Baby movements at 23 weeks

[Lola980]

Is it normal to not feel the baby move that much?
I'm 23 weeks and ive been feeling him since about 18 weeks. But it's never a lot and not that often. Since 20 weeks l'm able to see the kicks from outside when I focus but l saw people that are earlier that me complaining about their babies being too active. So should I be worried he isnt active enough? I have posterior placenta.

@Lola980 if you're feeling him then I think it should be ok. All babies are different. I'm currently 29wks with my second and I'm still finding his movement quite subtle a lot of the time. I feel like with my son at this stage I was getting bigger and more dramatic movements. But in this second pregnancy, there hasn't been a change, he's just never been as grandiose with his movements. And both mine have been posterior placentas. I've had a few moments of almost going in for monitoring, but like you, if I stop and concentrate on him, I can feel him gently bodging around. I'm having regular growth scans so I know he's ok in there, and in fact, at some of the scans he's been visually very active and I'm still not feeling an awful lot of it myself. Maybe we'll just have fairly placid babies 🤞🏼😜

All that said, if you're really worried, or your gut instinct keeps nagging you, or you're feeling there has been a change in any way, contact your midwife and ask about it. They would always always prefer you to check than not. 💗

I had a lazy baby😂 Didn't feel her till almost 24 weeks and she was asleep for all my scans too. I never really got kicked, even at full term it was always just her rolling over rather than kicking away. She's now a very active almost 2yr old, was clearly saving her energy!

As long as you can feel then and the pattern stays consistent I wouldn't worry too much. Of course if you suddenly feel them much less, or more go get checked out.

Agree with PP on identifying a pattern and ‘what’s normal’ for your baby. All of my pregnancies were different - the first would kick like stink but my second was so much more chilled, would have one active day and then a day or two of much more gentle movements. I actually think their movements in the womb are now reflected in their personalities too! Always go and get checked if you’re really concerned, the midwives don’t mind but be assured that all babies are different so don’t worry if you’re not feeling the same patterns as others xxx

I am 37 weeks and still don't feel all the movements I'm small aswell so it's all bump. Sometimes I see it on the outside and don't feel it or she will be wriggling on scan but I can't feel a thing. I think it depends what position they are in. At your stage I would say as long as you are feeling something regularly then it's ok but always get checked out if you are concerned. I've almost contacted triage a few times but then suddenly got a flurry of activity they do like to keep us on our toes!

If people are saying they are feeling a lot of movements at or before 20 weeks, they are really not typical.

I think the usual advice is that you might not feel movements up til 24 weeks and not to rely on looking for patterns until 28 weeks, so you are doing fine.

I'm 22 weeks and have felt tiny movements since 16 weeks or so, stronger since 20 weeks - my partner and daughter can feel them from outside now. I think it was a bit later with my first baby though. I don't think I could pin down a pattern or routine at the mo.