kick counts and baby movement

[MamaFern]

ive had a crazy busy day.. i had folks over and the house really needed a cleaning so i woke up early and cleaned like crazy for about 3 hours.. then folks came and were here for a few hours and then i sat down and vegetated in front of the tv and watched dr.phill( barf i know.. but today was kinda interesting) and knitted on the longies im making baby and now i realise that i dont know if ive really felt baby all day.. and it kinda freaks me out. i lay down on my bed and squished my belly around, but she didnt respond.. and im thinking maybe she is being extra quiet because ive been so busy, and because maybe she is growing today? ive been feeling less and less big kicks lately, i think its getting pretty crowded in there.. and i know i probably shouldnt worry, i never have before about this.. so im just wondering do you all do the kick count charting and stuff like that? im getting so used to feeling baby move that i think most of the time i dont even really feel it .. HEY! she just kicked me in the ribbs.. :LOL i guess it makes me realise that its more just me being tuned out than her not moving, but i wonder if i should do this..the charting that is.. is it necessary?

[MelW]

"These trials collectively provide no evidence that routine formal fetal movement counting reduces the incidence of fetal death in late pregnancy. Reoutine counting results in more frequent reports of diminished fetal activity, greater use of other techniques of fetal assessment, more frequent antepartum admission to hospital, and increased use of elective delivery for decreased movement, hence an increase in the use of resources without compensating benefit. The practice does not appear to result in either a significant increase or decrease in feelings of anxiety among mothers."

From "A guide to effective care in pregnancy and childbirth"

(hopefully I'm allowed to quote that much...since I just typed in all out...)

I think that trusting your intuition is great- you realised you hadn't felt much, spent time focussing on the baby, and were reassured by some good kicks. I've had the same thing- a busy and distracting day, and then realise that I haven't felt baby for hours. Usually a bit of food or drink and lying down for a few minutes and I get some good "hello mom" kicks to reassure me. I totally don't think the count sheets are necessary.

[crsta33]

I find charting a pain, so I quit doing it. When I lay down with the girls in the afternoon to get them to nap (I usually nap too) I pay attention b/c Landon is usually active then. If I feel several good bumps, then I figure that was my "official" kick count of the day, but I don't write anything down.

If I get worried about how he's doing in there I empty my bladder, drink some juice and lay down and see if he starts wiggling around...he usually does.

Sounds like your little jumping bean is fine...probably as tired as you are though.

Christa

[SoggyGranolaMomma]

I pay more attention to "usual" movement patterns. Every now and then when I am expecting movement, I don't get any and then I poke and jiggle until I get an irritated "leave me alone Ma! I was sleepin'!" wiggle or kick. :LOL

I think the baby has turned head down now as I don't get the dramatic sideways looking movements now. I had some a few days ago and I think it was he/she flipping over because it HURT!! :

Since then most of my smaller movements are below my belly button where I assume hands and arms to be. I also feel the hiccups much lower in my pelvis now where I assume the chest is. I get fairly decent jabs from feet in the front of my belly at the top. I go for my 34 wk visit on Tuesday, so we will see where we are going from there.

[flapjack]

I had a really bad day yesterday- lots and lots of BH and baby didn't stop moving from 9.30am until late in the evening- constant kicking, shuffling and pushing, with 7 bouts of hiccups (this has got to be a record, surely?) He's now curled up safe and sound with his spine next to mine, so is on his way to a nice position but Maude, it hurt. And then, of course, everything went quiet and I panicked.
About 75% of my movement is either just on or just above my pubic bone, especially the hiccups- I think that's what's making them actually painful. It must be kind of uncomfortable for little one as well, though, if every time he hiccups he bangs his head

[gonnabeamom]

I am doing Kick counts at my midwifes request, but I wouldn't if I hadn't been asked to. I had a sense of when baby was likely to move, and when not. Very occasionally I would get nervous if there wasn't movement under those circumstances, but usually waiting or poking was enough to get reassurance.

If you get really, really nervous, eat something like a piece of fruit, or drink juice, that will get your bun all cranked up. Not recommended as part of your routine, just 'cause bombarding the babe and yourself with lots of sugar isn't recommended.

I'm trying really hard for myself just to recognize that this kind of worry is a normal part of pregnancy, and that sometimes when I'm really busy I don't notice the peanut's movements.

[BensMom]

Well, I had that similar experience a couple weeks ago and freaked myself into a frenzy. I ended up at the MWs house and she listened with the dopplar, which I normally am not even a fan of, but it was the sweetest sound ever that day! Before I called her, I did try the cold water, OJ, laying down, etc but still did not feel much.

So if you are really worried, go see your MWs. They should accomodate you for a quick listen to reassure you.

She did tell me that I could do kick charts *if it made me feel better* so if it does, I imagine they have value on that point. But the babe has been back inot its routine after those 2 scary days, so I have not done anything formal.

On a side note...I am so jealous of all of you mamas feeling rib kicks. Trying very hard not to have a panic attack about why this babe insists on sitting with his/her head up!