Baby movements

[Reddy01]

I am just looking for some advice. The midwife is saying to try and establish a pattern of movements. I have spent the past week tracking and it's all over the place. I am 25 weeks and I know that it can take a while for a pattern to establish. Baby kicks lots, especially with food or water etc but I've noticed that there are reduced movements on the days that I've actually had proper sleep (doesn't happen often!).

Did anyone else notice that their baby didn't move as much after a good night's sleep or the opposite that they moved more after a bad night? If I haven't slept well, I feel her at every turn but if I have slept well I maybe only get the odd roll or kick when I stop and feel for it or prod the belly.

Hi OP,

I think it's different for everyone but even what you describe there is a 'pattern' of movements. It doesn't just mean a pattern of the same thing at the same time every day, it can mean a pattern of movements after you have a cold drink, or a good night's sleep etc.

I was told to start tracking from 28 weeks as it can still change quite a bit before then. Baby has more room to move around and change positions in the 2nd trimester which can affect what you feel and when, whereas in the 3rd trimester, they change positions a lot less and they are bigger so movements can be more obvious.

@sel2223 thank you for your reply. I did say to my midwife that I know what makes baby move etc food or certain lying positions etc but she said do not go on that because I would not be able to identify when the normal reduced movements are.

I know I am still early and I am not concerned re a pattern just now as I feel her quite a lot and more/harder as time goes on. It's an amazing feeling that I love. I don't just don't know if when I sleep well that baby is then like ahh finally some rest or if me moving back and forth (up all the time due to pelvic pain or restless legs etc) she gets agitated and moves more? Is it normal or if I am just being hyper sensitive now since the latest midwife advice?

I don't have a midwife, it's an obstetrician where I am and the advice is only slightly different- she says that you should get a fairly regular and established daily pattern from 28 weeks but that you will notice other patterns as you go through such as a change after eating certain foods, sleeping, exercising etc which all form part of a pattern too . So if they always have a 'mad 10 minutes' after a cold drink then one day they just don't react at all, that would be something to pay attention to.

I guess what your midwife is talking about is more the daily pattern so you can be aware of reduced movements over the course of a morning or full day for example.

I think any change (especially in the 3rd trimester) is something to be aware of, you should trust your instincts as noone will know your baby's routines or patterns better than you do.

I'm only 14 weeks now but so excited to feel movements - I had an anterior placenta in my first pregnancy and never felt strong movements or kicks. I had a lot of issues with reduced movements in later weeks as could barely feel anything so lots of monitoring, scans etc
My placenta is posterior this time though so really excited to feel the difference!

@sel2223

Ok thank you for that! I have maybe picked up my midwife incorrectly!

This is my first time after many years and ivf transfers so I am anxious but very thankful to have posterior just for reassurance more than anything. I hope you start to feel soon! I would have said it was 17 weeks I started to get proper movements then just got stronger and more consistent since then.

All babies are different. I just had my baby thanks God, but it was very stressful.

I got a real tracking of movements until 30 weeks. Then in my regular job (Monday to Friday) I had to walk on/off for all the shift. He moved a lot when I was working. However, in the weekend when I would walk much less, he would move very little.

I ended up a couple of times on the weekend due to reduced movements and he was always fine on the CTG machine. Maybe the baby didn't like to stay sitting down for a long time.

I'm 39 weeks and I've never noticed a pattern. I don't know how I would unless I spent my whole day sat still taking notes.