No Fetal Movement Anxiety

If you REALLY feel like something is wrong, call your Dr. and get seen ASAP. It doesn't matter if your appointment is 2 weeks away, you are a patient and want to be seen.

No way, you're not crazy!! You are pregnant and concerned, and it's totally normal. Seeing your little one wiggle around on an ultrasound will give you peace. Nothing wrong with that!!

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I think you should not panic and it may be around 20 weeks before you feel movement. If you are worried ask the doctor to check you again to be sure all is okay.

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My OB says "When in doubt have it checked out" follow your feelings!!!!

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Oh goodness, I was just like you when I was pregnant You are REALLY early to feel movement. But, worrying isn't good for you or baby, so call your dr and say, "I am really anxious and need to come in and hear the baby's heartbeat." (I did this a bunch). It only takes a minute, a nurse can do it, and it will ease your mind. It's their job to take care of you, so don't feel bad!

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I strongly encourage you to call your Dr and move your appointment up to tomorrow or Friday. There's just no need to wait when they can check a heartbeat and offer some reassurance. I was happy to see my patients and move appointments up for similar worries. It is not uncommon to feel fetal movement much later than 15 weeks. I felt movement for the first time between 16 and 18 weeks with my 3 kids (I too am a slender mom). Wishing you the very best....Nurse Midwife Mom

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It's normal not to feel fetal movement at only 15 weeks. That's not even five months yet. Most women don't feel fetal movement until AT LEAST 20 weeks. None of my sisters-in-law felt movement until their 6th month. Most of my friends didn't feel movement until after their 20 week ultra-sounds.

It's possible you already are feeling something. It would be fluttery, like butterfly wings or blowing bubbles in milk. It wouldn't even be nudges or bumps yet. It's just too early for that. I felt that at 13 weeks with my eldest daughter, and she hasn't stopped moving yet. That's pretty unusual.

With my second pregnancy I felt her around 18 weeks. She wasn't very active, but she also hung out around my spine a lot. She tended to move away from loud noises, pressure, and movement around my belly. I'm sure her positioning played a large part as well as just not being an active baby. She was the same way when she was born.

With my third pregnancy my placenta wasn't positioned properly. It was too high and that affected feeling movement aka I couldn't feel her moving. I couldn't only detect movement if my hands were on my belly and she kicked my hands or I put an object on my belly and she made it move. I had to go to the OB office frequently to hear her heartbeat and for non-stress tests with ultra-sounds to make sure she was all right on a bi-weekly basis for a while, and then once we diagnosed the placenta problem we dropped it to weekly with just NST's. This went on for three months.

We did it that way with my last pregnancy because I was worried that I wasn't feeling movement at almost six months. It was just a realization I had when I had a moment to sit still while one child was at preschool and the other was in first grade. I called the OB and told him my worry, and he was happy to accommodate me to alleviate the worry.

My point is that if you're having debilitating worry that you can't let go then call your OB. They should be happy to do a check up for you or reassure you that you'll be fine until the next scheduled appointment. If they choose to reassure you, then make sure you can articulate what it is you're worried about. If they can't reassure you then make sure they know it. A good office will take that seriously.

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I never felt my second move until way late...it was because of where the placenta attached in the front...anyhow don't worry yet...it is still way early even if it is not your first or second pregnancy

It is OK to ask to see your doctor early, yes. Also, with my daughter, the placenta happened to be in the front, so I didn't feel any movement until very late. Luckily, I was warned of this when they did my first US, so I didn't need to be concerned.

Hi J.:

I am currently 37 weeks pregnant with my first baby and I totally understand how you can feel worried. Don't be alarmed if this pregnancy is different from the others! I've learned that every woman and pregnancy is different. I only felt real movement at 20 weeks. I didn't even feel pregnant till way into it because I barely had any symptoms at all. I lost my first one at 6 weeks also just like the other responder and was worried sick until my 12 weeks appointment because they wouldn't do a heartbeat until then. Call your doctor if you don't feel right about it. There's nothing to lose by seeing what they say!

WAAAAAY too early mama... they can't even detect a for-sure, strong, heartbeat until 12 weeks... anything earlier than that is just for your benefit.

Wait it out, and I know it's easier said than done, but stop worrying!!

90% of women can't feel movement until their 3rd TRIMESTER!! Those slim one's (I was one of them) CAN feel it earlier, but honest to god, it's not worth worrying yourself over. Every pregnancy is different! Breathe easy! They would have told you if something was wrong the last time you were in. It's way too early to be worrying about this!!

Take it from someone who had 3 VERY different pregnancies, went to med school, and studied to be a doula... you're okay, babies okay, don't stress yourself :)

I didn't feel the wiggle till 20+ weeks. If you're too anxious, call your doc. Take care!

I'm pregnant with my third and had the exact same scenario play out. Plus it felt much like my first pregnancy, lots of crampy feelings and also many losses in my immediate Mommy circle :(

I even had a at home doppler that I used with both of my previous pregnancy and could not for the life of me find the heartbeat. I was so worried and anxious for the first OB visit where they check the heartbeat (13 wks), she found it but the battery was dying so it was so quick and hard to 'really' hear. She said everything was fine, and I guess I was somewhat relieved.

I really didn't feel him moving until 20 weeks, where I felt my other 2 at around the 16 weeks mark. turns out I did have an anterior placenta and he was breech. But by all means call your doctor ask to get in early, I assure you, you won't be the first to have had this worry or request.

Wishing you all the best!

I would call the Dr's office and ask them if you can just pop in for a little doppler coaching and counseling. It wouldn't hurt to just hear the heart beat, spare you and and your family the stress of wondering if something is wrong and then keep your appointment in 2 weeks for the check up. I think most OBs would like to keep their Mom's from added stress.

My last pregnancy ended in a loss at 6 weeks, so when we found ourselves pregnant again we were sure it would be the same. When I finally went in for our first prenatal exam after having an early u/s at 6 weeks we were sure something would be wrong. Our Dr. told us to just call and we could just come in to hear the heart beat.

Take care of yourself.
H.

I'm pregnant with my 3rd, also quite thin. Didn't really feel any fetal movement until around 18-19 weeks, I also thought I would feel them much sooner. I'm 26 weeks now and it is only just now getting into the bigger movements that others can feel when they press on my stomach.

I was on the thin side too when pregnant and didn't feel anything until 18 weeks. Also, I think sometimes depending on how the placenta is positioned (i.e. in front), the baby could be kicking against it and the movement will not be as easily felt. If you are really that concerned, why not call your doctor and see if they will just have you come in to check and make sure?

Feeling movement has SO many variables (and I do NOT think the mother's size is one of them!) It depends on the baby's position, thee placenta's position and YOUR position (at 15 weeks I could feel movement but ONLY if I was laying on my stomach or on my hands and knees!) Then there's the baby's personality-- do you have a Soccer champ or a couch potato cooking in there? And finally timing-- if you have a sneaky baby who times his workouts for when you are either SOUND asleep or busy and active yourself you're not going to notice as much movement.

HOWEVER, if you're worried call the doctor and insist they let you come in for a heart beat check....

My first son was breech and backwards and my placenta was in the front. I hardly ever felt him. Even near the end. It could just be the babies placement.

Honey I was 5.5 months pregnant before I found out was WAS pregnant! I didn't feel a thing.

I'd just call the doctor and see what they say. They may just have you come in for a quick check to ease your mind.

Good luck sweetie.

I hope I am just misunderstanding the way you worded your post, and that you are not going 7 weeks between visits? you said your appt was 5 weeks ago and that your next is still 2 weeks away. and they should be listening for the baby's heartbeat at every single visit. If you are worried, call the doc and tell them you want to come in now, that you are concerned you are not feeling the baby move. If your doc refuses then you seriously need to find a new one. and if I did read your post right and your doc is only seeing you ever other month then you need a new doctor.

all that being said, there are a number of reasons that you wouldn't have felt your baby move yet. maybe the placenta is in the front etc etc etc. Call the doctor, or if you are seriously worried, go to the ER.

Oh hon, please don't worry yourself. The baby can't possibly be positioned the same very time...remember that. I had the SAME thing with my son, then my daughter that I couldn't feel move until I was almost 20 weeks! I felt my son move at 14 weeks. I rented a doppler and checked the heartbeat every time I needed reassurance.

If you are too worried about it, call your doctor.
I know with mine I didn't feel movement until sometime in my 4th month, you still have a bit :)

Also mine was a little ham... she would lay there motionless for the entire day and the next, we would FREAK out and race to the hospital...
AS SOON as the doctor put the fetal monitors on she would start jumping around like a grasshopper...
Very annoying AND funny :)

Good luck!

with my first, i felt her move at 16 weeks, second it was at least 20 weeks. i too am thin, weighed about the same with each. also had bleeding in the first trimester with each. both born healthy :) just go see your doc early to put your mind at ease, if possible.
good luck!

As hard as it is (I'm a worrier) try to think positive. Don't let yourself worry. I've had two miscarriages so I worried through all my pregnancies. One of my docs said that she stays optimistic until something tells her otherwise. Stay positive and optimistic and enjoy your baby. Worrying won't help but will cause stress and problems for you and your baby. Your baby might be in a position that makes you not feel him. I had weird feelings like this too and everything was fine. Call your doc and see if you can see him sooner if that will help put your mind at ease. Good luck and congratulations!!