Tips on getting baby to move

[Bells3032]

I'm now 22+3. First time mum with an anterior placenta and fed up with not being able to feel baby move. Midwife says not to worry due to placenta. I think I've felt some light movements but nothing definitive.

Any tips on how to get her to move more. Tried lying quietly, cold drinks and shining a light.

I'm especially anxious as she was originally a twin and we had a mmc with the twin

But she could be moving loads and you just aren't feeling her.

If you think you can feel little movements I'm sure in 1-2 weeks you will start feeling harder kicks etc.
Is is your first? I didn't feel a thing with my first until 23 weeks.

Have you tried full fat cold fizzy coke or Dr pepper?

You can also hire a home ultrasound machine to see baby whenever you want when anxious.

I've not done it by lots of mums on a Facebook group I'm in have. Apparently super easy to use and can see baby anytime.

I wouldn't be doing any cold drinks and the home ultrasound machines if you don't know what you are doing you may hear blood from umbilical cord rather than baby.

It's your first, movements happen later.

If you’ve not felt any kicks yet, then it’s just waiting until her kicks are strong enough to be felt unfortunately.

Everyone said to me that they felt like gas bubbles going nowhere. However, for me I’d say they felt more like a twinge. Not a full cramp just a very small pull in a very localised spot. When I tuned into those feelings I could tell they were happening in slightly different places each time. So it could be that you’ve got movement but it’s not how you’ve been told it will feel.

I'm sorry for your loss OP, but it's just a bit early. Try lying on your side, but leave the coke (and definitely leave the ultrasound) for now.

If you're really concerned obviously seek help but at 22w I don't think you'll get consistent movement.

I'm just re-reading Emily Oster's book and apparently three loud claps above your stomach is more effective than cold drinks etc.

I feel stronger movement after being active e.g hoover whole house and go up and down the stairs a few times

Or sometimes after a hot chocolate

I have an anterior placenta and I was about 22 weeks before I felt the baby move a tiny bit. I'm now 38 weeks and still I don't feel her often. I think some babies don't move as much but the anterior placenta is the main cause of not feeling the baby.

@JasonMomoasgirlfriend

I wouldn't be doing any cold drinks and the home ultrasound machines if you don't know what you are doing you may hear blood from umbilical cord rather than baby.

It's your first, movements happen later.

Huh? I think your confusing home ultrasound machines with a Doppler.

Dopplers should only be used by medical professionals.

Home ultrasound machines are just that. You put it to your tummy and see baby on the screen. It's straight forward and you don't need any medical training.

The only issue is it seems a bit costly so I'm not bothering!

Cookiejarmonster oh yes I'm thinking of a Doppler. But I imagine seeing anything on ultrasound that you can't figure out is going to increase worries too when actually everything is likely fine.

Leave it to the experts, I say!

Please don’t look into getting a home ultrasound machine. I can’t believe things like that are available - same as home Dopplers. They should only be available for use by trained professionals

I had an anterior placenta with my twins - even with the two of them in there it was past 22 weeks before I was really sure I was feeling them and not wind!

Go in the bath and run the tap while you’re in it. It must have been the noise of the water that always got my baby to move. It was the one time I knew he was okay

Early on I found just lying down in a quiet spot with my hands on my belly for an hour or two allowed me to really focus and feel the tiny little movements that you wouldn't feel when you're doing stuff.

But I agree with other posters that it's better not to get hung up on movements just yet, 22 weeks is still early and they'll get stronger and more noticeable all on their own over the next few weeks.

Totally empathise with your anxiety over the anterior placenta, it's been the part of pregnancy I've absolutely hated

I only felt very light taps which I honestly thought were gas bubbles from around 23 weeks onwards, and when I was busy or easily distracted they were very easy to miss. They only started getting stronger at around 28 weeks but again could be easy to miss. I'm 34 weeks now and it's still pretty much the same. I've also found it incredibly hard to figure out a pattern for movements but from reading others experiences that seems to be quite common with an anterior placenta

Tips and tricks we have tried is having something sugary, shining a light on the belly, doing a few star jumps and then lying down, and hot and cold drinks. Sometimes baby responds, sometimes they don't. I've found the thing that consistently works is calming my mind (usually flicking through my phone or TV as a distraction), lying on my side or sitting up properly and just properly concentrating on movements for an hour or so

If you continue to have concerns, speak to your midwife/go to triage. I've been to triage twice with my worries and brought them up at every midwife appointment. My midwives have been lovely about it as I think they would rather reassure you a thousand times then potentially miss something.

I would also say don't google and/or read through forums when you are super anxious. I've done this before and it only sent me in to a massive panic!

All the best for your pregnancy

It’s too early. That’s why.

Exactly. All these so called tips are pointless when the reason is regardless if placenta position lots of people do not feel any movement for another few weeks yet.