Anxious over lack of movement. Is this this 'bubble popping, sensation early movements?

[Spence91]

Hello,

Anxious FTM here after 5 miscarriages. Had a good scan at 17.4 with baby wiggling away but still don't think I am feeling any movement which is creating lots of anxiety given my history.
I definitely had some flutters/tapping around 16 weeks but nothing since and I'm now 18 weeks 5 days, unless I am starting to feel 'bubbles' but I am not sure if they are baby movement bubbles or not.

They feel like teeny tiny bubbles (they feel SUPER small) that kind of move up a little bit & pop- I would describe it as a fizzy drink in my belly, and tend to last for a little while- maybe 5mins sometimes shorter sometimes longer. Usually only notice them in the evening and when I am lying down, although I felt it first thing this morning in bed. When I've googled it says often it can be gas instead, although I don't think Ive ever noticed these teeny tiny bubbles when it's been bloated/gassy etc- then again I wasn't looking for it. I don't think I ever need to pass wind or go to the loo when I experience them also which makes me hopeful it could be some signs of early movements but googling just says 'bubbles' and I don't know whether it's a specific type of bubbling I should be looking for...

I also have an anterior placenta so I know that can affect movement but it's odd I felt sensations around 16 weeks but not anymore.

I guess I'm just looking for anyone who's early movements felt like I am describing the bubble feeling? I'm seeing my midwife in less than a week to hopefully hear the heartbeat again but if anyone experienced similar I would love to hear about it to maybe give me some hope 🙏🏼

I remember that bubble feeling. It was the first “movement” feeling I had. Found it very odd!!

I noticed the bubble feeling at around 20weeks with my first child. Felt like lemonade in my tummy. I was told it was them moving.

Bubbles can certainly be baby, and they were my first sensations of movement.

I will say though, it's not unusual that you could feel baby and now can't. Baby could be hiding as they still have lots of room to move about right now. So you could feel strong movements one week, then they shift and you feel nothing for a few days.

I didn't feel anything until about 20 weeks even with my third pregnancy. Anterior placenta and all healthy pregnancies.

Ooh I remember the bubble feeling! I think I was around 20 weeks.

My first ever feeling of movement was just like a little bubble popping. I suspect that’s what you’re feeling. Relax and enjoy!

Oh wow thank you all so much for replying, and so quickly too- I really do appreciate it.

It's encouraging to hear that many of you felt 'bubbles'. Did they feel like tiny bubbles?

@Pancakeflipperour description of lemonade is just how I would describe it 🙏🏼

It's such a random feeling as you assume movement will be taps or thuds but feeling hopeful now that this may be some early signs of movement 🤞🏼

This is definitely movement - they’re just so teeny it feels a bit strange! You’ll start to feel proper kicks etc soon, and you’ll miss this sensation, especially when they get you in the rib 😂 Congratulations, I hope this pregnancy is smooth for you 💕

Bubbles describes it well for me. My first I couldn’t feel til after my 20w scan.

Bubbles is exactly how it felt when I started to feel DD moving!

I had bubbles too around 18 weeks ❤️ the way you've described it is exactly what I felt. Hope the rest of your pregnancy goes really well!

The first baby movement I felt was like popcorn popping low down inside my pelvis. Sounds very like this!

Felt like bubbles at first for me too, then like tiny butterflies... by the end you'll be trying to hold your stomach as they kick your ribs to bits 😂

Congratulations on your pregnancy and sorry for the previous losses.

I'm pregnant with no.2 now and even though I'm having a healthy pregnancy and am a fairly rational person I still get anxious over movements!

You don't need to worry about lack of movements until after 24 (or even 26) weeks, if you can't feel them any more or if they are not following their regular pattern. Before that time, baby has lots of room to move and can flip different ways which make their movements harder to feel.

I felt movements much earlier on in this pregnancy which was reassuring, but then they went away again which really threw me off! I felt I couldn't make a fuss about it at 20 weeks, but having felt them at 18 I was then questioning why they were going away - even though it's normal!

Wishing you the best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

That’s exactly how I’d describe very early kicks/movement. It a very strange but sort of lovely feeling. Really reminds you just how tiny they still are, I always thought.

They will be thumps in no time. My youngest could make my ribs click by the time he arrived

That sounds about right, but you're unlikely to feel much before 22 weeks.

Honestly thank you all so much for responding. It's so appreciated. You've all given me a little bit of hope & have helped to calm my anxious brain a little bit. Keeping everything crossed that what I am feeling is the same you all felt & is actually early movements 🙏🏼🤞🏼

Thank you again, I really do appreciate it.

Goodness, this takes me back. I remember a very strange sensation which I described as if the baby was blowing bubbles through a straw. I was about 18/19 weeks along at that point.

That baby is now my 6ft, nearly 18 year old who is revising for his A level mocks.

Congratulations @Spence91

HI @Spence91 xx I'm 29+3 today and I remember feeling exactly how you do at around 16 weeks. I have a similar history and my placenta is anterior. I was told by my midwife that I'd be unlikely to feel much until at least 25-26 weeks. If I recall, it was about 24 weeks when I was starting to feel big movements. Then it's around 28 weeks the movements should form an established pattern. It's so hard to not worry even when you know the placenta is going to be absorbing virtually everything. Even at my 20 week scan, I could see baby moving, but I could feel none of it. Massive congratulations and I wish you an uneventful pregnancy and a smooth birth xx

Sounds totally normal. My DD is at 20 weeks with an anterior placenta and is only just feeling wiggles. She did describe is as gassy bubbles a couple of weeks ago! Congratulations to you