Advice needed r.e reduced fetal movements

[SRLaycock]

Im currently 26+6 with my 4th pregnancy (followed 3 x MMC’s).

From approx 21 weeks I seemed to have an established pattern of baby being super active in the morning and at night with movements still being sporadic in the day.

Over the past 2 weeks I’ve had intermittent days where I’ve barely felt any movement - I’ve ended up in triage multiple times. Fetal auscultation has always been fine and I’ve had a growth scan which was fine.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this and things have progressed normally?

I also have an anterior placenta but the midwives have said I should still feel my normal movements despite this.

I know I’m naturally going to be anxious because of my history so talking this through with anyone who is willing to share would be gratefully appreciated ❤️

Obviously you always get checked out for reduced movements. But if baby turns (head down to breech or vice versa) then the kicks can feel wildly different and it's possible that one 'type' is more masked by the placenta. And the pattern can change, you get it checked of course because of the change but if it's been consistently inconsistent for two weeks it could just be a new normal, it depends if it's the old pattern most days still.

I'm also 26+6 😅 always go get reduced fetal movement checked, the midwives encourage it. Its hard to figure out their patterns when it's your first baby this far along, but I'm sure everything will be fine x

Yes. It happened to me at around 27-29 weeks (I think). Patterns can change and things start to feel different as the baby grows and takes up more room and shifts to new, different, more comfortable (for baby, not mum) positions.

But at the same time, any reduction in movement or changes pattern should be checked out.

Baby 3 wasn't a mover at all 🤷🏻‍♀️ it was nerve wrecking trying to remember if she moved that day or not

Your replies have made me feel a little less like I’m overthinking so Thankyou ☺️.

I’m hoping it’s just that her pattern is changing and what I thought was an established pattern earlier on is in fact not!

@SRLaycock when I had an anterior placenta in my first pregnancy I actually didn't feel much in the way of movements so your midwife saying it won't affect you being able to feel everything isn't correct. It'll really depend where your placenta is and what position the baby is in!

That said, obviously if you have concerns, then get checked!

Anterior placenta will of course have an impact on the movements. It places a buffer between you and the baby. Not sure why your midwife said that two of my friends had AP and they had v reduced feelings of movement throughout. V stressful for both of them.

I was worried in my pregnancy too as baby barely moved and the lovely team st the hospital reassured me I couldn’t check too many times . When DS was born (our 3rd) he carried on being unbelievably sleepy and inactive despite feeding and growing really well and over the months has woken up and completely fine.

if in doubt I would say just keep going in for monitoring regardless as you always want the best possible care for you and your baby and it’s just good to check all ok

I had anterior placenta but it was high so I did feel a fair bit sometimes but some days I wouldn't feel much, got checked and baby was fine, I think maybe it depended where he was, maybe he moved about a bit or maybe some days he just wasn't in the mood haha.

At 26 weeks baby has plenty of space to be changing positions, I have an anterior placenta this pregnancy (my 3rd) and I definitely have a less sensitive patch on my stomach where I didn't really feel movement earlier on, I'm 39 weeks now and there's no way he can hide behind the palcenta now 😂
However, any changes in movement need checking out, don't wait 2 weeks if it changes again!

My baby didn't have a proper pattern until around 32/33 weeks and it caused me no end of worry! I was in and out of triage from around 23 weeks just worrying. I had a third trimester loss last year (nothing at all related to reduced movements - he was very poorly), so I could never rest. If I had even the slightest worry I had to get it checked just for my own peace of mind!
I've found that on the whole midwives are very understanding if you explain your worries and are honest about anxiety etc. It can feel like you're pestering them, but you're just a mummy who loves her baby and wants to keep them safe!

Should also add that the baby I'm speaking about in terms of movements becoming established at 32/33 weeks was a healthy baby who came home in August 🥰 not my little one who passed.

Thanks ladies!

My understanding was that anterior placenta would definitely cushion my movements like a lot of you have said…… one midwife said she’d had 2 babies her self - 1 with normal and 1 with anterior placenta and she could feel a massive difference in movements but then the senior midwife a few days later said it shouldn’t affect my movements… hence why I wanted to hear some experiences from other mums.

Triage have been amazing to be fair and have said they’d rather me come in every single day than not get checked so I do feel happy going in if necessary.

Baby is currently moving as I can feel lots of pops and bumps whilst laid down so fingers crossed they stay nice and active! Xxx