Will anyone see me for reduced movements at 18 weeks?

[TupperCare]

Have been feeling flutters since 12 weeks and proper movements for the last three but I’ve felt nothing for the last 24 hours and wondered if any unit would see me. I’m too late for EPU but too early for the other maternity help

Does your trust have a general pregnancy advice like you can call? Otherwise 111

There may be some pregnancy units in other areas you can go to.

I don’t think they will bring you in cos baby is so small it’s not unusual at this stage to feel sometimes and no others as baby prob just moved. I know this because I had reduced movement at 28 weeks but when I rung them I said I was 18 weeks in error as was nervous and brain not functioning and she was like errrrmmmm very early to be having regular movements we wouldn’t be concerned at this stage of pregnancy only then did I realise my mistake and said oh no sorry I’m 28 weeks 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️ and then I got brought in x

I’m in Bedfordshire, not sure if they have anything for advice. I just have the sticker on the front of my notes that says from 24 or 26 odd weeks call maternity unit

You can call triage from 16 weeks. I had this one day at 18 weeks aswell (I’m 20 now), with a posterior placenta so I had been having movements early and the baby is generally very active. But one day at 18 weeks he just decided to take a break. I’ve had my 20w scan now, I know he’s okay, but my guess was that he had just turned around and was probably kicking my back or he just took a day off.
at 18 weeks they can still freely float around, they have a lot of space and they are twisting and turning and they can turn into a position where we don’t feel them very well.
You can try get the baby to move by having something sweet, the sugar rush will cause the baby to move more. Mine turned around and started kicking in the evening after I had 2 cups of hot chocolate. Don’t be worried! Sometimes they just do this to piss us off.

Midwife here. I would invite you in for a listen in but that's all at this stage. Other posters are right there isn't much else to be done at 18 weeks. Most women will have only just started to feel baby move around now.

You could ask but a lot of women don’t feel anything until at least 18 weeks, and certainly not any pattern

I am 15 weeks gone having flutters but baby not kicking properly yet x

It’s totally irrelevant whether most women feel the baby that early or not or viability at that stage.

The fact is you’ve had regular movements and now it’s changed - there could be an issue that needs identifying early to allow the pregnancy to progress as it should. Dont be put off by anyone saying otherwise, you are entitled to be checked and have a scan etc make sure they check you as well - Urine and blood pressure etc. just listening in only shows a snapshot in time of heart rate an ultrasound will show more detail . Good luck

@JustSpongeBob I totally agree what you saying 😀@TupperCare you should go and get checked soon as you can just be safe side too x

I got really worried at 17 weeks (lost all my symptoms and just felt not pregnant) and messaged my midwife, who offered for me to come in to hear the heartbeat. It was really reassuring and kept me going until the 20 week scan. Can you ask your midwife for reassurance?

I called my maternity ward and they won’t see me and have told me ‘it’s normal’ so they’ve suggested calling my midwife tomorrow (on a Sunday?!)
looks like it’s 111 or wait until Monday 😭

Go for a private scan?
Quite a lot of midwifes offers them.

I don't think NHS does a lot on the things at 18 weeks you write about here.

I don’t think so because regular movement is not expected at that stage.

Can of full sugar coke, a snickers or mars bar, lay down and wait for the party to start. At 18w there’s still room to swim away and kick elsewhere, and you just not feel it, start a party in there

Ring 111.
While you're waiting for a call back, have an ice cold drink and lie on your side
Failing that have a full fat fizzy drink or some chocolate

Please contact your assessment unit. If they can’t see you then they should ask a community midwife to see you.

Have an orange juice and then go and lie/sit still for a bit. It's most likely the baby has just changed position to somewhere you can't feel him or her.

Can you afford a private scan? I think it’s wrong of them to dismiss a change in what is for you, reduced movements

That’s irrelevant because OP HAS been having regular movement for quite some time which has now changed . Care should be individualised not based on statistics of what is ‘normal’ this is how things get missed.

no local availability for private scans today so called 111. They called me back to give me ‘home advice’. I pushed to be seen and have been told I’ll get another call back, it’s such a joke.
Too late for EPU and too early for maternity, just feel like I’m floating in the middle not mattering when I’m 18 weeks and should matter

Have movements not picked up at all today OP?

They haven’t, but I have good news!

I called my hospital maternity unit back and got a bit upset and spoke to someone with far more compassion than last night, they called me in straight away and I just heard a strong heartbeat. Feel silly for getting so worked up and upset, and worrying so much but it will hopefully calm me down for the future. The midwife that saw me was so lovely.

Its not silly, i was really stressed throughout.

My local midwife let me have an appointment every week to check heartbeat as i had bad experience with loss. Could your community midwife enable this for you?

That’s really lovely of her. I can definitely ask! Thank you