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Original poster

Almost 24 weeks and no movement yet

26 replies

Wintermum01 · 06/10/2023 11:39

Hi everyone.

As the subject line says, I'm almost 24 weeks (23+4) and haven't felt baby so far. I do have an anterior placenta, which I realise can cushion things. I'm also a FTM.

He was so wriggly on the 20 week scan, the sonographer was chasing him around. Everything seemed fine. We also had a consultant appointment at 21 weeks (unrelated to movements) and she let us listen to the heartbeat, which was also fine. The consultant said that if I haven't felt anything by 24 weeks I need to ring up the hospital and tell them. This approaching "deadline" has really been stressing me out.

Annoyingly, I felt like I might be feeling something and then realised that the pulse in my abdomen is just really strong (which I've googled and apparently seems quite common as there's increased blood flow).

Obviously I will ring on Monday if I've felt nothing by then. But I just wondered if anyone else had got to 24 weeks and felt nothing? Even though everything was fine not too long ago, I can't help but worry. I know from bitter experience how quickly things can go wrong after a first trimester mc last time.

Thank you xx

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DustyLee123 · 06/10/2023 12:04

I’d suggest you lie/sit down in a quiet place and have something sweet to eat/drink. Some people say a cold drink. And see if you can feel it.

LiquidGlee · 06/10/2023 12:12

I felt nothing until 25+1 with my anterior placenta. She’s now a very lively 8 week old! I did call the midwives at 25 weeks and they checked the heartbeat which was fine and booked me a scan for the following day, but typically that night she starting kicking for the first time so I didn’t have it.

maryd84 · 06/10/2023 13:22

I didn't feel anything until 24 weeks with an anterior placenta.

SMG1992 · 06/10/2023 14:46

I was about 23 weeks with anterior placenta before I was sure I could feel something.
I agree with @DustyLee123 that's good advice. Even now at 30+2 if I'm really busy I don't feel them as much but when I sit for a bit they are most noticeable.

Lottie917 · 06/10/2023 15:29

I started feeling movement at around 23/24 weeks with an anterior placenta with DS. I'd always be able to feel him better if I had a glass of cold water and/or something sugary and then laid in a quiet room on my left side x

Original poster
Wintermum01 · 06/10/2023 16:15

Thank you, everyone. That's really encouraging xx

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snoopy18 · 06/10/2023 21:14

Also had anterior placenta with mine and it was anxiety inducing. I was in for many reduce movement episodes as couldn’t feel anything. Was induced at 37+6. Do check in with midwife if you feel something is off. Currently preg and hoping it’s not anterior again!

as others said above, lying on side helped feel movement with first but sometimes that didn’t even work even in the evenings after having drink / food! Off to triage I would have to go. Very stressful.

good luck!

LemonLight · 06/10/2023 21:37

My friend had an anterior placenta and barely felt anything the entire time. She has a healthy little baby now! Definitely call your midwife if you're worried though, they might schedule you an extra scan for a bit of peace of mind.

Wineocloc · 06/10/2023 21:38

I was the same, barely felt anything with my anterior placenta and baby also breech. Definitely get checked and if you feel a lot of hiccups down low be aware it could be breech.

QuiltedHippo · 06/10/2023 21:41

I had an anterior placenta and didn't feel anything until around 24 weeks, used to stress me out.
Even when it started it was very gentle, never could relate to people saying they were booted in the ribs or kept up all night

DuploTrain · 06/10/2023 21:51

I felt movements quite late on with my first (also anterior placenta). Lying still on my back at night was when I would feel them most.

If you do need to give the hospital a ring, don’t worry, it’s not a big deal - they will probably just ask you to go in so they can check everything is okay. It’s very common for women to go in for reduced movements (or not feeling them till late on in your case).

Original poster
Wintermum01 · 07/10/2023 16:20

Thank you, everybody, that's so helpful. I'll certainly ring the hospital on Monday, fingers crossed everything is OK.

I've heard so many stories about people feeling their baby wriggling all the time (usually when they're trying to sleep!) and I do really envy them! I have a feeling I'll be ringing up the hospital a lot. I'm consultant led (as I've previously had uterine surgery to get rid of fibroids) so will be having a scan at 28 weeks and then growth scans regularly from 32 weeks. So that might be really useful actually if his movements are less noticeable throughout than usual. I just really hope I can get that far ❤Thanks everyone xx

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whereisthecheese · 07/10/2023 16:37

Also are you overweight at all? I am and I was about 26 weeks before I felt anything

Original poster
Wintermum01 · 07/10/2023 18:56

No, not overweight - about size 8/10 pre-pregnancy.

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DuploTrain · 07/10/2023 19:05

I wonder if your surgery could make it harder to feel as well, if there is scar tissue etc. No experience myself, just speculating.

Original poster
Wintermum01 · 08/10/2023 13:49

@DuploTrain Yes you might be right!

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DogsInSocks20 · 09/10/2023 14:40

I could have written this myself!
when I was around 23/24 weeks I was so worried too that I didn’t feel movements. I am overweight and also have an anterior placenta. I called the urgent line like I was told and everything was fine. Now I can feel her move every morning (I’m 26 weeks!) and it turns out that what I thought wasn’t movements, were actually movements!

Original poster
Wintermum01 · 09/10/2023 14:45

@DogsInSocks20 Aw lovely! So pleased everything was OK 😊

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Original poster
Wintermum01 · 09/10/2023 14:50

Update! I rang the maternity triage and they said to come in so they could listen to baby's heartbeat. So I did and there he was, hiding behind the placenta 😊Bloody anterior placentas!!

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QuiltedHippo · 09/10/2023 14:51

Glad you got reassured x

DuploTrain · 09/10/2023 14:54

oh that’s good news. Hope you start feeling some little kicks soon.

SMG1992 · 09/10/2023 15:06

Glad you got the reassurance!
I'm almost 31 weeks and had a 3d scan where mine was punching and wriggling round but I couldn't feel a thing.
You'll start to feel yours soon but I just think it's not as obvious for us.

ActDottie · 09/10/2023 23:29

I didn’t feel anything for ages! Also have front placenta and currently 26 weeks and a first time mum.

I think I just wasn’t very in tune to what I was looking for as now when I feel her move I know it’s her but for weeks I just didn’t really recognise it as baby. Plus it feels completely different to what I thought I was looking out for.

Had my 25 week appointment last week and the midwife asked about movements and whether I had an idea of her routine and I was clueless! I generally have no idea what time of day she moves more which the midwife said I should by now!

Original poster
Wintermum01 · 10/10/2023 16:47

@ActDottie God, it's a minefield isn't it?! I do get scared looking at all the advice about monitoring fetal movements, as it's obviously really crucial but not easy with an anterior placenta by the sounds of it.

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Original poster
Wintermum01 · 17/10/2023 09:24

Just another little update - literally the day after I went to the hospital for a listen to his heartbeat, I started to feel him kick. He's been pretty active since then although there's no real pattern yet, with lots of quiet times (obviously I panic). He seems to delight in bashing me in the cervix 😳 So he's likely breech - I wish he'd move higher!

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