Monitoring movements

You don’t start monitoring until you’re 28 weeks at the earliest, 26 if you’re high risk. You’re going to go through ebbs and flows of movement. Mine never had a pattern even in late pregnancy tbh, some days they were just more active than others

Pretty early for a pattern

Ftm here too, I was the same around that time, if you’re worried it won’t hurt to call triage as you can never been too careful but it was around 25 weeks I started to notice more of a pattern. If her pattern is inconsistent it’s hard to tell if it’s reduced as she could just be having a lazy day. But like I said it won’t hurt to call if you’re worried but personally I wouldn’t be too worried just yet. Sorry I’m not much help🤦‍♀️😂

I’m 21 weeks and my midwife said as long as you feel some sort of movement everyday at this stage it’s ok. Movements aren’t tracked for another few weeks yet. But like the above comment says, it will never hurt to call triage if you are worried. Always follow your gut x

My baby girl is now 4 months but when she was still in my tummy I was one of those FTMs who worried a lot. I only started noticing a distinct pattern in months 8 and 9 of the pregnancy. Also, it’s worth knowing if your placenta is posterior (at the back of the uterine wall) or anterior (front). I had the anterior placenta and with that it’s much harder to feel movements full stop. I did feel when she was super active but could not feel her when she was having a quieter time. I did not know this at first and worried a lot and became a frequent visitor at the triage. But every time I went, they assured me that going there was the right thing to do. Was it always necessary - probably not, but with anterior placenta you never know whether there is a real cause for concern or not. So if unsure and it creates a worry, then go see them. The staff at the triage are generally great and they encourage women to pop in if there’s ever a doubt and worry.

@Lauren oh that’s made me feel a bit better, I was never told 28 weeks earliest.. every appointment it’s been drilled into me to monitor movements so I thought I was being stupid when I didn’t know what to do. Thank you!! X

Honestly thank your for this post, I think some of us are getting to that stage now where the concern starts settling in! I’ve been going out my mind over the weekend, been so busy tidying around the house I’ve not paid attention to movements and then wondered if she’d been moving as much!

So firstly never think of reduced movement as a hassle or not necessary, they honestly encourage you to come in any time you are unsure. That said, 23+2 is typically too early for an established pattern and actually the fact you are saying there are some days more and some days less then it sounds like it’s normal for you right now. Some women don’t start feeling movement until 24 weeks and then can take up to 28 weeks to reach an established pattern but if you feel by 25/26 weeks you are have a more defined pattern and then notice a change then never hesitate to contact triage. It’s so hard to compare against others because every baby is different so best to listen to your body/baby. Of course there are a few general guidelines. Also it’s more likely baby is moving the same every day but because they have so much room it’ll depend on position to how you feel them which is why some days are more & less at the moment…

As they get bigger they don’t move less but you’ll feel them more because they have less room so all almost all movements are felt. I felt quite anxious about monitoring movements in my last pregnancy and started off using trackers but it just got too stressful and so instead I just went with a check in system. I knew I felt her most in the morning and nighttime so they were key for me. It’s hard during the day when busy/working as easy to miss but I’d take quiet time to tune in if I wasn’t sure I’d felt her. So basically 3 main check points throughout the day in addition so just any extra movement I was feeling. I went in once around 30 weeks because the morning had been way less than usual. All was fine but that’s how I managed the tracking and it worked well. This baby is doing the exact same as you, some movements are so strong and can fully see my tummy move which is earlier than last time and other times very light or barely anything but early as 21 weeks.

@Lauren thank you so much for this!! I haven’t had much information on it from my midwife, only that I need to monitor her. You’ve put my mind at ease xx

@Maddi it is really tough especially first time round as hard to know what is normal and to be feeling etc. and then every woman/baby/pregnancy is different so hard for them to say you should feel x kicks in this amount of time because that’s milk be different to everyone. There is a charity Kicks Count which has good info. They do also have an app/bracelet but would stay away from them as I said before it became so stressful and sometimes you feel movement but it’s be like a series of kicks and I was like does that count as 1 or 6 movements so that was too much. I was fortunate she was on the active side generally so was never left being worried for too long or if laid down and just had some quiet would end up feeling her. The check in system is what I’d recommend and less pressure/stress on you. When it’s the third trimester it would be general timings and intensity for the checkin’s.

I’m 23 & 5 days and my little boy is a black belt in karate too on some days, usually if he has a day where he’s doing his performances all day then I know the next day is going to be quieter, but I still feel him sometimes. But no pattern developed, it is SO easy to worry about it.