Why can't I feel my baby move

[gardenlady1]

Hi all

I'm nearly 25 weeks pregnant with first baby and I've not really felt baby move - I had some earlier on about 18 weeks, it vanished by 19 weeks but EPU found heartbeat and at 20 week scan baby was fine.

But I still havent felt loads and I struggle to differentiate between gas and baby still.

I was at hosp this week for headaches and mentioned I hadn't felt much, they did heartbeat and said it was brilliant and baby was moving around.

At 20 week scan my placenta was posterior so can't be that.

I had wide hips and carry probs 1-2 inch of fat around belly at most so wondering if that impacts it as I'm wider so more room.

I'm back at midwife next week so will mention then, but wish I could feel something stronger.

Any advice / experiences most welcome. Thank you

It could be position baby is in. If they are facing inwards the kicks are not so distinct. However your midwife will ask you at every appointment if you are feeling movements and you should have a 24 hr number to ring if you are not feeling movements in between appointments. Don't get blasé about it and always contact the helpline if you are worried. It is partly about what is normal for your baby as well as the general picture but follow your instincts.

Baby is likely kicking towards your back. Give it a few more months and it'll be very obvious when they are sticking an elbow or foot out, or when they do a full somersault or get the hiccups. Baby is still tiny. But as PP said keep an eye as it is important. I'd put money on the gas feeling being baby. If you drink ice cold water do you feel it then?

Don't forget that your baby is only just over a foot long, and weighs one and a half pounds. It's still so tiny.

Thanks all appreciate it. The movement I had was like bubbles popping but very quickly which made me think it's gas rather than baby as it was over so fast. When I think I have felt movement it kind of hurts (not in bad way, but like being poked in belly button way) which felt different. But yeah I've no idea which is which! Hoping baby is facing the back

I barely felt DD at all during pregnancy- posterior placenta so wasn’t that. Also wasn’t overweight or anything. She’d be moving around like mad on scans and I could feel barely anything.

I wouldn’t worry, some people just can’t feel them. If it wasn’t for the enormous bump I wouldn’t have known I was pregnant- no symptoms at all apart from no periods. I reckon I could easily have been one of those people that has no idea they are pregnant.

The downside was I had lots of monitoring because I was so worried there was something wrong.

No hiccups
No prodding
No poking
No visible movement

Absolutely nada.

Midwife at birth did comment I had a super strong core though - horse rider. Are you a rider @gardenlady1?

Those bubbles are probably hiccups.

Wow what an experience for you! A midwife did fleetingly say yesterday 'maybe this is your baby's pattern' lol. I've never been on a horse, I danced for several years until early 20s but wouldn't say I've retained much from that as body has changed over the years.

It doesn't help that all NHS stuff says should feel stuff by 24 weeks so obvs gonna panic.

Thanks so much all

Has anyone had any feelings of the cervix being kicked perhaps? I sometimes get like sharp pains from that area (nothing that makes me worry as is quick) and wondering if perhaps they're just super low down and why I don't feel much

Just an update in case anyone reads in future - I think those popping bubbles were actually the baby moving! The last week I've had strong pops visible from the outside and a strong heartbeat at the midwife appointment. So relieved xx

If you’re still worried then pls ring the midwife helpline and your hospital will see you to monitor movements - mine have always been happy to provide reassurance and would rather be safe than sorry x