Talk to me about baby movement in late pregnancy

[2boyzmama]

The baby has been VERY quiet the last couple days. I really have to work to ellicit much movement from him. I can wake him up, but it takes a lot of work, and his movements are very swishy as opposed to the sharp jabs and kicks I was getting.

I know that he's out of room, and I wonder if he's just gearing up for birth, but when do I need to worry?? I don't want to call the OB and ask them, undoubtedly they'll send me to L&D for monitoring, and I might have to fight off an induction "since I'm there"

SO...put me at ease...it's okay as long as he IS moving, right?

[AahRee]

He needs to move at least ten times within 2 hours. If it takes longer than 2 hours to feel 10 kicks, please go to the ER. This website belongs to a friend of mine who lost her full-term baby and has become a big advocate for kick counting. It has a bunch of info on what to look for and when to be concerned. http://www.blairblanks.com/kickcount/

[HydeParkB]

I've found my baby is getting less likely to move as much. At my ultrasound on Monday, the woman giving me the ultrasound had to wake up the baby.

I think they are gearing up at this point.

If I spread out (usually lie down so babe has more room) and eat or drink something with some quick calories, I can usually feel 4 or 5 distinct movements within about 20 minutes.

There could be a chance that your amniotic fluid is low. I don't know of any way to diagnose that without going in for an ultrasound. But maybe some other mamas have ideas or experience.

The movement overall definitely seems to slow.

[kismetbaby]

I have noticed a definite slow-down the past couple days. He is harder to wake when quiet and his movements are less "feisty" overall. But I think he has just run our of room. . .usually just when I get worried about it he has a little burst of movement and I calm down. But it has shifted. . .

[2boyzmama]

I wonder if you're right, Hyde, and my fluid is low. I noticed during some of my contractions today that I can literally see the shape of the baby. I drank a decent amount yesterday, but I am low today, I'll focus on increasing that the rest of the day.

Portrait...once I finally get him woken up, I do get 10 movements, but they're just so sluggish, and so hard to get him started!!

[BeanSprout Mama]

a lot of babies slow down before labor but if you're not getting at least 10 movements in 2 hours without having to really harass the baby first then I would definitely go in to L&D. Even if you have to fight off an induction. It's more than worthwhile to have to battle about an induction in order to make sure your baby is okay, IMO. Please at least call your ob or mw and ask them for their input.

[ElliesMomma]

see if you can get a biophysical profile -- noninvasive -- to check on fetal well being.

[confustication]

When there is a distinct difference- I mean really marked- it's time to make sure things are ok. I know that with dd she was beginning to be in trouble once she stopped having regular movement. I think both bpps and nsts are really a good idea once you're past 40 weeks.

[2boyzmama]

Well, I laid down and was able to feel slightly more movements, but he really is quiet. He's moving just enough that I'm still okay with it, but it's definitely far from his "norm", which is WAY active.

Do hiccups count, by the way? Even those have decreased greatly, he'll have one maybe two cases of them a day, whereas before he had 4-5 a day. To the point that it was annoying and uncomfortable for me.

I have a call in to my doula/midwife for an opinion, so we'll see. Of course my husband isn't home tonight...he can be home in 20 minutes if I need him to be though.

[TIFF4NY]

It's definitely always better to be safe than sorry, especially this late in the game. Go in and get checked out!