At what stage should I worry about reduced movements?

[Merryclaire]

I’m 25 weeks pregnant with first baby, and yesterday morning had a panic about reduced movements. Called midwife - they said to come in, and checked heartbeat, which was fine. They said they don’t start ‘monitoring’ until 28 weeks, but are always happy for me to come in if I’m worried.
Baby was then fairly active in the afternoon.

But again this morning, have only felt one small movement so far, so feel anxious again.

Am I just being over sensitive at this stage? I’ve only been able to feel any movement at all for the last 3 weeks, and assumed it would just keep getting stronger. But seem to be having periods where nothing is happening or the movement is only quite subtle.

If going in every time I’m worried is the right thing to do, then I will, but it’s 2 hours out of work and I’m conscious I don’t want to become a complete hypochondriac going in every day, especially if it’s normal at this stage.

Any advice or reassurance is very welcome please.

Where is your placenta?

If you're worried go and get checked. Not worth the risk of not getting checked.

The placenta is posterior - so shouldn’t affect anything. I also went though a lot of worry that I wasn’t getting movement until 22 weeks.

Given that it’s been a bit inconsistent so far, would you give it a couple of hours before going in though, to see if they become active?

If you are worried definitely ring triage or your midwife to check, and talk to them about whether they want you to be monitoring a pattern yet. My midwife told me they don't establish a clear pattern until 28-30 weeks and when I went in at about 24/25 weeks to get checked for movements they reassured me with the heartbeat and said they are still so little at that stage they can easily move into a space you can't feel.

I had this a couple times too, each time I got checked out just in case. It's turns out my baby was facing the other way so I didn't feel it so strongly.

I would get checked out but try not to panic! Maybe give yourself a time to ring by if you still haven't felt movement.

The sonographers are there for a reason and they will always much rather you get checked and everything be fine than you put it off!

Always ring if your worried. That is what they are there for. If you have to go in several more times then so be it. Nothing is more precious than a baby. Waiting for those to come along and tell you otherwise but you must do what you think is best. Great if every time you go in everything's fine.

At 25 weeks mine had quiet days and active days. I would try and pick up on a pattern e.g. mornings active, afternoons quiet....and then he would switch it up to confuse me 😅I always tried to tell myself that I had periods where I was sitting, lying etc and didn't move, so why wasn't he allowed to 😄That's what my gynaecologist also said at that stage.

Now at 30 weeks the smaller movements are more noticeable so I feel something throughout most of the day. He's currently kicking me in the bladder. 😜

Obviously go in if you're worried, but where does it stop? 3,4,5 times a week to the midwife unit? It's tricky but there has to be a balance

Thanks all - I have felt quite a few subtle movements since posting so will give a bit more time. Maybe she’s just in a position where I’m feeling it less. She is moving now, but it’s all quite gentle.

Logically I know it’s normal for the movements to be inconsistent at this stage. But then the messaging is also very clear about getting reduced movements checked out.

So as an anxious pregnant person it’s really hard to know when to make that call!

I think like pp have said, there's not a proper pattern until a few weeks down the line but when I was worried I would try to take half an hour, lie on left side and concentrate on movements. Usually you feel something and realise that it wasn't noticeable when you were going about your normal life. Cold/sugary drink gets them moving too but not sure if that's going to give you an accurate picture of baby's normal movements.

Also I'm pretty sure movement is movement so soft movements count the same as sharp jabs 🙂