22+4 - movements decreased, heartbeat detected - anterior placenta and plus size

[Liam2018]

Hi all,

Ftm mum here and I'm confused. I'm currently 22+4, had a scan at 21+6 and baby is perfectly well and healthy. However, I havent felt any movements for about a week. (I felt flutters daily for about a week before)

they called me in at 22+1 and checked for heartbeat and they found him but I still haven't felt anything.

When do I worry? Does anyone have this experience with a anterior placenta. I am plus size too

Thank you!

Hi OP, I'm sorry you're going through this stress too - it's difficult. I have an annterior placenta (second pregnancy) and felt nothing until 23 weeks. From 23 to 25 I felt flutters/bubbles most evenings, then at 25 weeks it just stopped. MW sent me for an urgent scan which was fine and I was told to just keep going on to be monitored as long as I want feeling movements. I'm 31 weeks and still being scanned weekly and having CTG monitoring more or less every other day as I feel barely any movement. I can go 3 days without anything at all, and what I do feel is usually just a few bubbles of an evening. Monitoring always shows a very happy, active baby so the issue is entirely with me, not him. I'm not particularly plus size but did have a horrific crash cesarean 2 years ago and I'm convinced I have nerve damage/scarring internally that is causing this because I also had an anterior placenta in that pregnancy and did not have these issues.
I can't be of much help other than to say if it continues keep getting checked out at your MAU (especially after 25 weeks which seemed to be when they started panicking) - I know it feels like you're being a bother but it is what they are there for and they won't mind doing it. Hopefully your movements will pick up soon - I'm 31 weeks today and over the past 3 days mine have finally become better - still few and far between but stronger, and at least one or two every night. My consultant told me that the occasional woman just doesn't feel movements at all 😕

Thanks for your response! So sorry you are going through this stress!! I'm glad baby is ok!! And you don't have a anterior placenta this time? How weird! I do get reassurance because he is fine and they can find his heartbeat and he was fine and big on scans but id just love to feel him, even if it was just once or twice a day so I know he's ok!

@Liam2018 sorry if I wasn't clear - I do have an anterior placenta this time too. Earlier on they kept saying that that was why my movements were so poor and that they would pick up 'any day now'. Now they don't bother 😂 interestingly my baby is also measuring big but you would think that would make movements easier to feel not harder!
At 22+1 there's still a very good chance you'll start getting movements again very soon - mine didn't start at all until 23 weeks. I also found that when he was facing my back and kicking backwards I felt literally nothing at all for days on end but did have horrific back ache so yours could have moved into a similar position.

I’m 26 & 2 and I have an anterior placenta and plus size. I started feeling flutters at 18 weeks and then they would just go for a few day’s. I’ve gone in twice for reduced movements at 22 and 24 weeks and both times baby has been fine. Since I hit 25 weeks I have finally felt consistent movement and over the past 5 days his kicks have gotten sooo much stronger and if I put a flashlight to my stomach he reacts with a punch or a kick (remember I’m (very) plus size so didn’t think this would work). Hope you start getting regular movement soon but don’t be afraid to go in to the hospital if you’re worried. The midwife told me if I need to come in 100 times then that’s what I should do