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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

odd fetal movement patters

14 replies

mrsboogie · 08/05/2008 14:39

Hi all

I am 21 weeks today and have been feeling baba move for about three of four weeks now. The thing is, he seems to have a rather odd pattern of movement. For two or three days he will move and kick and wriggle all day long, then he goes quiet and I can barely feel anything for three or four days and then he gets all active again. I mentioned it when I wnet for my 20 wek scan but they basically told me that 20 weeks is a bit soon to be feeling movement so I am probably imagining it. I'm not!! There's no mistaking it when he leaps aboout and there's no mistaking it when he goes quiet.

Has anyone else had this?

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fryalot · 08/05/2008 14:42

you can feel him kicking and wriggling when he is in a position close to your nerves.

When he is further "inside" you can't feel him at all. This is why you are feeling him sporadically. As he gets bigger, you will find that you feel him every day.

And 21 weeks is not too soon to be feeling movements. You are NOT imagining it

Orissiah · 08/05/2008 14:47

I'm 36 weeks and baby still does this - has active days and quiet days - often she has simply twisted round a little and is kicking/stretching against an area of my insides that I don't feel so well. Sometimes she genuinely is having a few quiet days. I don't worry so much now that I know she does this. But if you're concerned do get her heartbeat checked at the hospital - my hospital even did a few quick scans to reassure me that when I felt nothing there she was kicking furiously away or else was very still but good heart rate.

Original poster

mrsboogie · 08/05/2008 14:51

thanks guys - I'm not too worried now cos its happened a few times and cos I can still feel the odd movement on quiet days. Just wondered really whether or not anyone else had this.

OP posts:

Essie3 · 08/05/2008 15:40

Yes, I have this - and I'm 35 weeks. The first time it happened (quiet day - maybe tiny moves in the evening but nothing much otherwise) I really panicked! I think like squonk says he was deeper inside. No hope of that now!
20 weeks too soon? I must be a freak - I could feel my baby moving at 14 weeks.

pinata · 08/05/2008 16:34

i had this - i think it's quite normal, but of course makes you very anxious. every time you feel it you can't wait for the next movement and then you get nothing for days.

once the baby gets bigger, you'll feel more regular movements - try not to worry. i think by 26/27 weeks onwards you'll start to feel it much more as space gets tight in there

pinata · 08/05/2008 16:35

oh, and they're talking nonsense - i felt DD move from about 14 weeks too. like a tiny pinging elastic

dobbins · 08/05/2008 18:51

Hi I'm also 21 weeks and my baby is moving lots some days, not much at all others. Also worried about this quite a lot to begin with but have now become used to it. there are times when she moves more- early evenings but again this can vary....

ginner12 · 26/01/2010 08:47

hi'im 20 weeks and 3 days and have only felt baba once and that was only faint.this is my 4th child with an age gap of 11 yrs.also i have a low placenta could this be why im not feeling baby move (kick).

BigusBumus · 26/01/2010 08:54

I was always told, (not sure about scientific fact) that your baby goes quiet insode when its about to have a growth spurt, then goes all active after that/

I suspect the real answer is which way the babys limbs are facing. If its back is lying against the inside of your bump, its legs/arms will be kicking inwards, so you won't feel as much. But as they are so small and have so much room at 21 weeks, they can easily "hide" in the middle somewhere, so not much movement against your tummy, so to speak.

(I felt DS1 from 16 weeks and DS2 from 12 weeks, so no you're not imagining it!)

ginner12 · 26/01/2010 09:06

thanks..i dont know im just sat waiting to feel something..im quite big as well for 20 weeks im wondering if theres a lot of water in there and thats why im not feeling him much

BigusBumus · 26/01/2010 09:10

If you really are worried, go along to your maternity ward. They will put a monitor strap around your tummy and ask you to press a button when you feel a movement. After 10 mins or so they look at the tracing. Almost every time they will say everythings fine and its quite remarkable how suddenly the baby is moving loads!

And don't worry about wasting their time. I did it twice with both of my pregnancies!

ginner12 · 26/01/2010 09:43

thanks...i go to see midwife tomorrow so will see wat she has to say..

BusyMissIzzy · 26/01/2010 10:00

I've had the same thing since about 24 weeks (am now 34+4). Like Essie3 I was worried the first time (and I still worry a bit; I much prefer the reassurance of being able to feel her move lots!), but it seems to be normal.
That said, everyone gets used to what is normal for them, and if you ever feel like the baby is "abnormally" quiet, there's no harm in calling the midwife.

first1 · 26/01/2010 12:37

Me too! I'm 24+1 with my first. Some days (wait make that nights mainly ) she goes crazy like she's doing some impressive Riverdance routine! But then she'll have a few days where she's just chilling out. I really worried at first and sent myself off to DAU at the hospital but have since got more use to it. My MW said when it comes to feeling movements, that you get to understand your own baby's patterns and that's whats more important, not just what a book says

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