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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Has anyone done the 'ten baby movements' type chart? Some questions ...

13 replies

BellaBear · 02/12/2007 10:19

When did you start?
What counts as seperate movements? (Like a few jiggles in the space of a minute, is that one movement or three?)
Did counting just stress you out and is it therefore better not to bother, would you notice if movements decrease without counting?
What times did you do between? My baby moves most in the evening, and I (think I) don't notice movements when I am really active, like when I am running around at work.
Are you actually organised enough to put crosses into little boxes?

I haven't spoken to my midwife about his yet (am 30+5), but it is suggested in my notes. I thought I would have a little count this morning and it is already at ten movements.

Thanks in advance for any answers, I have to go and do some marking so I won't be back immediately.

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Pheebe · 02/12/2007 11:03

hi bella
congrats on your pregnancy . sorry if theres typos in this post, typing ith 3wk old ds2 on one arm
imo the movement charts are a bit misleading, what you're looking for is a regular pattern of movements so that you become aware if that pattern changes. i made a note of when bubs were active and when they were quiet (sleeping) through the day. clusters of movements count as 1 if you want to count numbers. you'll very quickly become familiar with their pattern, yours sounds very like mine, active in the evening, slept all morning while i worked. i was happy if there was some movement every couple of hours or so.
hope that helps
phee

Original poster

BellaBear · 02/12/2007 11:20

Yes, that does help, thank you. Basically, it is more important to be in tune with what is going on and be able to recognise changes in patterns than it is to fill in numbers on a chart?

That fits in with my general philosophy!

OP posts:

choufleur · 02/12/2007 19:45

Hi Bella i never did the charts but after phoning my midwife in a panic one day because i hadn't felt (or didnt think i'd felt any movement) she told me to drink a pint of ice water. LOs clearly don't like feezing cold water being in your stomach next to them as my ds was doing somersauts - just a handy hint if you're ever worried.

rascal1979 · 03/12/2007 11:42

My consultant has told me that no need to do the kick chart just be aware of what is normal for you - some babies kick 40 times a day some 4!

If you are worried he suggested that I sit for 1-2 hrs and concentrate really hard and see if I can feel movements - if concerned after that ring midwife!

scorpio1 · 03/12/2007 11:44

Best not to chart IMO, just another worry! I never have, i just notice the general times of day i feel movements and would be concerned if i hadnt felt the movements much lke normal that day, iyswim?

Hope you well though

BeeWiseMen · 03/12/2007 11:53

lol at is that one movement or three! That brings back memories. I didn;t bother with counting either as I could never decide what constituted a movement. Then again DD was very active right until the end so I was never really concerned. I think it would be worth doing if you have a generally inactive baby, jut to reassure yourself.

Snaf · 03/12/2007 11:55

I would say absolutely don't bother with charting, unless you are actually worried about baby's movements - in which case there are better ways to deal with it anyway! Tbh, those charts can cause more problems (worry-wise) than they solve.

As you say, by far the best thing is to get yourself in tune with your baby's movements - when your baby is most active, when he/she has a quiet time, etc. You won't feel as much when you're active and occupied and most babies move a lot at night - just as you want to sleep!

If you do feel that your baby hasn't been moving as you would expect, first line action is to have a glass of cold water, change your position, or even give your tummy a bit of a prod If you are still concerned after an hour or so, contact your mw and you can have your baby's movements monitored on the CTG machine if necessary.

Don't forget that patterns of movements/types of movement will change as the baby grows and space gets less and less. Try not to worry - in the (unlikely) event that movements really do decrease, you will notice without having to actually mark them on a chart.

cazzybabs · 03/12/2007 11:57

Mine has just swopped its pattern - it is now overdue but it is much more active...before it would be in a 2 day cycle - I day really active and the next nothing - I would panic but then the next day off we went again!

I could never be bothered with charts though..too much effort!

Original poster

BellaBear · 03/12/2007 18:45

Oh the wise women of mumsnet, you have spoken and I have listened

OP posts:

Caz10 · 03/12/2007 21:26

I find this soooo tricky. Every MW appointment and the once or twice I've had to be in at the assessment unit they've finished up by saying "well as long as you're feeling the baby move about enough then that's the main thing".

This is my 1st pregnancy, HTF am I meant to know if it's moving about ENOUGH?!! I've been stressing about this all the way through, but especially now when I am almost at the finishing line so to speak. I think like cazzybabs mine has active and inactive days - the inactive days scare the crap out of me!

Do you think it is worth charting now even just to get a pattern? There may well be one and I've just been too busy with work etc to notice. Maternity leave is turning into "bump watch" I'm in danger of becoming a mad woman!

I know they are meant to "slow down" a little towards the end - but how much?

Gill79 · 04/12/2007 12:59

yup, same here - what is "moving a lot"? I reckon, much as I worry about it, that a chart would do absolutely no good - if you're having a shower or walking to the shops or tidying up you're liekly not to feel anything and even if you're sitting still at the same time every day it can change. In other words the chart won't tell you more than you know at the moment. What I do is have a little panic at some point every day cause I've forgotten about the baby for a few hours and then try and sit down and concentrate for a bit. Then at night it will start kicking like mad and I'll worry that there's something wrong with it or I;m squashing it's head or something. Also by 31 weeks it's definitely more of a continuous squirming about than definite movements that you can count.

BeeWiseMen · 04/12/2007 13:03

caz you sound so stressed about this. Your baby will have less active days but the cold water trick described by a previous poster should work. Or have you noticed other times that you get more movements? I always got some kicks if I went in the bath or tried to have a sleep. Spicy nik-naks also had an effect .

Personally I don't think I ever had a pattern and keeping a record of movements would just have caused me extra worry. Try it by all means but I don;t know whether it would make you feel better or worse.

How far along are you?

mummyrex · 04/12/2007 13:22

If you are getting in a panic thinking you haven't felt anything then stop what you are doing, drink a glass of cold water and lie down.

99.9999% of the time baby will quickly oblige with a good squirm or kick.

IMO, for most people, charting is a bad idea and just causes stress.

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