Movement at term

[Boobiemama]

Whats normal?

I know a slowdown is expected as baby is just so big now. But how much should the baby be moving?

I am almost 38 weeks and baby has slowed down considerably from last week. I am still feeling movement just not all day like I did before.

[ChiaraRose]

I have the same thing. i am due 4 days after you and the last three days or so, the babe has been pushing a lot, but not so much kicking and partying around like before. It definately is growing, my ligaments have been hurting and I hadn't had that in months, so i assume a growth spurt.
I think as long as there is action in my belly, the baby should be okay. Your dh can also listen through an empty toilet paper roll for the heart beat (in between the baby's shoulder blades), that always calms me down, too. he swears he hears laughter and music in there, too and the baby is not planning on coming out soon Great encouragment

[orangecanoe]

I mentioned this to my mw at the last appt and she said 6 times in an hour give or take---you know if you actually had time to have a glass of water/juice and lounge on the couch for an hour to count movements. And she said that movement wasn't necessarily a kick, but any shifting, etc.

I'm 37w2d and notice that the nature of the movements is changed now that the babe has finally settled head down and on my left side....mostly just a knee flexing here or there and some some shifting from babe side lying to facing my back. That and the low down punches.

[Lolafanana]

i just went to my doc yesterday and he said the same thing. every night, i should be counting 6-10 movements in an hour. i am 37 weeks and have never really felt a lot of movement- she's pretty quiet. i was definately concerned about the decrease in movement but no worries, they do tend to slow down a bit at the end but as long as you feel 6-10 in an hour, all is well!

[forest~mama]

I don't have any good advise, because my placenta is anterior. I really don't have much feeling in the whole midsection of my tummy. It makes me worry, because most days I only feel her move in the am, and then it is pretty quiet the rest of the day/night. I can sometimes feel her if I eat something sweet and push on my belly pretty firmly. Anyway, I really know how it can make a mama worry when she doesn't feel her baby move much.

[Boobiemama]

6-10 movements EVERY hour, or in any hour you count in?

[Jlcampbellkidz]

Usually not Every Hour. You want to pick a time of day that you know the baby is usally active. If you go several hours without feeling any flutters it is a good Idea to settle done and sit or lay on your side sipping some water or juice and patiently wait for a few good movements just to make sure all is well.

[krizty]

Another good trick is to put a cup of hot tea on your stomache... That always gets my little one up!! Apparently they dont like the heat and they try to push their way away from it.

[savannah smiles]

At 39 weeks, my baby has slowed down even more and he/she was pretty mellow to begin with. Sometimes I just press down firmly on my stomache and I'll feel the baby move away from it. I also count hiccups as movement, too!
Boobiemama, thanks for the well wishes in the other thread!

[krizty]

Pushing works pretty good too. It just gets harder to do as we get further along because pushing through a contraction isnt easy. hehehe

[Sleepymama]

Originally Posted by Jlcampbellkidz

Usually not Every Hour. You want to pick a time of day that you know the baby is usally active. If you go several hours without feeling any flutters it is a good Idea to settle done and sit or lay on your side sipping some water or juice and patiently wait for a few good movements just to make sure all is well.

Yep, I've had that happen a couple of times. Usually I'll have been really busy for an afternoon and realize I hadn't felt her in a while, so I lie down and drink a ton of icewater (cold always does it). She starts up right away. Some days I have bulging or rolling or flopping movement all day long, plus hiccups (both my kids have been super hiccupy!) and other days it's more quiet. I'm feeling more paranoid about it this time since I have a friend who had a late term stillbirth (movement ceased) so I am trying to pay close attention, not that she could have prevented it, but still.