34 weeks - anxiety over baby movements

[MsCactus]

I almost 34 weeks pregnant and my baby is pretty active - she hurts me a few times a day with the strength of her kicks/wriggles, and has a bit of a pattern now to her daily movements.

The issue is that I seem to be constantly worried about movement - if I'm busy, I don't really register her kicks and then panic that I haven't felt her move. It's quite easy to make her move - eat something, prod, lie down, talk to her - but unless she's kicking me so hard it's uncomfortable/painful I'm usually worried.

Just wondered if anyone else dealt with this same anxiety - the issue is my midwives always say to come in with 'reduced movement' and I don't really know how you define that. Some days she's definitely more active than others - I've spoken to my midwife about it and they said just to come in if I have any worries.

I completely get what you mean! I’m pregnant with no. 2 now but with the first I was always panicking and kept trying to get doctors to define what ‘reduced movement’ means. I find it really unhelpful advice! Anyway, i just kept drinking iced water, which my DH thinks annoyed her and is why she is now a grumpy 3 year old 😂

Haha 😅 I'm glad I'm not the only one. I just really don't want to miss something important - her amount of movements are never consistent day to day

No you aren't alone in this anxiety! I am in the same boat too.. 24+4 atm and constantly worried if my baby is moving or not... Mine hasn't got an established pattern yet, just tend to move sometime after I eat and gets more active after 11pm, which is why I am unable to monitor ( I am a deep sleeper) .. had been to Antenatal Day Assessment unit once for reduced movements when I was 21+5 .. I hadn't felt the baby move for almost 20 hours... Ate, drank cold juice, walked around, went to shopping but still nothing.. couldn't ignore anymore and called the midwife..

Sometimes I keep wishing that the baby could send some kind of message that she is safe 😂 I think it's just normal in the journey!

And I guess babies do have quite days in between.. but always a good idea to call ADAU or the midwife if it is really concerning.. they would never consider it as a disturbance or wasting their time!

Right there with you. Constantly worried. There is no formula for reduced movement unfortunately. I've just accepted I'm going to be in monitored occasionally when I don't need to be. I've been in 3 times so far (34 weeks) and it's always been fine. Now I'd just go, takes an hour, I can't sit and stress any more.

Feeling like that today my baby been quiet not to say he hasn't moved but he not been as active. I feel movement less kicks. I am 24 weeks so not sure if they slow down or your just getting bigger to feel the kicks.

It's normal to feel like that. But if you're really worried get it checked out. I did when I was about 36 weeks. All fine thankfully. There's a website/ app called count the kicks which you might find helpful.

Trouble is when you are always really worried!
Also there is no evidence base for kicks counting.

I was constantly worried about my baby's movement in my last pregnancy with my rainbow baby (I had a third trimester loss last year). I think because of my loss I would catastrophise things a lot too. In the end I found the only thing that would settle me was having definitive proof that she had moved. When I felt movement I would write it in the notes app of my phone with the time, and whether it was a kick/roll/push etc. Then when I felt anxious I could look at my notes and reassure myself that she had been moving and I was just feeling anxious. It also helped me begin to identify a kind of pattern for her. Alternatively, it allowed me to recognise when I felt something wasn't right and I ALWAYS went and got those doubts checked (honestly, I must have gone in concerned with movements over 10/15 times between 23 weeks and 37 weeks). I always felt like a nuisance, but I did what I needed for my baby and I'm cuddling my 3 month old in my arms right now 🥰

I was very anxious with my second baby after 2 previous miscarriages. I honestly don’t think any midwives would mind checking for you at any time. I went up to be monitored on lots of occasions and it was so reassuring. Every midwife I spoke to was lovely and totally understood. Definitely write down every kick or roll as someone else has said but also do go and get yourself checked out if you have worries. Good luck.

I had my first baby 2 years back. He just turned 2 a week back. It still gives shivers to my spine about baby movements. No one can define no consultant, midwifes or anyone reduced movements. They are all like any change in movements come to hospital. I have been like 8 to 10 times. And i remember one morning i was convinced i lost my baby because he didn't move after my breakfast. Well i believe one should always go to doctor if worried but for me they really doesn't have pattern but my gp said of moving having movements in couple of hours he is fine. But this thing not only gave me anxiety but depression aswell. I am still struggling. Hope you will find peace with your baby movements. Don't worry everything going to be perfect. Never miss appointment be Happy and enjoy. I believe being anxious also impact baby movements.