34 weeks baby doesn't have a pattern - midwife got anxious

[Georgus]

Hi everyone, FTM here.

I'm 34+2, just had my 34 week appointment with my community midwife in what has so far been an uncomplicated pregnancy. I did have a growth scan at 31 weeks as she thought my bump was small but he measured perfectly - 69th percentile. Everything was fine and healthy.

My baby has never shown any movement pattern really - I don't know if this is because I have an anterior placenta. He moves when he wants and can certainly have lazy days. In the earlier days (weeks 24 and 28) I've been in for reduced movements, everything has been fine then. I'm 34 weeks now and I do feel him quite a bit some days, less kicks and more rolling movements. He responds to things like my husbands touch and a warm drink. However sometimes I won't feel him for a few hours - usually if I've been a bit more "active" that day so being on my feet. But I will usually always end up feeling some kind of movement from him.

Baby was very active and kicking the Doppler during the appointment today.

I told the above info to the midwife and she became quite anxious and said I should go to triage and she could refer me then and there. Obviously I understand she's doing her job and due diligence but the anxiety has worked me up a little when I wasn't feeling too anxious about his movements before. I said I couldn't go then and there as I would need to arrange travel to get there but I would contact triage today.

I feel like I'm a bad mum that I'm not as anxious about this, I definitely have been anxious a few weeks ago but I felt that in my mind having no pattern is his pattern, if that makes sense. Have people been to triage for similar situations and at what point do you feel put at ease? If he never develops a pattern then wouldn't I always be at triage getting him checked over?

Sorry if this sounds bad or poorly worded, I'm just feeling a bit worried when I wasn't before.

I’ve had six children and none had a discernible “pattern”, I also wasn’t ever asked! Youngest is five so it’s not as if it was all decades ago. Go to triage for reassurance, maybe start a notebook tally of big kicks. Good luck.

Hi @Georgus, firstly, congratulations!

I am pregnant with my 3rd, 1st time having an anterior placenta. My little one also doesn’t have a pattern like my last 2 pregnancies did. I am under the consultant and on Monday the consultant said to me ‘some babies never get a pattern, but it’s what is normal for you and this pregnancy’. I think this is very good advice. You know your baby, like I can usually feel her more at night but often have whole days I don’t feel her.

THAT SAID…if I were you, I would call triage as it will now be playing on your mind after your discussion with your midwife. You will never waste anyone’s time going to get checked and you can have a chat with them about what the midwife expressed and how you feel this is affecting your anxiety. I won’t hesitate to go in if I don’t feel her, but I know she doesn’t have a pattern.

good luck xx

I had an anterior placenta in my first pregnancy and never felt strong movements/kicks or developed a proper pattern.

I think you just get to know your own baby and what's normal for them so, in your case, you know that certain things like your husbands voice and warm drinks etc should trigger movements.

The nurse is just following protocol but they don't know you/ your baby/ your body.

If you do have any cause for concern then , of course, definitely get yourself in to be checked ASAP.

I never really worked out a pattern in either of my pregnancies. It's difficult because obviously no one can tell you what a 'normal' pattern is and they always hedge their bets by telling you to go in if there's any doubt. I did go in for reduced movements a lot, especially in my first pregnancy when I lived quite near the hospital anyway. I ended up being induced early partly as a result of having been in so many times with RFM. I guess I'll never know whether that was necessary or not. Sorry not a very helpful post, I guess my point is that (as you have deduced) no one will be able to tell you not to worry about it because ultimately it's your call. It's probably fine and maybe some babies just don't ever develop a pattern, but it depends on your gut feeling and attitude to risk. (Which also applies to safe sleep guidance and probably the rest of parenthood forevermore!)

I had an anterior placenta and felt really strong kicks from very early on! However, I didn't pick up a pattern, which I felt was due to me always being on the go during the day and rocking baby to sleep/ not noticing. Whenever I sat down at the end of the day I'd feel baby so I wasn't worried.

Definitely go if she's suggested it.

But I had an anterior placenta with DD1, and didn't with DD2, and while I felt more movements overall with DD2, neither of them had any kind of actual pattern at all.

I've had 5 babies and haven't had a 'pattern' with any of them. They were quiet and still some days and wriggly on others. They flag it up as reduced movements because you've actively noticed the still days- it's not an exact science to feel them moving so they're better off checking you over.

Thanks everyone, this has been really reassuring to read and makes me feel less of a bad person for not being anxious beforehand about it! Come to think of it, the idea of a pattern is quite subjective and open to interpretation anyway and I know they're just being extra cautious with everything.

@Georgus I had a midwife towards the end of my pregnancy who really made me very anxious, which then made my blood pressure go up in subsequent appointments with her - a vicious circle! She suggested that I was getting pre-eclampsia and would probably have to get induced ASAP. After monitoring at the hospital the they saw the baby was fine, I was fine, and I delivered him naturally with no pre-eclampsia. They have to be cautious of course but it's a shame that some of them don't work on how they communicate that cautiousness to you!

I never had a pattern with my baby. I had an anterior placenta too. It did make me very anxious so I ended up going in for twice weekly CTGs to make sure everything was okay, but my baby was born healthy x