Pregnancy anxiety/checking on baby

[Djockey101]

Hi all,
I am quite a naturally anxious person and at 23.5 weeks have already been up to have reduced movements checked three or four times. I still have a long way to go until the baby arrives so just wanted to find out from other people how often you went up to have baby checked? In a way, each time I go sort of feeds my anxiety for a few days as inevitably a few days later, I'm tempted to head back up for another check-up if I don't feel quite as much movement as the day before.
The midwives are always so lovely and always encourage me to go up to the hospital if I'm at all worried, but it's going to be a long 16/17 weeks from here if I'm heading up for check-ups almost every week.
Thanks in advance

Have you spoken to the midwife about how anxious you're feeling?
I had movements checked once in my first pregnancy - I had an anterior placenta and didn't feel much ever.
Didn't have movements checked in my second at all. I had a posterior placenta and was amazed at how much movement I felt in comparison to my first.

But it's difficult, no one is going to tell you to not call if concerned, as it is important. I don't think I was advised to really monitor movement before 24 weeks - I didn't think they were really in a pattern before then (this may be wrong). Hopefully as your baby gets bigger, you'll feel movements and kicks more consistently and that will help you feel reassured anyway.

Hiya
I’m also an anxious person and had to try and calm down too whilst being pregnant. When I was pregnant with my daughter at around the same time every night I would lie down watch telly and downloaded a count kicking app. Then whilst watching something would just tap the app every time she moved. This would help me to just no that she was moving the same every night and I had nothing to worry about unless it was loads lower. It helps u to get to no what ur baby’s patterns is and also only takes up a bit of ur time whilst ur not doing anything anyway. Just to add some nights it could be a few lower, few higher just don’t worry unless it’s a massive difference. This made me only go to the hospital once with reduced movement and she was fine anyway.

I mean it might not be for everyone but just wanted to share incase it does help u but if u are ever worried never feel bad for keep going to the hospital always go.

hope that all makes sense and hope it helps u xx

Thank you both so much @Bc102 and @RightWhereYouLeftMe, that is really helpful. I have told my midwife about the anxiety and she has referred me to the mental health team for some support. Due to a miscarriage last year, I think overall I am more on edge but as time goes on, like you say it should be come easier as the baby gets bigger.
I also have an anterior placenta, but tbh I have felt quite a lot of movement so far. Some days are definitely quieter than others but there's still a lot of space for the baby to move at the moment.
Thank you for sharing your experiences :)

The position of your placenta massively affects whether you feel movement particularly early on. Have a chat with your midwife to find out where your placenta is. I didn’t know until 30 wks that mine was anterior and it was the reason I couldn’t see much movement.
Babies do sleep and it may be that your babies sleep pattern means that they don’t move much when you are relaxing and able to monitor movement.
Movement is much more obvious after 30wks. In other words it’s intrusive and you feel it whatever you are doing. Before that you often need to sit quietly to be aware of your baby moving.
They have plenty of room early on to do cartwheels and somersaults, after 30 wks it’s more like being trapped in a tight sleeping bag so movement is more deliberate. Also as the brain develops it’s probably quite explorative, you can see feet and hand shapes moving slowly and deliberately.
If you’ve had previous pregnancy losses it’s tough. I just divided it into 4 week chunks. Breaking it down meant that I wasn’t so overwhelmed by the whole 40 week thing. Your biggest milestone is 28weeks. After that premature birth is lower risk.
Your midwife may be able to organise some counselling for you and support postnatally.

Ps because the growing baby pushes your bowel out of the way some of the movement you feel is just stuff trying to move through the bowel. Also the uterus has practice contractions throughout pregnancy so it is in the best shape for birth.

You do definitely need to speak to your midwife about your anxiety.

You probably won't feel a pattern until 28 weeks. I never found a pattern in either pregnancy, just happy if I felt baby move every day.

Also good to remember that worrying won't actually change anything, it just ruins your journey!

Hey I'm only 10weeks and I've had 2 scans already because of my anxiety. It's horrible I'm so convinced something bad is going to happen and I know I seem crazy but I can't help it.

I've no words to help though just a hand hold. I'm so envious of people who are relaxed through their pregnancy

Hi all,
Thanks so much for your replies. All very helpful. Yes @tinyshoppingbasket I've asked my MW for a referral to the mental health team here for some support as appreciate my levels of anxiety aren't normal. Hopefully that'll help!
@Bababear987, completely understand the anxiety is tough in those early weeks. Hang in there - will get easier!
Best wishes to all x

Our hospital trust will only check baby’s heartbeat if before 28 weeks if in for reduced movements. 28 weeks onwards is a ctg. it’s because they don’t expect a pattern of movements until 28 weeks as it can change daily until then. Definitely get checked if you’re really worried but as long as you’re feeling baby every day between 24 and 28 weeks then it’s likely to be all good.

I was in last Friday at 29 weeks as I hadn’t felt baby all morning and she didn’t move for the first ctg monitoring at the hospital either. I had a growth scan and she didn’t move then either (everything fine in scan) then in the 3rd ctg in a row she finally started getting active so they had me back next day at a different time where I had to go through 2 ctg cycles. Since then she’s been moving as normal so they have their moments even later on.

always ring up if worried though. I won’t hesitate to again if I feel I need to.