Still, quiet baby before labor?

[CawMama]

Yesterday I watched a long 2 1/2 hour movie (Memoirs of a Geisha....awesome movie especially if you read the book!), and the baby only moved once during that time. Normally is pretty active mid morning, but it just sort of worried me.

I called doc, he said to drive down to his office so they could hook me up and make sure all was good. Picked dh up on the way, an as soon as the baby heard daddy's voice, he started in with his aerobics routine.

My doula told me yesterday that babies get quiet right before labor. I was bummed that nobody ever told me that....all the books I read told me that if you feel less than 10 movements in an hour to call doc.

Have any of you experienced this before labor?

[corhorvath]

I hadn't heard that either. This is kind of discouraging since last night our baby was so active and responsive we recorded it for like an hour!! I guess I'm going in April...

[CarolynnMarilynn]

Babies DO NOT get quiet or still before labour. Your doula is very mistaken and that advice could cost someone dearly. Babies should move as much as they normally do right until they are born (although in labour you may not feel the movements as you are one busy mama!). A baby who isn't moving as normal needs to have someone checking on them to ensure they are moving as normal. A moving baby is a well baby. While periods of not moving as much as normal *can* be normal (sometimes it's just the position of the baby or the placenta and you can't perceive the movement that is there), I would want to make SURE that they baby is ok. Cessation of normal movement can be one of the signs of a baby who is becoming compromised.

One test that you can do that is research-based is to drink something cold and sweet, like juice, and lie down without distractions like t.v. or reading. Put your hands on your belly so you are feeling from both the inside and outside. You should feel 10 movements in 2 hours (count any movement, not just kicks). If you don't feel 10 movements in two hours contact your care provider immediately.

Hope that this answers your concern, and glad to hear your baby is moving lots! Please let your doula know that quiet-before-birth is terrible advice.

[AppleCrisp]

Originally Posted by CarolynnMarilynn

Babies DO NOT get quiet or still before labour. Your doula is very mistaken and that advice could cost someone dearly. Babies should move as much as they normally do right until they are born (although in labour you may not feel the movements as you are one busy mama!). A baby who isn't moving as normal needs to have someone checking on them to ensure they are moving as normal. A moving baby is a well baby. While periods of not moving as much as normal *can* be normal (sometimes it's just the position of the baby or the placenta and you can't perceive the movement that is there), I would want to make SURE that they baby is ok. Cessation of normal movement can be one of the signs of a baby who is becoming compromised.

Hope that this answers your concern, and glad to hear your baby is moving lots! Please let your doula know that quiet-before-birth is terrible advice.

Oh, I'm glad you posted. I heard that babies tend to get quiet 24 hours or so before labor starts...kind of a "saving up energy" type thing for the big event. I thought that was normal. I guess not.

[Mrs Dimples]

my baby did this about3 days before she was born. i had actually called my mw and she was on her way over to check the hb but then i felt a little bump so i called her off.

when i gave birth, mw said she knew baby was on her way when i called necause she was so still. i guess some babies like to "hunker down" at the end.

gl!