Movements at 25/26 weeks

[DinoGD]

Hi everyone!
I get different answers from midwives but wanted to reach out to see if anyone experienced the same thing.

I know that you're supposed to track movements properly from 28 weeks (as apparently it's not possible for babies to form patterns until then?) but from 22/23 weeks, baby has been pretty regular in terms of kicking (after every meal, in baths, etc). However, the last 3/4 days, I think baby has changed position and I've just not felt them as much. I've still felt baby kicking but it's not as frequent / strong as it was before. I did call triage who said this sounds normal, but then all the advice online says to go in if I notice reduced movements (but that seems to apply really from 28 weeks?).

Anyway, just wanted to hear others experiences and if they had something similar! Thanks in advance :)

Babies can form patterns earlier of course, but I was told it's more to do with the space they have - so more room to move about before 28 weeks means more chance of regularly changing positions or finding little nooks and crannies to curl up in which could change what you feel and when. Totally normal.

Once you're in the 3rd trimester, baby is obviously bigger with a lot less room to move about so a lot less changing positions. This means that patterns after that time are easier to track and less likely to change until they go head down. Hence the advice to start tracking movements from 28 weeks when they should have settled down.
Does that make sense?

Having said all that, a mother's instinct also shouldn't be ignored so, if you are feeling like something is wrong, then you should go and get checked out.

Yep don't worry, I'm 28 weeks with my 3rd baby, and before this week, I'd feel baby move lots on some days and barely at all other days. I think as they get bigger they sleep a bit less and have more awake times.