26 Weeks and Have Question About Fetal Movement - When to Get Nervous??

Hi J.,
First and foremost - calm down. Your baby is fine. The 10 kicks an hour is only during your quiet time. The baby is on sleep cycles just as we are. Your activity and movement helps the baby go to sleep and the stillness when you are quiet is when the baby tends to be awake. The best time to monitor the movement is during the evening when you are quiet and relaxing at the end of the day. The calmer you stay the less stress your baby will feel. Enjoy this time and feeling of the baby you have during the pregnancy!
Take care,
A.

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I NEVER had 10 kicks an hour. In fact, with baby #1, I didn't feel him move AT ALL the entire last week I was pregnant. Once I was 20 hours into labor, he totally started moving - probably getting into position and he was born 9 hours later, head down - home waterbirth.

There are too many things to stress about during a pregnancy, so don't. Just breathe and enjoy this journey.

1 mom found this helpful

As far as being able to count 10 kicks in an hour, my doctor didn't have me do that until I was 28 weeks pregnant. Of course I didn't wait that long and actually started counting at around 25 weeks. I was told that if I didn't feel the 10 kicks, wait 2 hours and then try again.

I had the same thing happen to me with my first one at 30 weeks. They told me the babies are still pretty small at that stage and they can move but you don't necessarily feel it because of where they are placed in your uterus. Also, don't freak out too much with that 10+ in an hour thing, babies sleep, they have their patterns, doesn't mean anything, I say as long as you can feel them once in a while and your gut feeling says you're ok, then it's fine. If, for any reason, you're still freaking, feel free to call your OB because a pregnant woman should never be freaked lol

I agree tho, it's the best feeling in the world when they finally move!!! You're heart skips a beat and your whole world is much better for it!

Hang in there!

M.

Hello, well its very common for this to happen and not to worry I have 5 kids and just had my last 41/2 months ago I was so busy w the others it was almost like I never felt him, so dr would say drink juice as u did lay on ur left side and you shall feel baby!
Good luck.=)

While all babies move in different amounts and times,most will move frequently specially after eating and drinking.As you advance in your pregnancy you will gradually learn your baby's sleeping/waking cycle and activity level.Being attentive to your baby movements will help you notice any significant change,so as long as your baby's usual activity level dosen't change too much,chances are he is doing just fine.call your provider if your baby has less than 10 movements in 2 hours or has a significant or sudden change in movements.Do not wait for 24 hours when there is no fetal movement or significant changes in the movements.When in doubt,always contact your provider.Good luck with your pregnancy and let me know if you have any other question or concern.

I have 3 kids, #1 rarely moved. #2 was constant! So, I think it must really vary. Ask your Dr next time.

i barely felt my son kick..i wouldn't worry about it ..i had a healthy 10.2 lb baby boy at the age of 41...kicking? not a lot..is he active? YES! he's now 3.5 ..stroller? ever?? no..don't worry so much about feeling kicks and how many.

Hi Joelle.

I had that happen too in the second tri and it was a day or two where she just wasn't as active (when normally she was very active.) I know they tell you to count the kicks, but I knew that I'd get too neurotic and worry too much if I started doing that (I even started for a day or two and started to worry too much so I stopped, thinking it was having a negative effect on me and therefore potentially on the baby), so instead I just mointored whether there was consistent movement over time. You can count if you want, but if it will make you too nervous I think it's easier to trust your gut and simply be sure that there is movement over time. I mean some days you're more active that others, or sleep more, right? I think it's the same with babies.

Use your instincts and notice how you feel. Don't count kicks. My daughter would be going crazy some day, was "textbook" on others, and others she would be much more calm. As long as everything else feels OK, you are taking good care of yourself, and you are seeing a professional for prenatal visits, don't stress about the exact amount of kicks.

If I were you, I would not worry about this. I've known women to go full term & not feel the baby kick. Ask your DR the next time you go in, for reassurance. My little Siena's placenta was on top of her, between the outside of my belly & her, so I never felt her. The DR said this was common. I think you're doin' great!

don't worry! i was the same way...I NEVER felt him move 10x an hour. Maybe 5x a day! Every docs visit, the doc said he was moving...he's now a very healthy 2 year old. I am also a small person, and he was a big baby.

Hey J.,
I understand your nervousness. It took my husband and I three years to get pregnant and we are now pregnant with our first (at the age of 40) and he is due in January.
I saw a fetal kick monitor at Babies R'Us that will count the kicks for you. I am not sure if it's a good product or not, but if it brings peace of mind, it might be a worthwhile investment.

I think the kick counts generally start at 28 weeks. I'm sure everything is fine, but just for peace of mind, I recommend you call your OB and go in for an ultrasound. You'll feel better knowing your little one is doing just fine and if there is a problem they'll catch it now...

Changes in movement can indicate all sorts of things and shouldn't be ignored. If your OB ignores you, find a new OB.

Good luck and best wishes!
-M

PS...Really I don't want to be the one who freaks you out, but paying attention to kicks matters! I have a friend who child is alive because at 30 weeks she paid attention to less movement, called her doctor and went in...she ended up in an emergency c-section to deliver the baby. Her placenta just stopped working and her concern paid off. I know everyone here just wants you to feel better and I do too, but it's important. Trust your instincts too. I won't tell you any other stories, but let's just say kicks and movement are important. The $20 copay at the doctor's office and time lost waiting there aren't.

It is summer and you could easily get dehydrated. Make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids. Not enough fluids means baby doesn't have anything to move around in. Drink up!

My OB said that if you want to do kick counts this early (26weeks). You definitely need to make sure you are well hydrated prior to counting kicks. She also suggested drinking a glass or two or cold water prior to counting and then lay on your left side in the evening and enjoy feeling the baby dance around for a bit. No worries, you are doing great, and your baby is too. Enjoy this time!

I have had 2 babies (both born perfectly healthy and BIG) and I never felt regular movements - like 10 kicks in an hour. Sometimes with a busy day, I would just forget to pay attention to movement, but that doesn't mean there wasn't any. Every now and then I would freak out about it (much more with my first), but I usually felt some movement everyday, if I was paying attention to it. Try not to worry. It's good to talk to your OB about it. There are averages of movement, but mine didn't seem to behave according to the averages. As long as you are getting your regular prenatal care and there are no concerns, and you are living well to give your baby the best environment to grow in, there should be nothing to worry about!