Foetal movements - when to worry?

[TheBerry]

I'm 30 weeks pregnant with my baby boy. I felt him start moving at about 16 weeks and he's generally been quite active. I would say I've been quite paranoid throughout the pregnancy (probably moreso because I had three miscarriages previously) and there have probably been at least 20 occasions where I've thought he's been moving less and been on the verge of calling the hospital.

I never actually have, and everything seems fine so far - at a routine scan a couple of weeks ago the baby, placenta, blood flow, and amniotic fluid all looked fine and normal.

A week ago on Thursday I felt that all of a sudden the baby went a lot lower down. It felt like he was stabbing me in the cervix and bladder. At the same time, his movements seem to have changed. I am not sure if he's moving less, exactly, but his movements seem sort of slower and less dramatic.

Like, he used to stick his leg (?) right out and the was a visible protrusion that would move around my stomach. It was quite fast and pronounced.

Now, his movements seem to be more rolling / shifting, and less flailing limbs. I still get some protrusions, but they don't come out so far and don't seem so forceful.

He also used to go crazy if I lay too far onto my side (I think he felt squashed) but now he doesn't really do that.

I suspect he is now facing towards my spine, so maybe I'm not feeling his limbs because they're pointing inwards.

I still feel lots of movements in a day, probably twenty or more in an hour, it's just that they're more lackluster than I'm used to.

I have no idea what is normal. Is this ok? Should I call the hospital? I've just been feeling paranoid since the change last week, and keep thinking about placental calcifications and premature pp placental ageing, since my previous miscarriages were immune related.

Sorry for long post. Thanks for your help.

Do call, not because there's anything wrong necessarily, but because they always want to check you out if you think there's any difference in movement.

I went in twice about mine, nothing wrong either time but they were happy to monitor and were lovely about it.

Better to know than keep worrying too.

This sounds pretty normal because when they switch positions and face inwards you feel the movements in a less sharp way

But if there is a change to movement / patterns that you’re concerned about then 100% call and go in. It’s very quick for them to check you’re ok and they’d rather see you than not

I’d recommend to call too, best to be checked out rather than worrying. keep us posted

I'd say it sounds normal, from my past 2 pregnancies. But I would say, if you feel
Worried or concerned l. ALWAYS call and get checked out.

With my first pregnancy, I was in a lot for reduced movements. Baby was born fine, perfectly healthy but was classed as low birth weight for her gestation. Only 6.10 at 40+9. So I think 8th centile.

With my second pregnancy, I didn't never attend for reduced movements. But because my first was small, I was monitored closely. To make sure the placenta was performing as it should. And at one point she dropped a few centiles and I was told if this dropped more at my follow up appointment or placenta wasn't optimal. I would be induced at the next appointment. This was all before 34 weeks. Luckily my next appointment, she'd caught up. And ended up being born 40+6 and 7.9.

I went in on Monday as my Dd's movements had reduced a little but seemed weak, they said I was absolutely right to call, all was fine with her and I was glad for the reassurance. Always best to get checked out

Thanks all, I called triage and we're in the waiting room now.

The baby boy seems fine tbh, they checked his heart with a Doppler and it seemed fine. He also did some quite big movements during that.

Now I'm just waiting for the trace to track his movements?

Typically, it seems he's moving more now than he usually has since last Thursday! I'm kind of worried this is the "exception" rather than the rule based on the last week.

But maybe this is just how his movements are now since he shifted position on Thursday? A new normal 🤷🏻‍♀️

All done and he seems fine - he moved more during the trace than he has all week. The midwife did say he was low down, so I do think he's just gone into a low position with his back facing out and that's why it feels different.

I'm glad I went in and I feel much better.

I did have glucose in my urine, though! I'm having a second test on Tuesday. All I'd eaten before giving the sample was Weetabix with no sugar on. Hopefully there's no gestational diabetes but we'll see.

Glad everything was okay! I Went in for reduced movements a few times... and the same as you soon as they were checking he was moving everywhere! (Always the way )

You did the right thing. If you get concerned again just give them a call.

Any change in movements needs investigating. I've had EMCS with all my DC because of reduced foetal movements.