Did your baby not move for no apparent reason?

[DottieCotton]

Hi all,

I'm 35 weeks pregnant and I've been to the hospital literally every other week with reduced movement me because this baby just doesn't seem to move, they never kick all I ever feel is a tightening sensation which is the baby moving.

Every time I go to the hospital baby's fine, scans are fine, tests are fine and there's no reason why she doesn't move - she just doesn't.

I feel so embarrassed every time I go up and I know they don't mind and would rather see a healthy baby than not see a sick baby but
I know how stretched the nhs is and I hate feeling like I'm wasting time and resources.

Did anyone experience this and was baby okay when they were born?

Yes, my second child was very placid and relaxed before and after birth. I was in hospital for a while for other reasons so had several traces per day and they always repeated because he moved so little. As a baby he was like a teddy bear until he could walk, just lay around happily. Now he’s a normal active child but still often lies awake having cuddles for an hour.
Definitely keep going in as you can’t tell the difference between this kind of baby and an active baby in trouble! But don’t worry unduly about the future, just address today’s problem.
It’s also important to keep going because they may want to induce at 38 w based on the number of episodes, so you need that documented.
Mine was actually born at 36w and was fine — just in case they decide it’s time to act next time you go in. But hopefully you can get to 38w at least.

All 3 of my children had periods of not moving and I was always in and out of the hospital getting checked - they're all completely fine!

I've also got a friend who's baby genuinely didn't move at all, he wouldn't kick and even on scans was like a statue. He was born absolutely fine and perfectly healthy.

i hope this is of some reassurance

Yes, like you I was at the hospital often and for the last 3 weeks of my pg I was put on a monitor 2x per week and had 2 scans. He was fine, he is still a calm and sleep loving boy now at 5.
do you know where your placenta is? Mine was at the front, so it cushioned me from his movements which is also a reason I felt him less in utero.
but don’t feel bad about getting checked as often as you need. My mw always reassured me that they would rather check and everything be fine than ignore your worries and miss something that needed to be acted upon.
good luck x

I felt a lot less movement with my second baby than with my first and third.
Do you know where your placenta is? Mine was anterior with my second baby, so that cushioned a lot of the movements and I only really felt the big rolls and kicks.

Thank you everyone, feel a bit better knowing I'm not alone.

My placenta is where it should be (no idea what it's called sorry) everything's absolutely fine but baby just just either really comfy or an awkward little thing and likes to scare me haha must say though they become really active when I'm being monitored, you know just to make you look like a liar

I do feel a bit more reassured now though, thank you.

Not me, but my sister's first was like that. Little to no movement was the norm for him throughout the entire pregnancy. He was evidently very comfy as he was born at 42+1! He's about to turn 5 and extremely active now.

I didn’t feel movement until around 22 weeks+ (currently 39+4) and even then it was the tiniest twinge like a bubble popping in my belly and I’d be lucky if I felt it more than once a day.
This seemed to be my pattern aka baby just didn’t move much at all, or at least not to the point I could feel him!
I went to the hospital once for reduced movement because I hadn’t felt him for nearly 2 days but he was fine and heartbeat was always healthy sounding at my midwife appointments.
I know it’s hard because friends and family members all described constant movements from their pregnancies and being kicked and punched by baby all the time and I’m now due this week and I still don’t experience that. I’ve just accepted that I have a laid back lazy baby who hopefully remains this chilled once he’s popped out haha! Xx

Has this been the baby’s pattern all along? The midwife told me the baby should have an established pattern from 26 weeks onwards.

it’s true some babies move less, but if their patterns change, moving even less than before, then it’s a concern

dont compare yourself to other mums, but to the previous pattern

there are also apps to count kicks, I’ve done that for my first pregnancy and will do it again. You just tap on the app when you feel a movement and the app counts it for you and shows pattern for days, hours etc. there are many apps, see which one gives you better stats.

you shouldn’t be ashamed of going there. The risk of still birth is very real and I know 2 women who’ve gone through this terrible situation.

Plus by using an app you can show and know for sure there is a reduced movement, if you doubt yourself. Which you shouldn’t anyway x

I couldn't feel movements much at all for about the last 10 days of my pregnancy. He was moving fine every time I went up. I was monitored daily for the last week before my ELCS at 39 weeks on the dot.

Baby doesn't have a pattern which is what makes it more difficult- midwife has said this is okay as some babies just don't develop a pattern but can make life a bit difficult.

I'll download the app because as long as I feel baby I'm usually okay and happy with it but sometimes I don't feel anything.

I didnt feel or see much at all and was always worried. Never felt uncomfortable or got hard kicks.

Well once he started walking he has never sat still since and he's a teenager now!

I had this in my second pregnancy. DS never kicked, he only did a very slight stretching and twisting movement once an hour or so. I used to poke him regularly and he responded with a very slight movement. I was worried sick a lot of the time! He is now 6 and a healthy boy who loves his football lessons.
DS3 wasn't very active in the womb either, though not as quiet as DS2. I think I am not particularly sensitive to baby movements.