Decrease in fetal movement at the onset of early labor?

HolliEllison · February 2011

I know this question has been asked before, but I'm far too lazy to try and find the link to it (I think it was several weeks ago, but I could be wrong). For no particular reason, other than curiosity, I'm wondering if anyone who has been through the birthing process before noticed a decrease in fetal movement before the onset of early labor (obviously, I realize that as baby grows there is less room for him/her to move around...but typically you still feel movement of some sort even when baby grows out of room)? If so, how long before you went into labor did your LO stop moving around as much?

laura&dan05 · February 2011

I felt regular movement up until I was in labor and during labor. Any decrease in fetal movement should be checked out right away. Movements change as your LO runs out of room but a decrease in movement is reason for concern.

CrunchyMama · February 2011

laura&dan05:
I felt regular movement up until I was in labor and during labor. Any decrease in fetal movement should be checked out right away. Movements change as your LO runs out of room but a decrease in movement is reason for concern.

This.

iris427 · February 2011

NO.

Decreased movement is NOT a sign of labor onset.

If you are feeling decreased movement over a period of more than 6-12 hours, you need to call your doctor or go into L&D to get checked out. Decreased movement could be a sign of something seriously wrong and should never be ignored.

HolliEllison · February 2011

iris427:

NO.

Decreased movement is NOT a sign of labor onset.

If you are feeling decreased movement over a period of more than 6-12 hours, you need to call your doctor or go into L&D to get checked out. Decreased movement could be a sign of something seriously wrong and should never be ignored.

I'm not having decrease in fetal movement - thank god. I have a few friends who claim that before their labor started they didn't feel the baby moving around as much. I wasn't really sure what to make of that so figured I'd see what the general consensus was on here.

kabarbanel · February 2011

laura&dan05:
I felt regular movement up until I was in labor and during labor. Any decrease in fetal movement should be checked out right away. Movements change as your LO runs out of room but a decrease in movement is reason for concern.

This.

blessedandhopeful · February 2011

iris427:
NO.
Decreased movement is NOT a sign of labor onset.
If you are feeling decreased movement over a period of more than 6-12 hours, you need to call your doctor or go into L&D to get checked out. Decreased movement could be a sign of something seriously wrong and should never be ignored.

I'm not trying to be rude or anything, but is there a source for this? I've noticed a decrease in movement since Wednesday, but when I called my doctor I was told as long as I'm feeling some sort of movement (I think it was 3 movements in 45 minutes), that it's fine. I would hope my doctor would know what she's talking about. I DO feel him moving throughout the day, but it's a lot less than I am used to. I usually don't feel him much, if at all, in the morning, but he becomes a little more active in the afternoon and at night. I figure he's settling into a sleep pattern and likes to sleep in late....or something.

kg_08 · February 2011

They should never totally stop moving.

For DD, she was a spaz not only all the way up to labor... but all the way through delivery! Let me tell you that being kicked like crazy during hard contractions is not fun.

HolliEllison · February 2011

KG- Your "August Moms" picture almost made me pee my pants. Awesome.

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