No episodes of high variation CTG

[Seless97]

Hey all,

Looking for some reassurance and some advice based on personal experience. I’m 29 weeks and underwent monitoring on the CTG (Dawes-Redman) for something unrelated to baby. Baby kept failing on no episodes of high variation. The doctors advised this is common at this point of gestation, has anyone had any experience of this and baby was born fine with no concerns ? I can’t find any shared stories of this online and are riddled with anxiety and worry

Would appreciate feedback if you can add any !

I had repeated episodes of monitoring for reduced movements. Some prolonged no variation, so they just kept me on the monitor until baby got moving again. They weren't concerned (even when I was on the monitor for over 1.5 hours).

I had repeated failed CTGs at 30, 32 and 34 weeks. DS would fail each ctg for no high variation for over a day each time (they would give me a break and come back four or six hours later I think it was and test again.) eventually he would pass one. They were not concerned because the graph looked fine, I think the ctg is very strict on its criteria. They still admitted me though once it failed.

I developed high bp during my first hospital stay at 30 weeks (picked up by accident because I was there for reduced movements and then failed CTGs). By my third stay at 34 weeks they said I would have to have DS soon because my preeclampsia was getting worse (blood tests were getting worse but I felt fine). I had DS at 35 weeks exactly. On that day his ctg was a static line - instead of zigzag it was a line. It moved to a csection.

Although I can guess why that may have happened- they gave me steroid injections to help his lungs knowing I needed to have him shortly. They didn’t tell me but apparently online it said the baby can have reduced movements for up to 24hrs after the steroids. So I think that might have affected him. I never found other examples of the static line ctg but I had DS 1.5hrs after it had started so I didn’t worry about it.

He was perfect and is now a healthy happy 1.5 yr old. You wouldn’t be able to tell he came early now.

Thank you for sharing I really appreciate it, I’m super anxious as I’m only passing the odd one and they are going to review again at 32 weeks but it’s unclear why I’m failing and I can’t find many others with a shared experience to mine

Are you feeling regular movements? Variability is basically measuring how keen your baby is to move - they start dancing and heart rate goes up, same as us exercising. But if they are ill or not getting enough blood then they don't want to move - they stay still and conserve energy like we do. Babies are different in their activity level, but for both of mine I would feel them every hour for at least a few kicks, and then they would usually be very active (multiple 20-40 mins bouts of activity) throughout the evening and night. So if your movements taper then go straight in again.

i feel her every hour I would say and I would consider her very active. I think since turning 29 weeks I’ve noticed she’s definitely before a lot more active and kicks are getting stronger so it’s so confusing and anxiety provoking. Only had one episode really of the reduced movements but yeah I can constantly feel her even in her quiet moments

That sounds reassuring, and gives you a good benchmark of what to look for should her movements reduce. So stressful for you though x

Yeah definitely this is my first pregnancy and I can’t wait for it to be over as emotionally it’s taking everything from me feeling an air of uncertainty but midwives and consultants said they have no concerns from the scans or monitoring apart from that element so have to take everday as it comes…. Going to give myself 2 weeks off monitoring and see if I meet criteria at 32 weeks as she will have grown a little bit more

Good luck! Let us know how you get on and I hope you get some rest x

Thank you I will do really appreciate you replying to my thread ❤️x