reduced movement advice 35weeks

[loladorsetlady]

Hi all just looking for some advice not sure if im being fobbed off? 35 weeks pregnant & I have an anterior placenta and throughout the pregnancy have had reoccurent reduced movements. I have been averaging 1 episode of reduced every 10-14 days, CTGs are always fine.

Cut to this week my movements have reduced again, they feel very different and I feel like something is not right, theyve been reduced about 4 days now I’ve had daily CTGs which have been fine but they arent really returning to normal.

I had a growth scan on wednesday where growth was normal. However, the blood flow in babys brain came up as below the 5th percentile. This was overlooked by the consultant and not picked up until my CTG the next day. I had another scan today and they blood flow has gone back just on /very slightly above the line of 5th percentile. Everyone seems happy with this but I’m concerned it still isnt particularly high even though its in the normal range? I’ve also had conflicting info from radiographer and midwife about where she plotted on the line.

Additionally, the movements havent approved but nothing showing on CTG or scan thsts an issue apart from potential blood flow which they think is fine now.

My scan wasnt reviewed by a doctor tonight and no plan was put in place about the ongoing reduced movements even tho I was told it would be. I feel like the midwife I saw this evening wasnt really interested and purely put the movements down to my placenta. When i was in lastnight/earlier the first midwives said theyd like the doctors to agree a plan.

The last midwife I saw today sent me home without anything reviewed by a doctor, said there would be no ongoing plans for movements and to contact triage if it continued.

I just feel concerned they arent listening to me and have no ongoing plan to monitor babies wellbeing apart from a scan in 12 days and any CTGs as a result of triage? I really dont feel confident about the fluid either since it has come about with the ongoing movement issues

Urine also had protein keytones white blood cells and nitrates.

Please can you let me know your thoughts ? My partner thinks we should go back and ask for some answers/sort a plan out if we have reduced movements tomorrow. Just feel like somethings not right 😞

I think this is a situation where you have to think, what is the downside of going in? They get a bit fed up with you. And what is the downside of not going in? Well that could be a lot worse.
I think at the least you need to speak properly to an obstetrician to go over your concerns.

I agree with @Wheresthescissors and your partner. Trust your Mummy instincts. 💗

Defo go back in. When I went in for reduced movements and she started thrashing about as soon as they started monitoring, the midwife told me they would rather I went in 100 times and everything was ok; than the 1 time it wasn't.

Trust your gut, hope it's all ok xx

Go back in

Please go back in and demand to be heard. Your gut instincts are there for a reason. Insist on talking to an obstetrician about your concerns. They tell you to go in if you are at all worried about movements and it doesn't sound like they have reassured you all is 100% well. You can insist to stay for daily monitoring if you are really worried and if you are overly anxious you could enquire about a scheduled CS.

In my experience, the hospital were so relaxed about my reduced movements (they were always happy to see me and I didn't feel unheard) but it turned out my gut instincts were right and my little boy was having a bit of a tough time in there. He was born full term (40 weeks) but was surprisingly small at 5lbs, and none of this had been picked up! He's a healthy 5yr old now but I think we were very lucky. Always tune in to yourself and what your gut is telling you - and don't worry about annoying and pestering them. In a couple of months time you won't have to see any of them again when you have you baby home safe.

Thanks all , I had some movements followed by hiccups at 9:30ish and nothing before or since so going to call up now, anxious to be fobbed off though hoping bf will be stronger than me

Hope all goes well, I wouldn't leave without a plan going forward, go in everytime you are worried, trust your gut x

Please go back in. You don't have to be rude or demanding. But get a second opinion. Trust me wondering 'if I just gone back to hospital would my baby still be here' is a really shitty thing to live with.

Just spotted your update. Good luck x

You are doing the right thing going in. As PP have said you should listen to your instincts and you don’t need to be rude but you should be assertive and make sure they monitor you and assess all your concerns properly and ask for a plan for the next few weeks. Good luck.

Go back in as many times as you need to. I was also fobbed off and made to feel bad, and it wasn’t a happy ending for us.

btw I’m pretty sure hiccups shouldn’t be counted as movements. If you have had 3 episodes of reduced movements after 37w they normally offer early induction.

Thanks all for your help, went in and went for monitoring which was fine. Saw a much nicer midwife who went through the doppler graph again with me and offered to book me another scan if i'm still worried about it. Reinforced I shouldnt be made to feel bad and should always come in for concerns. I have Been placed on daily CTGs for now until movements are back to normal ☺️

Ooh thanks for this re the hiccups I didn't know☺️

hey, I’m pleased you had a more positive experience today. I know how hard it can be when you keep going back to get checked and you worry how the drs/midwives see you. But they won’t be in your life in a couple of months, but your checking and checking and checking means your baby will. You can always push for an early labour, or to stay in hospital. They won’t like it, but you can do that, it is your baby and if you think they are safer out than in. Then do it. Big hug

Hey I’m glad you went back in and had a better experience. I find the care across
different midwives and obstetricians varies so much. Some are very dismissive and others are just so attentive and caring. I would push for an early delivery as it’s much easier to monitor the baby once they’re out. As others have said don’t put off going in if your instincts are telling you otherwise. In my trust a few midwives have said if I have concerns about movements every single day then I should go in to see them every single day. I went once last week and as soon as I got there baby started having a party in the uterus. I kept apologising and they said not to they’d rather everything was 100%.
Best of luck not long to go x

That sounds far better. I’m so glad the midwife today said and did what she did. She’s right, no one should ever make you feel you are over-reacting or bothering them.

Daily monitoring sounds just what’s needed. If at any point you feel you need to go back, even on the same day, just do it. I hope all goes smoothly and you feel more confident about going in whenever necessary and being listened to.

Hi all, just to update thanks for you advice & always follow your gut. Had 2 rescans since my last update and dopplers are low again.
Movements have deteriorated even more. I Have a consultant appt tomorrow morning alongside daily monitorring but it is likely she will be out in the next week x

@loladorsetlady so glad you followed your instinct! You must be getting close to 37wks now? Hope all goes well! Do update is if you can. 💗

So relieved to hear they’re taking this seriously and listening to you. I hope your appointment goes well tomorrow. Not long to go now. Just carry on making sure you tell them all your concerns and making sure they act on them. Lots of luck 🍀