Movement change - should I worry?

[slgt]

I'm 25 weeks. I have been feeling movement since 14 weeks, and was getting strong movement starting around 18 weeks - strong enough for DH & DD to feel.

The last 4 days, I feel like the baby is moving less...less frequently, and for shorter stretches of time. I did feel some nice strong somersaults this morning, and the baby definitely moves throughout the day, but it just seems like not as often.

Should I worry? Call my doc?

[Midwesterner04]

First off, if you are very concerned, or if your gut tells you to call your doctor, there isn't any harm in doing so. However, my guess would be that your baby has had a bit of a growth spurt and that he or she now has a little less room to jump around. Materials I received from my OB office mention that some women will notice a change in their baby's movement patterns between 24 and 26 weeks as the baby-to-room-in-Mom's-belly ratio changes and also that while some babies are consistent in their daily movement, other babies will sometimes have a few particularly active days followed by a more quiet period--they are catching up on rest.

It can be so hard not to worry, though! I recently had several days of baby headbutts and somersaults followed by about 2 days of intermittent stillness and little nudges and wiggles, and when the eventual big kicks and elbow jabs I could feel from the outside returned, it was a tremendous relief. When I mentioned my baby's change in movement to an experienced OB nurse in the family, she told me it was no big deal, that the baby had likely played up a storm during the active days and then needed some time to rest.

Have you done any kick counts? If so, are they still going ok?

All the best to you and your baby!