Reduced movement 22 weeks

[Al991]

I am just possibly looking to vent here to be honest. I’m really struggling as I’ve felt a lot less movement the last couple of days, I’m used to lots of kicks and have had maybe 1-2 times a day when I’ve felt them.

I called maternity triage yesterday and they just weren’t interested, won’t hear about reduced movement until 24 weeks. So I’m stuck and feeling really alone. Just a bit helpless really and feel like I want to cry.

Go to the hospital and insist to be seen. Do not leave until you are. This is amount your own mental health as well as the baby.

I agree definitely push to go to hospital. I could feel baby from 18 weeks and although i didn't feel any sort of pattern until about 28 weeks (currently 33 weeks) i still got checked around 23 weeks and again at 28. To some midwives you're just another patient, another baby etc but it's your actual life so definitely push for it.

Thanks both, I’m not very good at with advocating for myself but I am really worried. Would I just have to call triage back?

I’m also worried as my partner has this thing about how I’m always thinking the worst and don’t want to rock the boat with that, but I’m so worried.

They won't do a CTG before 24 weeks, but they will listen into the heart rate.

Don't forget - baby is so small still at 22 weeks, it's entirely possible that they've just shifted position and that's why you're not feeling as much.

Call triage back and demand tell them you want to be seen.

DD is only 5 months old so I remember well the reduced movements fear!

I would honestly just turn up at the pregnancy unit and explain to them what's happened and how you are feeling. I'm sure they will be lovely and understanding.

Is it easy to get to the hospital? How far away are you?

I understand you are under 24 weeks but try and step up and be more assertive, and as for your partner, when he has a uterus, then he can comment.

I used to think I was going insane regarding both my baby's movements. I never knew a pattern and I was constantly obsessing over them. Was a constant worry for me.

I would just turn up as they will check you over and check baby’s heart rate to put your mind at ease. I felt baby regularly from 16 weeks, but I also regularly had 2-3 days at a time pre 28 weeks where the baby would go quiet and get into a position where I couldn’t feel (I’m 35 weeks now).

I'm not being funny but with all due respect, it's not your partner's body. Pregnancy is an extremely hard and worrying time and you need all the reassurance you can get because it is so natural for us mamas to think and fear the worst. I've been up to the emergency unit 5 times during this pregnancy - 2 for movements, one for an infection, one because of blood results and was sent up and one because of a bloody show and my partner has driven me every time and has said every time it's better to be safe than sorry and out of 5 of those time 4 were definitely needed, one was just reassurance which to be fair is definitely needed to. Honestly, at the minute you and your baby are priority so don't rest until you have the full reassurance that you need OP x

Thank you all I really appreciate your advice. Honestly didn’t even know you could just turn up at the maternity unit. I know officially you probably can’t. I’m still in 2 minds as it’s so hard to make trouble isn’t it? Even if I know something ain’t right. But I think I might call them again and if they still refuse just go there.

I'm 24 weeks now and only started to feel baby at 22 weeks. For the first week the movements were so inconsistent and one day I didn't feel anything all day, until late in the evening. By which time I had already been to the maternity unit.

The baby is still small at 22 weeks so it's likely to be nothing wrong, but the only way to settle your anxiety is to get checked at the hospital. You can insist on being seen!

I really appreciate the support from all of you and encouraging me to advocate for myself! I was feeling wobbly so I rang Tommys who were lovely, they said exactly what you said. Anyway, I was getting ready to go to the hosp after 2 days of no movement and then movement started up again and baby was kicking me all over the place!! Typical! So in this case they were right to not check up on me, but I still think that if something like this happens again and it did not resolve I would go. Guess I was being silly, but I have learned a valuable lesson so thank you!

You are never being being silly, your baby wasn't moving at that time and you was concerned. Always go to the hospital if you are worried 🫶🏻