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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

39w, baby doesn’t move much at all anymore?

68 replies

kaseymaria · 26/05/2023 21:44

Hello ladies (long read but I need support/advice).
So I’m 39 weeks pregnant & for the last week or two I’ve noticed a drastic change within my babies pattern, she used to wake me up kicking, kick throughout the day & kick me at bedtime, recently this has not been the case.

on the 12th may I went in for CTG Monitoring as I noticed reduced movement, the results came back fine and she had a fair amount of movement which reassured me.
Yesterday I went into the hospital again as my midwife sent me up as she thought my waters broke (false alarm)
I again told them that her movement has reduced even more than last time to the point I barely feel her AT ALL.
They again put me on another CTG monitoring and it came back fine again? Which I don’t understand as I literally felt like 2 movements throughout the whole 20 minutes of monitoring…
They then sent me for a ultrasound scan as they needed to check everything was okay with baby, they said her growth is spot on, my amniotic fluid is completely normal & my placenta is very healthy and getting everything she needs, including a healthy heartbeat… they told me they don’t need to keep me watched under their care now for reduced movement as she is healthy & fine…
there is no explanation to why she has reduced her movements, they also told me it was a huge myth that babies cannot move much at this stage because they don’t have much room..
Now I’m crazily anxious because what if they have missed something, what if something happens and I miss it myself? I don’t know what to do I’ve always been an anxious person but believe me when I’ve tried everything, lying on my left side for 2 hours, cold drinks, food. EVERYTHING, if she is healthy, why ain’t she moving?
I have a sweep booked for next week, fingers crossed she’s actually okay…

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Whiskeypowers · 26/05/2023 23:51

I do hope you’ve gone back. Every episode of different movement and certainly reduced movement should be checked out

caringcarer · 27/05/2023 00:58

There won't be much room for baby to move at 39 weeks.

croissantleiatravel · 27/05/2023 01:59

I know that must be really worrying, but it's awesome that the ultrasound showed she's healthy and growing normally. Well, babies are known to not move so much in the final weeks, especially with not a ton of space in there. Try to take a deep breath and try to go easy on yourself. I don't think worrying is gonna do much but if you're really concerned, try to call your midwife or speak to a team of docs in person. You know your body and your babe best and can’t go wrong letting them know if you’re still worried.

Izzy24 · 27/05/2023 02:23

croissantleiatravel · 27/05/2023 01:59

I know that must be really worrying, but it's awesome that the ultrasound showed she's healthy and growing normally. Well, babies are known to not move so much in the final weeks, especially with not a ton of space in there. Try to take a deep breath and try to go easy on yourself. I don't think worrying is gonna do much but if you're really concerned, try to call your midwife or speak to a team of docs in person. You know your body and your babe best and can’t go wrong letting them know if you’re still worried.

Absolutely wrong that ‘ babies are known to not move so much in the final weeks’. The movements are the best guide to a baby’s wellbeing. Which is why it’s essential to be assessed if you have any concerns about your baby’s movements.

missally · 27/05/2023 02:50

caringcarer · 27/05/2023 00:58

There won't be much room for baby to move at 39 weeks.

Wrong.

NotMeSecretFormular · 27/05/2023 02:58

Please get this looked into. PPs saying that it's normal because there's not much room are wrong. You're familiar with your babys movements day to day, if it's anything out of your ordinary then it needs looking into.
I had similar lack of movements at 39 weeks, I went straight in to be checked. Luckily all was okay and baby came at her own pace at 41+1. Don’t take the chance, it's too important.

SoItGoesAgain · 27/05/2023 02:59

I'm outraged on your behalf that they've said you don't need to go back.
You absolutely do.
Maybe go to a different hospital?
Also contact kicks count to see if they can help??

SoItGoesAgain · 27/05/2023 03:02

I went back for reduced movements - turned out I had preeclampsia.

www.kickscount.org.uk/what-to-expect

Specifically says "you should not be discharged until you are happy with baby's movements again."

turtool · 27/05/2023 03:03

kaseymaria · 26/05/2023 22:06

Hi ladies, they told me she was fine when I went yesterday due to the ultrasound and didn’t need to be checked as she’s come back healthy, surely that cannot be correct, the only problem is the closest triage centre to me is 16 miles away and I cannot always get there! There isn’t a birthing unit in my town, I’m at wits end and am completely fed up of going back and forth for them to dismiss me :( x

If that's where you need to travel too then go. It could be fine, but it might not. If baby isn't moving up on your instincts and don't be afraid to be the over panicky mum because it isn't worth letting them overide instincts. Baby might not have as much space to move but all mine tried to kick their way out my tummy before the birth.
It's worth the journey!!

SoItGoesAgain · 27/05/2023 03:07

caringcarer · 27/05/2023 00:58

There won't be much room for baby to move at 39 weeks.

This is a myth.

Mirenda · 27/05/2023 03:23

I had similar last week at 38 weeks. My c section was brought forward by 4 days due to reduced movement and amniotic fluid.

stayflufft · 27/05/2023 03:58

I had two episodes of reduced movements in two weeks and was booked for a scan. At the scan appointment I was admitted as they believed she was measuring small and they wanted to induce me - I asked for a section and she was delivered 2 days later. She was fine - but I’m glad I did go in. Please go in.

Raindancer411 · 27/05/2023 06:01

I was booked in to be induced for the same. In the hospital I went to, after 3 times of going in for reduced movement monitoring after a certain week of pregnancy, meant booking in for an induction...

TeaKitten · 27/05/2023 07:32

croissantleiatravel · 27/05/2023 01:59

I know that must be really worrying, but it's awesome that the ultrasound showed she's healthy and growing normally. Well, babies are known to not move so much in the final weeks, especially with not a ton of space in there. Try to take a deep breath and try to go easy on yourself. I don't think worrying is gonna do much but if you're really concerned, try to call your midwife or speak to a team of docs in person. You know your body and your babe best and can’t go wrong letting them know if you’re still worried.

Please don’t give people incorrect information on baby movements, if people listen to you it could have devastating effects. Baby movements DO NOT reduce at the end of pregnancy. If you Google it literally every reputable website will explain this to you.

https://www.nhsinform.scot/ready-steady-baby/pregnancy/your-baby-s-development/getting-to-know-your-babys-movements#:~:text=It's%20not%20true%20that%20babies,baby's%20normal%20pattern%20of%20movements.

Getting to know your baby's movements

What movements are normal during pregnancy, and how often your baby should move

https://www.nhsinform.scot/ready-steady-baby/pregnancy/your-baby-s-development/getting-to-know-your-babys-movements#:~:text=It's%20not%20true%20that%20babies,baby's%20normal%20pattern%20of%20movements.

EarringsandLipstick · 27/05/2023 07:58

Putyourfeckingsockson · 26/05/2023 22:39

@EarringsandLipstick this is really incorrect and dangerous advice. It is a MYTH that babies don’t move as much near term.

It's not 🙄

They move. As I said. They don't move in the sane way which can feel like a reduction.

They cannot turn or have those big movements because of space.

Of course they can kick, or hiccup, or make other smaller movements.

Again, as I said in my first post.

EarringsandLipstick · 27/05/2023 07:59

@Babyboomtastic

Which is exactly what I said, just appears @Putyourfeckingsockson didn't read it properly before accusing me of giving dangerous advice 🤦🏻‍♀️

EarringsandLipstick · 27/05/2023 08:03

Baby movements DO NOT reduce at the end of pregnancy

No. But the type of movements absolutely do change, due to the lack of space. Thus can feel less because it's different & less obvious.

Here's the information: www2.hse.ie/pregnancy-birth/baby-development-pregnancy-stages/baby-development/babys-movements/

About half way down it explains the change in movements while reiterating (as I've said) that movements will still happen & the mother is the best judge of what is normal.

Peachlollipop · 27/05/2023 08:05

Definitely go back in.

Just to add my reduced movements story, I went in at 40 weeks with reduced movements. Turns out there was meconium in my waters. The midwife said ‘it’s a very good thing you came in when you did’. I gave birth two hours later.

YukoandHiro · 27/05/2023 08:06

It doesn't matter if it's 16 miles away. You can't be checked too often for reduced movement. At this stage if this keeps happening they may keep you in to monitor the baby until birth.

PurplePansy05 · 27/05/2023 08:16

Hi OP, I was in a similar place to you towards the end as my son had reduced movements (in my view). This was due to gestational diabetes in my case. Have you been checked for GD?

Another reason was that he actually became breech at 37 weeks I think, and I started feeling him a lot less in comparison to the rest of the pregnancy. I was put on daily monitoring for several weeks. Like you, I had to travel for this and spent two hours+ every evening and waited at the maternity unit. It was exhausting but definitely not worth the risk not to do it! You should keep coming back, ignore everyone telling you otherwise. I'd ask to see a doctor next time you go in, they cannot refuse you but you may have to wait. I'd actually be very firm and ask to be admitted for that final week and be monitored in hospital.

PurplePansy05 · 27/05/2023 08:20

And just to add, any change in movements, including a sudden increase, warrants an investigation as this could be an early sign of some issues causing baby to become distressed/poorly. Kicks Count have excellent information on this.

Allosaur · 27/05/2023 08:21

OP, I felt very dismissed when I reported reduced movements and like I was being a nuisance for even bringing it up. Have you considered induction if you are concerned? If you eat something sugary, have a very cold drink and lie on left side, does she perk up? Don't worry about the staff, your gut is usually right and better to be safe and sorry, I would call again regardless.

PurplePansy05 · 27/05/2023 08:21

Hiccups are not classed as baby movements because they're involuntary, please stop confusing people!

EarringsandLipstick · 27/05/2023 08:23

PurplePansy05 · 27/05/2023 08:21

Hiccups are not classed as baby movements because they're involuntary, please stop confusing people!

Sorry, yes, that's true & I shouldn't have included it.
However, I don't think I'm confusing having clearly spelled out what movements in later pregnancy are like & provided an accurate link. HTH

violetcuriosity · 27/05/2023 08:26

This doesn't sound right at all. I don't know why people are commenting about movements changing at the end of pregnancy, yes they may feel more like a swoop or a bump rather than full rolls but in all my pregnancies they have still followed their same pattern e.g. first thing in the morning, after lunch, then absolutely mental sitting on the sofa in the evenings. This is really dangerous advice. If I was you OP I would be requesting an induction at this point I think. Good luck xx