Kick question

ThePax89

I have been unbelievably blessed this pregnancy to feel strong kicks on the outside at 15 weeks. Family members and my husband have felt too. 

By 18 weeks, she stopped kicking. Doppler confirmed HR was fine. I rushed to my midwife who was concerned, but because she found the heart she wasn't too worried. Kicks continued with normal strength. AS confirmed that her placenta is perfectly posterior. 

Now at almost 21 weeks, it's happening again. 

So my question, when are kicks not just for fun anymore and evidence of a problem if kick patterns change? Has anyone dealt with this? 

Even the Doppler isn't providing much sanity. 

colleenkevin

I asked this after my AS last week and my OB said not to start worrying about it until closer to 28 weeks.  I've also had some days recently where he hasn't moved for hours and hours and I've felt a bit panicked until he started up again.

christac1010

Same advice from my OB. He said it's common for the baby to start sleeping more around this time. He also suggested, if possible (and sometimes it's obviously not with work and kids), to drink a glass of water and go into a quiet room and lay on my left side for a few minutes. Sometimes it takes the calm and silence for you to feel the littlest kicks. He told me not to worry unless it was a few days with absolutely no movement or if I had cramping/bleeding/water breaking. It really sucks when babies change the patterns we're accompanied to at this point. Hoping that baby starts kicking up a storm again soon for you!

LoneStar21416

What PP said! I've been told it's not something pay attention to until 28 weeks. It's hard, though! Sometimes cold water followed by laying down helps. 

susykat77

Aw dang. I don't want the kick pattern to change. For the last week I can expect to feel kicks every afternoon and evening. I am only 18 weeks but it is good to know that if she stops moving as much that I shouldn't worry (yeah, right).

katesmama0706

@susykat77 they don't always change! Or sometimes they ramp up as they get bigger and run out of room! 

Kurtni

28 weeks is the standard recommendation, but it's not a hard and fast rule. If you notice a decrease in or absence of activity it can't hurt to call your doctor for reassurance. 

ThePax89

With my first daughter, I went in at 27 weeks for decreased fetal movement. They were concerned. She was just wedged in a weird position, I guess. 

Im nervous because her pregnancy was a constant journey of kick counts and NSTs and was very scary. I felt grateful to have a live healthy baby at the end, and I'm worried to go through it again. 

Thank you all for the reassurance. It's a bit scary at times to be pregnant. I really appreciate the support. 

KarliQ88

I'm curious too. I also have posterior placenta and felt around 16weeks for my first time. Now they are strong and felt from the outside. Sometimes i get scared when i don't feel them for a while. I'm slowly starting to learn what makes him active though and i do that. Start paying attention to what makes them more active. But yea...it's so crazy feeling them this strong at only 21 weeks (like i said though i was feeling much earlier). It really allows for alot of reasssurance. 

canavara

I was just googling this. LO has been really quiet the past couple of days, most likely because I've been extremely active and I know being active = baby gets lulled to sleep by motion... everything I was googling said the 5-10 movements per day count shouldn't be a concern until 24 weeks. No idea why then in particular though?

ThePax89

@canavara it's all so arbitrary! And my doctor told me 28 with my first, but was willing to entertain my paranoia because I was 27 weeks. 

Teach123

My baby stopped moving towards the end of my pregnancy, like the last 3 weeks movement slowed way down. Everyone told me it was just because he ran out of room. No, he was in distress. If something is bothering you, don't hesitate to ask and keep advocating for yourself if something doesn't feel right to you. I know it's still early though, and I think around 28 weeks is normal for kick counts to begin. 

ThePax89

@Teach123 this sounds like my first pregnancy. She was constantly having bouts of non-movement. Eventually they caught her heart decelerating on an nst and I was induced that day. I promised myself that I'd never hesitate to call again.