Fetal movements?

Just wanting to know when do you start to worry about reduced fetal movements?

I take it babies have slow or quiet periods? I think in general mine is a very quiet baby, he moves a bit a night when im resting and during the day im sitting at my desk, so i normally feel little pushes or big bubble like feelings popping!

just need a bit of piece of mind, im going for an anti-natal check up tomorrow so i will double check then, however what have you guys experienced?

Colleeg

Hi,

You can do a kick count which is where you count the number of kicks the baby does in an hour. There should be at least 10. Should do this when bubs is most active. If there is less than 10 movements, go for another hour counting. If still less than 10 your should contact your OB/GYN. Babies do have quiet moments, sometimes when they are having a growthspurt they may be quietier than normal for a day. Try not to worry. It normally is more of a concern later in pregnancy, say around 30 weeks or so.

HTH,

Hi Colleeg,

Thanks for asking the question! I was wondering the same thing. I've been feeling bubs since 17 wks and last week she seemed to quieten down alot...to the extent that I didn't feel her at all on Thurs and Fri. I spoke with the midwives at the hospital and they had my come in and checked everything out. She's fine in there - HB is strong - nothing to worry about. They think she might just be lethargic due to the heat...

When do they recommend you start doing the kick count from? Is it too early to expect that much movement at 26 wks?

Juliette

Juliette,
I think the kick count can be started from 20weeks however with my bub he is more of a riggler and very gentle with his movements, or it could be because this is my first and its harder to be felt.

i also though becuase im doing a lot of swimming maybe he is very relaxed, but i guess i will chat to the midwives tomorrow.

10 kicks an hour! I didn't think they kicked that much.

My friend had low iron in her 3rd tri and the baby slowed down. She got the baby monitored but I'm not sure how. With iron supplements and eating more red meat baby became more active again.

Gemma.

Hi there,

I felt Olivia move from 16 weeks and she was always very active up until about 30 weeks and then she quietened down. My OB suggested that as a baby gets gigger there is less room to move around so you feel less kicks and the sensation of the baby rolling is less obvious to us to feel.

Certainly babies do seem to move more when you are resting (because your motion is not lulling them to sleep). So if Olivia was having a "quiet day" & I wanted to reassure myself I would have a cold drink (cold milk or cold orange juice) which is said to get them moving a bit, and then lie down on the bed for a read, & usually within 10 mins or so I could feel her moving again!

When I was still at work my job involved a lot of walking between sites, so I always made an effort to sit down at my desk after lunch and have a cold drink and she would start having a party as I checked my emails!

gee 10 kicks an hour is a lot, i guess i should stop and see how we go. they do worry you though. Will have to try that cold drink and see what effect that will have!

Lucy, how do you differ a light kick and a strong buble popping feeling, or are they both kicks?

I think the difference btween movements depends on the age of the baby, the figure of the mother and most imprtantly the position of the placenta.

(For example, Olivia's placenta was at the back, so despite my flabby bits I could really feel strong kicks when she kicked at the front, but I could only feel bubbes/pops/rolls at the back/to the side.)

Thanks Lucy, I guess that makes sense, im not sure what positions my placenta is in however i know i do get a lot of bubbles/pops too and i wasnt sure if that along with kicks is meant to happen!

probably stressing over nothing!

I also felt Lily kick from 16 weeks. She was extreamly active, right up until i gvae birth to her. There were a few days where she'd be less active but was mainly due to the heat. I was told by everyone that the movements are less obvious etc later in pg. But with Lily, it was a non-stop party in there. At around 36-37 weeks onwards, if I layed down you could just see my belly moving like crazy, in very extreme, awkward positions.

Jackson is very active. i just tried to do the count thing, but lost count of the movements! i can see my belly moving around heaps, especially at certain times of the day.

but yeah, i guess it just depends on how hyper bubs is. my DH is mega full of energy so I am assuming Jackson is going to take after him, god help me!

I was reading in one of my books that as long as you feel 10 movements (stretches, kicks, rolls) in 12 hours everything is okay, I haven`t asked my OB it`s just what I have read.

Take Care

Deeanne

Deejoy17,
good point i feel a lot more confident becase i can realate to that (stretches, kicks, rolls) but i guess if ever in doubt talk to your OB!

Hi Colleeg

This is something I stressed myself out about so much that I called my OB's office yesterday so upset and they put me through to the reg. nurse to explain things to me.

She said not to worry, babies are little humans and fall asleep for a few hours so you might not feel anything for a big block of time. She told me 10 kicks in a 24 hour period is fine. That includes EVERY little bump, niggle, hiccup, bubble - everything. She also told me it is so important not to compare yourself to other women. Everybody is different - just like the babies! If you think to your scans and remember how much the baby was moving and you couldn't feel it??

She totally put my mind at ease and made me feel so much better. Please don't worry too much if they go quiet, they need to rest too! :sleeping:

that was great info Karen, I'm sure that'll put coleeg's mind at rest

Karen
you are wonderful!
first of all, i have been comparing myself to all preg women! you know some say they are so busy ect and i look at there preg status and they are around the same stage as me! then i get worried.

i am certaily feeling all you mentioned EVERY little bump, niggle, hiccup, bubble, just at inconcistant times! as you say they are little humans not robots they are going to do what ever they want in there and that is probably reflected by their moods too.

i guess as mums (first time) we tend to worry maybe its natural?

It's perfectly understandable to worry. How do we know what we should be feeling when we've never felt this before???

I'm glad you feel better, I did too after speaking to the nurse. I think they understand that we are very uncertain and need alot of reassurance.