Baby’s Movements; what should I do if I have reduced movement?
Feeling your baby move is a sign they are well. When a baby is moving less it, it may indicate something is wrong and they are unwell. Always call your local triage (number on the front of your maternity notes) if you have ANY concerns at all. Getting quick treatment when you have concerns something is wrong could actually save your baby’s life.
Our top advice for monitoring baby’s movement:
Are Home Dopplers are dangerous for monitoring movement?
Yes – Home Dopplers are dangerous for monitoring movement. Period. If you listen in to baby’s heart rate and you hear a nice normal heart rate sound because you’ve googled a normal heart rate for a baby, you may get false reassurance from this. There are many things that we look for on a baby’s heart rate and the number is just a small part of this. Don’t get false reassurance from a home Doppler.
Should I drink a cold drink to make baby move?
No. If you are ill with an infection in bed, you move less because you are conserving your energy. If someone makes you cold by pouring coldness onto you, you will move. It doesn’t make you well, but you will move.
Don’t let Covid anxieties stop you getting checked
The risk of catching the Coronavirus from going into your hospital/unit should not outweigh your need to go into get checked. Remember, a maternity unit is filled with pregnant women and staff will be taking al the precautions necessary to keep it safe. It is a safe place to be.
When should I first feel my baby move?
Most women begin to feel their baby’s movements around 18-20 weeks. As you first start to feel baby move you may not notice movements all the time as you start to realise what they feel like. This is really normal. Movements should increase until 32 weeks.
From when you start to feel movements regularly, about 24weeks, they should increase over the weeks till about 32 weeks. From this time they stay about the same every day. They don’t reduce as you get closer to your due date.
-Baby’s don’t run out of space to move.
-It is not a sign that labour is starting.
-It is not what baby’s do as they get closer to their due date.
Please remember, if you ever are worried about baby’s movements, always call your local triage/assessment unit or maternity advice line. You should all have a number to ring on the front of your notes. This is a number to call for things like reduced movements and any concerns that you have.
What should I expect from triage if I have reduced movements?
When you get reduced movements or a change in your movements, your Triage/assessment unit/local midwife unit is the place to call usually. Your community midwife is not usually the person to call; they will advise you to call triage as with reduced movements. The care you will be given will depend on how many weeks pregnant you are:
-Less than 24 weeks:
If you have not felt your baby move by 24 weeks pregnant you should contact your midwife or maternity unit. If you report reduced movements before this time, you may be invited in for reassurance or given advice over the phone.
-Between 24 and 28 weeks:
You should contact your community midwife or your local triage unit. You should be offered a full antenatal check-up that includes listening to baby’s heart beat, checking the size of your uterus, measuring your blood pressure, and testing your urine for protein.
-Over 28 weeks:
Contact your local maternity unit (triage) immediately. They will ask you questions about your baby’s movement, offer you a full antenatal check-up including listening to baby’s heart beat. Your baby’s heart rate will be monitored, usually for at least 20 minutes using a CTG/ CEFM machine. These CTG machines show a longer recording of baby’s heart rate and are much more helpful to determine the well being of a baby compared to a snap shot that a Doppler provides. This should give reassurance about your baby’s wellbeing and you will usually be able to go home once you are reassured.
What should I do if I feel reduced movements again?
When you go home you should continue to keep an eye on baby’s movements. If you have another episode of reduced movements, you must contact triage again immediately. You should never hesitate to contact them, no matter how many times you experience reduced movement.
Good websites to go on for questions about movements are Kicks Count and Tommy’s.
Click the link for more information about The Bump to Baby Chapter’s Hypnobirthing and Antenatal Online Course. Know what you can do to stack the odds in your favour for the birth that you want. Videos, checklists, audios & a support group all created by a midwife to get you feeling excited, prepared and confident for birth.
