Wild movements then nothing at 40 weeks

[swiftt]

I think I’m going to call triage this morning but just wondered if anyone else had experienced this.

I’m 40+2. Baby has never had much of a pattern with movements. I’ve been in many times for reduced movements and my midwife keeps warning me that they will want to induce if I go in again - I know I can refuse this if it isn’t necessary. Baby has always been fine and no concerns medically. I just can’t seem to feel much of her movements when she’s in certain positions.

The past week I’ve been feeling a lot more movements at night. Last night was particularly excessive to the point where I was in pain and started timing contractions. I was struggling to tell the difference between baby’s wild movements and what could be contraction pain. This went on for a couple of hours then tailed off.

Been awake this morning for a while and have felt nothing from baby yet. I’m getting myself worried that she was in some sort of distress last night. I did mention to my midwife when I saw her this week that I had been experiencing more movement than usual and that’s when she again warned me about induction if I call triage about movements again. I will definitely call if I’m worried but it is a little off-putting to be told that. I should also add that I do have some anxiety around this pregnancy due to a previous loss, and that almost definitely feeds into my worries around movements. Whilst I’m 99% sure she’s fine, I can’t take 1% risk that she isn’t.

Basically, has anyone else had bouts of excessive movements at this stage? Am I right in getting checked out over it? Even if she does go back to normal movements this morning, I feel like a stint on the CTG at least would put my mind at ease. But the thought of having to fight against the recommendation of induction (based solely on episodes of reduced movements and not for a medical reason) is kind of stressing me out.

Good luck @swiftt. I was induced twice . Dc1 was a caesarean and dc2 was Vbac. Both fine.

So glad they got you in so quick OP. Like you said it's not worth the risk.

I was induced and it was a lovely experience. It wasn't like the horror stories I heard about.

They won't just induce you unless they think baby really needs to come out. They might offer you a sweep today as you've gone past your due date. Did you not see your midwife on your due date and they offer a sweep? That's routine here. Not sure if it's the same everywhere else.

You got this x

Hi OP, hope you are getting checked out and all is ok. I don’t really agree with the way that people on this post have fed into your anxiety and rubbished your birth choices! I totally understand how you feel about being threatened with an induction - just know that it is totally 100% your choice to refuse. Yes reduced movements can be an indicator of an issue but it is so so hard sometimes to tell when you have anxiety and there are no guidelines about what is and isn’t normal! My baby never had a pattern either. So much pressure/ responsibility is placed on women to know when something is wrong, that it can drive you mad with anxiety over every tiny little movement. I don’t think it’s right. There’s a difference between educating women about reduced movements and taking their concerns seriously, and dumping all responsibility on them to be able to tell what is an isn’t right when there’s so much variation. If all else is completely well and they just want to induce you because you’ve been to triage a few times for reassurance about movement I can totally see why you would be on the fence. Just remember is totally up to you! Good luck and hope all is well with baby xx

@PixieDust28 I saw my midwife at 40 weeks and she told me she wouldn’t do a sweep til 41 weeks. I may ask for one today depending on what the doctor recommends.

On the CTG now. The midwife I have seen was much nicer than my own and her words were ‘as you’re at term, they may offer you can induction’ - I much prefer the wording of being offered. My own midwife keeps saying ‘they will induce you’ and that’s what stresses me out. She knows about the anxiety which makes it worse.

Offer is a much nicer way to put it . Glad you are on the Ctg x

@Bizawit to be honest, I did need a bit of a kick up the bum to phone this morning. It’s just difficult to feel like you’re not making a fuss when baby doesn’t have much of a pattern. I’d always rather be safe than sorry but I’ve had a few experiences with the midwives that have made me feel a little bit like I’m being excessive. Maybe I am but I don’t know what’s normal movement wise most the time. I’ve gotten a lot more used to less movements as that’s more consistent for baby, but the excessive, erratic movements really threw me. I was all for refusing induction and letting baby come on her own but at this point I’m now thinking maybe she will be better out than in. I’m getting more worried about negative outcomes as the days go on. It’s like the first trimester anxiety all over again.

I found the hospital midwives much better when I was overdue with my first than the community midwives who just kept saying we will book you in for induction.
Hopefully there will be a doctor who can explain all the risks/benefits of all options to you as well.
Glad all is well and you’re on the monitor.

@Bizawit I haven't saw anyone rubbishing birth choices. I have only saw people highlighting the importance of being checked out and why induction is suggested. They don't like to take chances with babies as we can't see what I going on in there and as I was told my baby was better out than in! She most definitely was, apart from growing smaller there was no other indicators on scans (Doppler and fluid levels fine) no reduced movements to suggest my placenta wasn't functioning as well as if should. The only evidence was after I gave birth and my little one showed signs of it. She was born at 37+6. It's not feeding anxiety it's stating facts. The risk of still birth after 40 weeks increases dramatically.

Hope you meet your little one soon OP xx

@swiftt they'll see you immediately for reduced movements. I was induced for reduced movements. When they monitored her heart rate, she wasn't getting the normal episodes of high acceleration that they get.

Good luck! After 40 weeks and episodes of reduced movements I’d think really carefully about refusing induction. It might not be what you’d planned but can still be a great experience.

I’m really grateful for all of the stories and advice. It’s helpful for me to hear both sides. I will see what the doctor recommends today. Have to go to the main hospital after the CTG is done as I’m at my local stand-alone maternity unit at the moment.

I had a really positive induction at 38 weeks, I begged for a section instead because I'd heard induction horror stories but the induction really wasn't too different from the water birth I had (I also had a water birth with the induction, so you can still ask for that)
But remember, your birth your choice. You can ask for a section if you'd prefer.

I'm glad to get to the end and see that you're already being checked as I was going to say get on the phone straight away

All pregnancies and births are different but I've been induced and tbh I was quite happy to go with the medical advice.

@Metallicalover I don’t wish to start a row, merely provide an alternative perspective. if were me in the OPs position and I got responses like some of these I would have been upset. OP says that she isn’t so fine.

To clarify- Several people said things like get checked. give birth” “have the induction”. Etc. In my mind that was rude and in appropriate. Several people also immediately started implying OP’s symptoms were indicative of stillbirth which I considered to be unkind in the context of her anxiety. Of course we should share information honestly but I am sure OP is aware of the advice on movements and stillbirth- hence having been checked several times . In the overwhelming majority of cases when women go get checked for reduced movements everything is totally fine, so people could have still provided helpful and honest information whilst being more sensitive and thoughtful in their response.

I’m sorry if it offends you and I don’t wish to start a debate but I felt it needed to be said.

@swiftt fair enough I’m glad you found it helpful!!
I think it might have upset a differently minded woman so wanted to say something. Anyways- your thread - will leave it there. Good luck!! X

Also sorry to hear that you’ve been made to feel like you’re making a fuss for going and getting checked. That’s not on at all 😡. And nothing wrong with getting that induction if you decide it’s right for you and baby . Hope it all goes well.

Glad you’re getting the CTG done. I read a very sad story written by a woman who was trying to promote the knowledge that you should go get excessive movements checked out too. She didn’t know that excessive movements should be checked, as I think a lot of people don’t. Your current midwife sounds nice. Good not to feel railroaded.

CTG was fine. Doppler ultrasound was fine. They talked me through induction options. Doctor recommended I be admitted to the labour ward for pessary and continuous monitoring if I wasn’t happy with movements today. But if I was happy I could have an outpatient induction and go home. Baby is still quiet but she does have quiet days so I have managed to go home but will be extra vigilant with movements and will phone again if I am concerned in the slightest. Going back in tomorrow morning to have balloon inserted then I can go home again. Fingers crossed things get started but I’m not feeling hopeful as they attempted a sweep and my cervix is still long and hard so they couldn’t even do the sweep.

Good luck OP! If it makes you feel any better, I was induced at 41 weeks and my cervix was also very unfavourable when they put the pessary in. The midwife also couldn’t do a sweep. I had the pessary inserted at midday on Saturday, we went home, contractions started around 6pm, we were back in hospital by 4am, and our daughter was born at 7pm on Sunday. So not long at all. Keeping all fingers crossed for you!

That’s the best outcome. You got it checked out but are still in control of it. Good luck with the birth, hope there’s not too much waiting around.

How are you , any news ?

@Sunnyday321 started induction yesterday with a balloon inserted. Had it removed today. Had quite a rough sweep afterwards and now at home waiting for either labour to start naturally or for a space on the labour suite to have my waters broken. Hopefully she’s here soon!

Good luck OP !!

Fingers crossed you start soon . Good luck .

Good luck