How much is normal?? Can you lovely ladies give me some advice?

[Kalikaroo]

Hi mumsnetters!

Sorry for another first-timer paranoia attack, but I was wondering how much movement I should be feeling from my baby (I'm 28 weeks)?

My baby seems to hardly move at all apart from a bit of a kicking session when I go to bed, but sometimes it's hardly even that.

My placenta is on the front, so it that limiting how much I can feel, even at this stage? (I was pretty late feeling movements)

I'm a bit worried because most people say they can feel their baby having parties etc inside, but I'm not feeling much of anything except only from time to time in the evening (when I mostly feel small movements and the occasional big kick).

Thanks for any advice/reassurance!

I have no experience of this, but from things I have read:

With your placenta at the front, it is completely normal for you not to be feeling very much movement.

As long as you are feeling the baby move everyday you will be fine.

If you are at all worried, go see/call your midwife for reassurance and/or for them to listen to heartbeat.

Hope that helps

As just said - the fact placenta is on the front will reduce your feeling. Also, all babies move differently - I guess depending on their position, how you're carrying etc etc. I believe that it is a change in the pattern of movement that means you need to worry rather than the amount IYSWIM.

Also, its entirely subjective so what other people might think is a 'party' might be your evening wriggles.

Please don't worry - I didn't feel much at this stage either, just a few kicks at bedtime. It was only when I got to about 36 weeks that I knew what people meant by saying their baby was having a party inside them, as it as only then it got uncomfortable at night, watching and feeling DD turn over inside me.

So don't worry please, it will get better

The standard question seems to be "are you feeling 10 separate movements each day?" However I've noticed different interpretations of that - some people say those movements should be at least 30 mins apart; others that as long as there are 10 distinct movements it doesn't matter how close they are.

Try not to worry - I was with my friend having a CTG for reduced movement and the machine was picking up loads of movements that she wasn't feeling at all. If you're busy during the day you might not notice as many - what happens when you relax? And yes, I believe a front placenta can absorb some of the kicks so you feel less.

But definitely mention it to your midwife as she should be able to refer you to the day assessment unit if you don't feel you're getting 10 per day.

Kalikaroo, when I was pregnant with DD I hardly felt her move at all the whole way through my pregnancy, it was very frustrating and did have me worried on more than one occasion. When I told the consultant I was worried about the lack of movement he said that he wasn't worried as that was how it had been throughout my pregnancy and he would only really be worried if there was a change in the amount of movement.

He did suggest that if I was particularily worried at any time to go somewhere quiet and have hot sweet tea or a chocolate bar and see if that got the baby moving more.

Obviously everyone if different and if you are worried then you should def call your MW but just wanted to let you know that some babies just don't move very much and are still perfectly fine. I ended up with a very relaxed baby, she is now 15 months and still a fairly relaxed toddler so could be a positive thing

Have an ice cold drink and lie back - that or a bar of choc!