Reduced movement again 2 days later

[scrantonelectriccity]

I'm 37+2, I was at the MAU only 2 days ago for reduced movement as I had hardly felt baby move all day and of course once I was there and on the CTG she was moving like crazy but all day she'd hardly moved. The midwife said they'd been really busy with reduced movement cases that day and it was likely because of the heat.

I was told because it was my 3rd visit for reduced movement (I went twice at around 25 weeks) then I'd be referred for a scan but as I only had a growth scan last week I couldn't have the scan for another week. I also got a snippy comment that they wouldn't be bringing my c section any sooner (I don't want that!)

2 days later and I feel like the movements have reduced once again, she's still moving and I've had a few kicks this morning it just feels much less frequent and less strong, she usually kicks loads after my dinner and keeps me up from falling asleep at night because of all the movement but not last night

I am going to be ringing as soon as DD is awake (currently asleep on me) but I just wanted someone to talk to as I'm worried they'll think I'm taking the mick and she'll start moving loads as soon as I'm there

It’s so hard to have to advocate for yourself right now because you really shouldn’t have to, but if you can, challenge the “She’s a lazy/cheeky/” baby. Or it’s “The hot weather”. Tell them these aren’t sufficient ‘reasons’ to explain her change in movement and the things that generally get her moving around, aren’t having their usual effect. Ask them if you can, are they happy to explain any problems you may experience over the next few days are the result of baby being “lazy/cheeky/overly warm due to the weather? That will hopefully show them you are not going to accept anything other than frequent reviewing/monitoring and if necessary a scan, until your baby is delivered. Baby being cheeky absolutely isn’t a professional assessment imo!

Be firm with them OP. If you say you want her out sooner than tomorrow then say it. X

Grrrrrrrr

Tell them you are NOT reassured, that this is so far from normal for your baby and are they following the NICE and RCO guidelines for when reduced fetal movements are reported and the mother isn't satisfied that things are ok (hint - they don't seem to be)

It's been warm for a couple of weeks now so why would baby suddenly stop moving.

Is it 24 hours now that you have had RFM? You need to start stating how many hours it is in total since the you last had normal movements for your baby and mention how the trace wasn't reassuring and you have tried all this usual things and something isn't right.

Waiting two weeks between GROWTH scans is standard. But they can check the blood flow through the cord by way of a doppler ultrasound in between growth scans. Personally I'd insist on either that or continuous monitoring and the c-section asap.

Insist on them writing down your concerns and why they are dismissing them and make it very clear it is so that if needed in the future you have evidence of fhe concerns you raised and that they were dismissed. The purpose of this is to put it in their mind that you will sue them if they have got this wrong, so they better be really really sure. But obviously don't say that, be super nice and polite, but very firm.

It is worth reading up on the Tommy's "speaking up" campaign which has tips for advocating for yourself and baby.

Have you seen the consultant recently?

I've not seen the consultant since I think around 11:30am?

I'm on the monitor now, have been one for 15 mins and her FHR has shot up to 180 a few times which I think is not right is it? Shouldn't it be under 160?

Had a few movements since being on the monitor which is great but still nowhere near as much as usual.

I told the midwife I'm really anxious and feel something isn't right and she said CTG is fine so nothing to worry about

Here are the RCOG for RFM.

Ask why notable RFM over a long period of time and increased/high FHR isn't a concern?

www.rcog.org.uk/media/2gxndsd3/gtg_57.pdf

All 4 of my DC had heart rates going up to 200bpm when they were active. I think it's okay to go over 160bpm.

Have you asked if the section can be done in the morning?

I think it should ideally be 16O or under but there can be a 25% difference according to google but not sure if that’s right as I’m not a HCP. It’s ok for the midwife to say it’s nothing to worry about but nevertheless you are worried and feel something might not be right and that should be properly listened to OP. It may well be ok for the heartbeat to go up to 180 at times but your concerns need listening to . Be as firm as you need to be and don’t worry about what staff might think. You and your baby’s safety and well-being is the only thing you should be considering right now. I’m so sorry your having such a stressful time Scranton.

I should add, they were once concerned when the HR was stuck at 200bmp with no variation. It needs to have a baseline - for most that's between 130bpm and 160bpm I think. Accelerations above the baseline when the baby moves are good. This is what they have always told me.

It's quite poor that they haven't explained what it normal/expected etc.

OP I really understand that you are feeling vulnerable and probably don’t want to make a fuss but in your situation I would be insisting on speaking to a Dr again…don’t be intimidated by their workload. Xx

Its great you went in and are being monitored. Mother's instinct is a powerful thing and you're doing a great job of advocating for your little one.

Thanks everyone that's really reassuring! I'm trying to sleep now and she's now kicking like mad so I'm feeling a bit better but still stressed. I'm so glad I came in.

C section will have to be earliest 11:30am because it has to 12 hours after the last set of steroids and they said it'll likely be bumped down throughout the day as it's emergencies only at weekends but I'll be taken down to delivery area at 7am and hoping they'll be a bit more on it down there

Thankfully the strike finishes tomorrow morning so fingers crossed there's more staff around

Oh I'm glad she's moving more now so you're a bit more reassured. Hopefully you can get some sleep now in case you have a newborn this time tomorrow!

Hope all goes well overnight and tomorrow and you're not hanging around waiting hours to go in.
(It all happens very quickly once you're in though! - experience as theatre staff not a patient.)

I've had about 3 hours sleep, the woman next to me has been snoring so insanely loud all night long it's kept me awake most of the night!

Feeling much more positive about things today, I'm still not happy with movement but it's only an hour and a half until I'm taken down to the birth centre and I hope they will do some closer monitoring

My c section was planned for 39 weeks. Had baby at 38+2 this week due to reduced movements. The first Dr didn't want to move my section forward as I wasn't in labour. The second day I went in again with reduced movements and was spoken to by a different dr who I felt listened to my concerns. She said baby would be okay to be born at 38 weeks if we brought forward my section date. The monitor helps the hospital see that baby isn't in immediate distress and will show baby's heart rate etc but you as your baby's mother know your baby's movements. I explained that even though the monitor looked fine and the midwives were happy, I wasn't and my baby wasn't moving like she should have been and how she used to.

Good luck for today hope you get seen quickly

This all sounds very similar to my experience. The utter helplessness when you think your baby is in danger and you can’t make anyone listen is awful and has stayed with me for a long time. I’ve got a cheeky 11 year old now but only because they did eventually get him early - same story with ‘need to give steroids time to work’, it’s the weekend and we haven’t got staff, antibiotics went missing en route, don’t worry all looks ok…. We both had raging infections after birth, no fun. So yes listen to your instinct and keep repeating that you’re not happy

I had my DD via c section at bang on 38 weeks (there was talk of 37 as they were worried she wasn't growing as she should) and she was absolutely fine, 6lbs 2 oz of very noisy baby (steroids did there job I guess!) she's now a very tall 6 year old who you'd never know was born a little 'early'.

Good luck today, you know what's normal for her and what's not and you're doing a great job advocating for her. If you aren't happy be like a broken record about it. The only thing that matters is that you and your baby are safe.

Good luck for today xx

I'm hoping you've been taken down. My own experience of being in hospital was that you keep being shunted along, or things not happening when they say it will. I hope that's not the case for you, but please be assertive but polite if it does happen.

Good luck

Not long now till baby is safe in your arms

Good luck for today OP. Hope you don’t get bumped down the list too much.

Good luck Scranton. I’ve just woken up and hope you are in, or very soon on your way, to the birth centre. I’m so glad DD was moving more and you got a bit of sleep.