are a journey and I know the overarching worry right now is the rest of the development. I seem to remember that most talipes are positional. Is it one foot or both?

My nephew has obviously been through the surgery and 24hr positioning. He's 18 months now so only in boots and bars at night. It sounds like a rubbish reassurance but because he's never known any different, he manages it as wonderfully as only a child can. He is the happiest little boy I know too. He seriously laughs constantly. I know his Mums worried about pain and holding him back and all the appointments and so on but he just gets on with it. It's so tough when they're still inside because you don't know anything about them. Their laugh, quirks, hair colour, personality etc. Once they're here, that stuff transcends the other stuff in some ways.