why does my unborn baby hardly move?

Question

my fiance is 24 weeks pregnant and recently she han't been feeling the babies movements as often as she once was, we have been for 3 scans so far and everyone shows the baby kicking and stretching and eveything else has been great too eg heartbeat and spine and stuff. we recently bought a prenatal hearing kit so that we can both listen to the babies heartbeat and it seems fine also we can hear it move about. she says i am worring for nothing and everytime i ask wether or not she has felt it during the day or anything she ends up giving me a mouth full, am i worring for nothing? we were at the doctors a week ago and she tested for heartbeat and it was fine and the doctor says that babies have periods of inactivity, help

Answer 1

You are worrying for nothing, I'm not surprised that your fiancee gives you a mouth full, you should be acting supportive instead you're being neurotic, that's the last thing she needs. Get a grip of yourself man.

Answer 2

You sound like my BF!"

I'm 34 weeks pregnant and always having panics because I don't think the baby's moving as much as he should.

My BF is ALWAYS asking "have you had any movements today"? LOL But I wouldn't dream of giving him a "mouthful" - I know he loves me and the baby and wants us to be OK. Your fiancee needs to stop doing that, its not nice or necessary!!

They advise you that from 26 weeks onwards you should get about 10 movements a day. They don't ask you to monitor the baby's movements before then because not everyone feels their baby moving much at 24 weeks - it depends on the size of the baby, the position of the placenta, how much extra weight the mother is carrying (which will muffle movements).

If your fiance is not worried and the doctors have said everything is OK then try not to worry. We've been to have the baby listened to a few times because I felt he wasn't moving as much as he should - it was me getting worried really rather than my BF.

She doesn't need to count the movements until 26 weeks. And babies do have quiet times as well as active times. Ask her to try and work out what the baby's "pattern" of movement is - miine tends to be busy early in the morning and late at night and doesn't do much in the day or when I'm moving around a lot or busy. Once you can work out what the baby's pattern is you will now what to expect.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I know this sounds odd but as the baby grows it will move less but the movements will get stronger. Non need to worry as long as the baby moves regularly at least once an hour or so. The baby's movements can be predictable too, like just after a meal, playing loud music, etc. I am sure its fine. Any noticeable change by your fiance you should have the doctor check on.
Best of luck and congratulations!

Answer 4

It's a really stressful time for parents-to-be. Every unusual kick, lack of kicking, small cramp, etc. makes you crazy with worry. It's not "worry for nothing", it's completely normal. I'm glad to hear you're going to the doctor's appointments with your fiance, so you can hear first-hand from the doctor your baby's progress.

Your fiance probably feels defensive when you question her at the end of the day. Let her share with you the goings on of your little one without you saying: "Did the baby move??? How many times???"

Your little one will be the most active at night - in fact, when the baby is larger, if your fiance spoons you at night you will probably get kicked in the back a few times!

Try to relax, listen to your doctor's reassurance that everything is okay, and don't add more stress to your fiance's day.

Answer 5

I think its very sweet that you are writing the question, it shows that you care.

If the doctor has checked and everything is alright - trust them. I know its scary and the first thing that comes to your mind is that there is a problem, but they have told you there is not one.

I was told that the baby has awake and sleeping times in the womb, this would explain periods of inactivity. Also as the baby grows bigger there is less space to move, so they appear to calm down a bit.

You are not in control, that is a very difficult place for a man (the provider and hunter) to be. Has something in your past (previous miscarriage/death) made you more stressed during this pregnancy?

In 16 weeks or less you will be a dad, pray for your partner and the baby and then get as much sleep as you can NOW :)

Answer 6

The same thing happened to me. You shouldn't worry too much if the doctor says the baby is fine then I'd go by that. If you are hearing the babies heartbeat then the baby is fine. I was worried at one point because he hardly moved at all but as they get bigger and move into different positions sometimes it's harder to feel them. Good luck!

Answer 7

Okay daddy...ya need to calm down a little. It is very honorable and sweet that you are so concerned...but don't freak yourself out! First of all, chances are she is so busy during the day that she is not aware of the movements...but they are most likely happening. Withina couple of weeks, your baby will have grown so much that it won't matter what your fiance is doing or where she is at...she WILL feel it! Your baby is probably just fine! As long as you have good heart rythms and the ultrasounds look good...don't worry. Every pregnancy is different...every baby is different. As long as she does feel it moving...she is fine. Maybe you will be blessed with a baby who sleeps well! :) Don't worry and congratulations!

Answer 8

Seriously don't worry too much, I know it's hard but everything seems to be going fine. I remember going through the same concerns at around 6 months but a lot can depend on where the baby is lying/position etc. As long as your getting checked when they say it will be cool. Stay calm for your fiance, she will almost definitely know if somethings amiss.

Answer 9

Alot can depending on feeling the baby move. and not feeling your baby if a scary thing. I never hardly felt my son move but when I went to the dr they said he is moving all about in there. He was a wiggle worm and I didn't feel anything. It was but I was overweight

My sister who is as skinny as a bean pole didn't feel her last baby move because she had so much fluid and the baby was just floating around.

If the dr said the baby is fine then it will be fine. Just sit back and try and enjoy the pregnancy

Answer 10

the more active she is the less she'll feel the baby. if he drinks something sweet and lays on her left side for an hour she should feel the baby move 3 or 4 times. this is called kick counting even though any kind of movement counts. this is always what my doctor had me do when i was worried about movement during al 3 of my pregnancies. it also depends on the size of your fiance as to how much she'll feel.

Answer 11

Just relax, daddy-to-be. Your anxiety could stress your finace out more, which is not something you want right now. If the doctor says all is well, then everything should be fine. If for some reason you have strong instincts about this, then get a second opinion, but it really seems like you're worrying about nothing.