Fetal Movement

aggieteach12

Hi there! I am having some anxiety about fetal movement and how much/how often I should be feeling baby move. I am 33+1, but I am overweight, and have an anterior placenta so I know that those factors probably hinder my ability to feel the baby move. I just feel like some days I hardly feel any movement and other days he feels super active. How often should I be feeling movement throughout the day? Is it normal that the farther along you are the less movement you feel? I'm so afraid that something might be wrong, but I don't want to be the crazy first time mom who goes in for fetal monitoring all the time. I have a doppler and each time I've used it in between appointments his heart rate is clear and strong so I'm guessing that everything is okay. I just have a lot of anxiety and a huge fear that a stillbirth might happen. Thanks in advance for any and all reassurance!! 

Stephanie7693

I was going through the same thing yesterday. My baby has been really active, but not so much the last couple days. I was about to go in, but he's back to being active again today. I'm wondering if he had a growth spurt and his sleep schedule changed in the last couple days.
You should start doing kick counts at the same time every day, during an active time for baby. Record how many movements you feel in an hour. Then you have something to refer to when you're feeling worried. I haven't been doing them, but aftery worries this week I'm going to start them. 

Car0liiine

I was having the same worries about my baby and brought it up at my appointment on Friday. My problem with kick counts is that she doesn't seem to have a certain time of day when she's active. Just random. She also doesn't respond to me drinking something cold, poking at her or jumping around. I was getting scared because it seemed like several hours would go by with little to no movement at all, most of the day really.
 My OB said at this point baby is sleeping most of the time just like a newborn and as long as there is at least one period a day when baby moves 10x+ in 2 hours (ideally 1 hr), no need to worry.
I should add I'll be 35 weeks Monday and I too am overweight.

ThisisNumber3

On a typical day I think they say 10 movements within two hours. Trying to pick roughly the same time period that you notice activity. I notice movement mostly around like 10am and 8pm. Any movement counts (roll kick jab) except for hiccups. 

If if you have a worried period just try to drink fluids and lay down and do counts any time of the day. 

WinnieLou82

Yes, it should be 10 kicks within 2 hours. I use the Count the Kicks app which makes it easy to record. 

Sunnyn75

I agree with kick counts!  And I've read that it's normal to feel movements a little less later in pregnancy bc they have less room to move around

jacmkelley

This may sound silly, But I had to ask specifically to my Dr what "counts as a kick". She said its any movement, slightest roll, kick, hiccup. It all counts. You should feel 10 every 2 hours.
I was 33 weeks last week and I woke up on Friday morning panicking because I hadn't noticed baby move. Which was unusual because he is most active at night and will even wake me up. I have a Doppler and found his heartbeat, but made them do a sono at my check up that day. My Dr said that at this point the baby's are running out of room and movement will likely change and decrease. I would say if your placenta is anterior AND your approaching the end of pregnancy you may just feel less movement. Hang in there and know it's not just you, we are moms and we are worried! It's natural. 

aggieteach12

Thanks so much ladies!! I haven't been doing kick counts because my doctor said it might be difficult with the anterior placenta, but I may start doing them once a day to help ease my mind. Thanks again! 

aggieteach12

Same! I don't feel like he has a time every day where I know he will be active. It varies from day to day. Thank you for your reply! Makes me feel less crazy about all of this!  

Mfuller76

I've definitely noticed a change in his movements as I get farther into the third trimester. I think because he's running out of room, the movement are a lot more subtle and I don't always notice them. I've noticed mine goes in cycles too -a few days where I don't feel him as much, and then a few days where he's super active. A lot of it depends on my activity level as well. Weekends when I'm constantly on the go, he seems to sleep more. 

rubredvelvet

I'd try not to worry too much about it, but I understand it's hard not to. My dr doesn't really put much on the kick count as long as you at least feel baby. She said kick counts refer to laying on your left side, in a dark room, with no disruptions, etc. This is baby number 3 for us so half the time I forget I'm pregnant and can't recall if I have felt baby moved that day or not. If I need reassurance fresh squeezed oj is the best thing I have found to get her moving. But even so some days I still barely feel her while others it's crazy. 

emmeline714

They run out of space but should still feel some movement and use count the kicks app should help out you should feel 10 kicks within 2 hours if not call your doctor 

AliKay20

My belly now changes its shape. When the baby stretches out, my round belly becomes rectangular and my belly button is almost back to normal (goes in deeper rather than close to surface).

pelorunningmama

This baby is so much less active that DD was. I find myself worrying about him multiple times per day because he often doesn't respond to me poking at him either. But I feel him a lot right before bed and when I wake up in the middle
of the night to pee (I think I disturb him). I am just hoping this means he will be a relaxed baby. DD was a tough one so we will see! I have a sono on Tuesday so am going to ask more about it then.

gadzooks_3

Interesting, I have been told it should be 10 kicks in 1 hour at an active time, each day. If you don't get 10 kicks in an hour, don't feel the baby that day, or notice the times getting slower and slower to call labor and delivery.  I was told all kinds of movements count except hiccups and that the type of movements you feel change but baby should remain active throughout the third trimester. 

ccfc1984

The information on amount of kicks has been updated in many countries, moving away from the '10 kicks in x time' to monitoring for a change in pattern of activity because of the wide range of normal activity.

Current recommendation in the UK:

"There is no set number of normal movements. Your baby will have their own pattern of movements that you should get to know. From 16 – 24 weeks on you should feel the baby move more and more up until 32 weeks then stay roughly the same until you give birth.CALL YOUR MIDWIFE OR MATERNITY UNIT IF YOU ARE EVER WORRIED OR IF YOU NOTICE A CHANGE IN YOUR BABY’S NORMAL MOVEMENTS."

You shouldn't feel any less movement in the 3rd trimester, or a decline in frequency, but the type of movement will change as the space changes. 

squishy0511

I've noticed I'll have really active days and then other days where he's not. Last Thursday and Friday I felt like he was moving all day, then this weekend it was much less. it's so nerve wracking!!

mamaqdubu

Does anyone else find that laying on a certain side will make your LO go crazy? I cannot lay on my left side without baby kicking like crazy! Which is unfortunate because I like to turn back and forth throughout the night. 

nanner26

Yes! It's my left side too.

sbelle474

It's my right! 

SkiChic626

I have days where baby is super active like literally non-stop all day, and then other days where he hardly moves at all (or he's in a position where I don't feel it as much) and it freaks me out.  My DD was the same exact way, though her active days weren't nearly as active as this LO haha.  I think it's normal to be paranoid about it, especially the further along you get because you're used to feeling it.  Also, my sister was stillborn at 38w, so it terrifies me.  Toward the end with DD my dad would actually ask me "how do you know the baby is OK?"  Obviously, it still haunts him, too :-(  But I knew because I would get those kicks.  The doppler definitely helps on those less active days, too.

bbyT

@SkiChic626 I feel ya on the very active one day and then nothing the next. My LO is super active at night on my back and very hateful if i try to lay on my right side. (I hate laying on my left side.) I would love to just lay on my back as it is most comfy but that is frowned upon as of right now. Also sorry for your loss and I hope the anxiety passes for your father and you (if you have any worries). Hope your LO continues to kick you till the end!!!