Movement at 23 weeks… help!

[Inforapound]

I have an anterior placenta

for the last 2-3 weeks I have felt consistent kicks, particularly in the morning and at night, around my belly button. Had a scan on Sunday and everything was fine.

Then on Monday I noticed any kicks were around my pelvis and today, fewer kicks and again, around my pelvis. I phoned the midwife and she checked baby’s heart rate with a Doppler. All healthy.

im still experiencing what I think is fewer kicks and if she does kick, it’s around my pelvis again. Is this normal? I’m panicking massively

If you think you have reduced movement, go back to the MAU.
They would always rather see someone unnecessarily than miss a warning sign

At this stage it's so normal for baby to shift and move and feel different throughout the day. But if you feel movement has reduced, absolutely get yourself checked :-)

I will definitely call them again. It’s so tough as I can feel the odd kick, and her heartbeat today was perfect, but it’s as if the kicking has moved location too

@Inforapound i had an anterior placenta with my first and it must have been quite low down. I always felt kicks higher up, so he must have been head down most of the time, but at around 22 weeks he flipped to feet down and for a whole week I could hardly feel him because of my placenta being in the way 🤦🏻‍♀️ a week later he moved back to head down and I breathed a sigh of relief as could finally feel him properly. If you’re worried get checked. Any time I felt like I couldn’t really feel him I would drink a big glass of water and then lie down on my left side to focus on his movements for a while, as while he was feet down I couldn’t really feel him unless I really focused, if I was busy I wouldn’t notice his kicks while feet down because they are less obvious when your placenta is in the way x

I’m the same gestation with a posterior placenta and have the same - kicks feel less frequent and lower recently. I’ve been told it’s really normal.

Infact my midwife was so casual about it that she advised me not to attend AAU if I was feeling movement, as it could stop me being able to use the birth centre.

They’re still small at this point. They can still somersault in there. I’m telling myself that any movement is good and everything will be fine.

My consultant said that you should have an established pattern by 26 weeks although like you mine seemed to start earlier. However, he did say if any concerns always play it safe and err on side of caution by going in to get checked.

If it helps with reassurance I’m also 23 weeks and have had exactly the same over the last week. A few weeks of lots of strong movement and now days where I hardly feel him at all! When I do feel him the feeling is completely different to what it was. I went and saw my midwife who said that it was totally normal and it’s to be expected at this gestation.

Of course like everyone said though definitely get checked if it’s worrying you!

Thank you for your reassurance, everyone! I had a scan today and she’s now breech which explains everything, but she’s perfectly happy and healthy in there!

@Inforapound that's exactly what happened to me, baby flipped to feet down and I couldn't feel him due to placenta at the front and low-ish! Glad all is ok x

At 23 weeks your baby is still teeny with plenty of room to move around and change positions. They can tuck themselves into little nooks and crannies and it's even harder with an anterior placenta as if they're behind the placenta it can be much more difficult to feel anything.
I'm nearly 26 weeks now with a posterior placenta and still finding the 'pattern' can change as my baby changes position.