Still No Baby Movements

Updated on January 18, 2008
A.D. asks from Liberty, SC
21 answers

I am currently 18.5 weeks pregnant with my second child. I felt a couple little movements around 15 weeks but nothing since. At my 16 wks. appointment, the baby was moving too much to register a rate for the heartbeat, but you could hear it plain as day. I went in on Monday and the heartbeat was fine- loud, strong and 164 bpm. My last pregnancy (last year) was so different. I felt my daughter move from 14 weeks on pretty regularly. But with this pregnancy my blood pressure is low, I have had no real pregnancy symptoms except tiredness and sore back, and I don't know what to think about not feeling the baby move. Everyone keeps asking me if the baby is moving yet, and it is making me paranoid. The doctor said not to worry, but I can't help it. Has anyone else felt like this???

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So What Happened?

First of all, thank you all soooo much! I felt so much better reading that I was not the only mom who had ever been paranoid about not feeling movements. I even let my husband (who was also worrying) read them, and he agreed that the responses made him feel better,too. Thank you for all the advice and information. It truely helped. I waited a little while to write what has happened because I went yesterday for my ultrasound and wanted to be sure. Everything looked great and the baby was moving fine. And it's a little boy! In fact, I guess he got so riled up by the pushing and prodding that my husband actually even got to feel him kick! It was really great! Thanks again! I can't thank you all enough.

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B.B.

answers from Norfolk on

im carrying my first child and i was extreamly anxious about feeling strong regular movements too. however they really didnt come until around my 21st week and now im 30 weeks and they are stronger than ever. sometimes they were very weak in the 21st-24th week and sometimes they were pretty distinct. if the doctor is telling you that everything is ok i wouldn't worry. i also didnt feel pregnant other than the vomiting. i have gained very little wait and worry about everything but worry is not healthy so stay positive and just wait patiently.
B.

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T.T.

answers from Norfolk on

I had worried like that when I was pregnant, but as long as I could hear the heartbeat daily (we bought one of those monitors from Wal-Mart) it kept me totaly sane, I just chalked it up to having a lazy baby! And then, a few months later, I had a 10lbs 13oz baby boy jumping all over the place!

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M.R.

answers from Myrtle Beach on

Absence or little movement does not necessarily mean there is a problem. I never felt both of my girls move until the 8th month. Then one was trying to do somersaults and the other was wiggling around a lot. Listen to your doctor. If there is a heartbeat when you go for an ultrasound then everything should be fine. Also, with my first pregnancy, I only felt tired and was hungry all the time. My second pregnancy was horrible. I developed vertigo at 12 weeks, had morning sickness throughout the 9 months, and the baby started trying to come out at 30 weeks. I had to have so many shots to try to keep her in longer. We managed to keep her in until the 37th week. I guess what I am trying to say is that each and every pregnancy is different; don't worry until there is really something to worry about and enjoy being pregnant.

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S.L.

answers from Spartanburg on

After feeling my baby for the first time, it was weeks before I felt her move again. Don't worry too much because you can still hear a heartbeat. You'll have your ultrasound shortly and then you'll know what is going on. I would suggest doing something to make the baby mad such as eat a real big meal or lye on your stomach, if it isn't too uncomfortable. Something my daughter never liked in-utero(and still at the age of 3) is the shower. I guess she didn't like the sound of the water on my belly. I got a real hard kick in the bladder for that one.
Another idea, you already have a little one that you are taking care of during the day, plus going to school. Your baby may be moving, but you may not notice because you are busy doing other things. When you were pregnant with your first one, you didn't already have a little one to take care of. Don't worry. You'll find out what is going on at the ultrasound.

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E.Y.

answers from Norfolk on

It took me until almost 23 weeks to feel my daughter move for the first time; according to the doctor she was a very active little girl, but I was still worried that everything was ok until the first time I felt her move. Then again, I worked with a girl who could feel her daughter at about 16 weeks, so it's different with everyone. Good luck and Congratulations!

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C.C.

answers from Spartanburg on

I think I know you :) I didn't start feeling Noah kick until around 18 months. Also, keep in mind that every pregnancy/baby is different. This one may just not move a lot. Some women don't feel the baby until much later from the books that I've read. Just depends on how active they are. Hope this helps.

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K.L.

answers from Norfolk on

Hi, A.,
I am pregnant now with my first baby. I can't remember exactly when I began feeling him move but I know it was well into my 20th week or later. I also have a low blood pressure, I am not sure if that has anything to do with it but as soon as I started to feel him moving, he hasn't stopped. I wouldn't stress so much if the heartbeat good. All babies I hear are different and maybe this one is just smaller than the other one and so you can't feel his/her kicks as much.

K.

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S.J.

answers from Charlotte on

Hi A.,

You may have felt more movement earlier with your first child becuase your muscles weren't stretched out and space was limited. It's only been a year, and things aren't back to where they were...they never will be, so there is more room and the baby doesn't have to fight so much for space. If the doctor isn't worried, I would relax. Congratulations on your little one!

Good luck!

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S.S.

answers from Spartanburg on

Hi A.,

I would NOT worry at all. With my first i had to make her mad by pushing around on my belly to even get her to move so I could make sure she was ok. With my second, i could not get him to be still. It drove me nutts some days. Even now I can still see how different they are. The 1st, calm,soft spoken, sweet. The 2nd Hell on wheels. Bottom line is that every baby/child is different. As long as the baby is ok when you go for your checkups, i would just relax, everything will be fine.. Also people will always bug you with questions, that's normal. Examples: How far along are you, what do you want it to be, what does your husband want, do you know what you're having, what are you going to name them? After the baby is born, it will be do you want more, are you going to have more???? And on and on and on. Everything will be fine...

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A.M.

answers from Jacksonville on

Just from personal experience, I didn't feel my daughter move until I was between 20 & 21 weeks. I understand your concern as I too was worried; however, knowing that you have heard the heartbeat to be so strong along with your doctor's professional oppinion, I advise you not to stress yourself out. Hang in there and take care!!

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C.B.

answers from Norfolk on

Hello A.,
With all 3 of my pregnancies each was different with their movements. It also depends on your body and size. I had a friend that was plus size and she never felt the baby move her whole pregnancy. If it is that much concern for you make an appointment at your OB's office and have the heart beat checked and tell her about not feeling movements. It's better to be safer than sorry. Good Luck and I hope all is well :-)

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B.P.

answers from Charlotte on

I have two daughters, 22 months apart. Each pregnancy was completely different, as are their personalities. With the first, I never felt her move. If it hadn't been for the expanding belly, I would not have known I was pregnant. With the second, she moved so much that other people could see her move. Now my first is my quiet and contemplative one and the second one I swear is part monkey. You know the heartbeat is strong. Do you trust your doctor- if you do and s/he's not worried, then my advice would be for you not to worry also. It's early for movement. You may never feel this baby move. As long as you're hearing that heartbeat when you see your doctor, the best thing you can do for your baby is to keep your stress level down. I can also attest to pregnancy chiropractics- it's wonderful. I never had back pain, sore legs, anything. As for people always asking about the baby- they are just asking questions to be polite and make small talk with you. Don't take their questions as any sign that your baby should be doing what they are asking. Just enjoy your pregnancy. Listen to your heart, not what everyone else is saying or asking, and you'll know if you really need to be concerned. And if you are concerned, then see your doctor.

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S.J.

answers from Wilmington on

A.,
Fetal movements are often not felt until around 20weeks...according to what we were taught in nursing school. It is true that each baby is different. Frequently, babies are lulled to sleep by our movements during the day and will be more active at night when we rest. It could be that this is the case and you may be sleeping through the movement. Just relax. The more you stress, the worse the situation will seem and the less likely you are to notice subtle movements. If you can't find peace-of-mind, request an ultrasound so that you will actually be able to see your baby and can be reassured. Good luck!

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A.P.

answers from Norfolk on

I was the exact same way! With my first I started feeling him at 16 weeks and it bascially didn't stop until he was born! I also had horrible morning sickness and non-stop heartburn. This pregnancy has been SO different. I actually didn't know I was pregnant until I was almost 2 1/2 months along b/c I didn't have ANY of the symptoms I had with my first. I thought that if I was actually pregnant I would have some of the same feelings but - nope! I also thought that I would start feeling the baby move earlier but I didn't feel anything until I was about 18 weeks and even then I thought, "Is this really the baby? I don't know!" I didn't start feeling anything regular and recognizable until 22 weeks. It's true that each pregnancy is different AND how the placenta is in your uterus can make a difference also. With my first it was attached to the back so there was almost nothing between the baby and me. This time it's at the front which is obviously going to affect how much I feel the baby moving around! So, I know it's hard not to worry but you're not the only one out there!

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J.H.

answers from Albuquerque on

I agree with all these ladies....Have your doctor do an ultrasound or check the heartbeat,if the doc won't then go to another. They should put your mind at ease for you. Good Luck.

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C.W.

answers from Roanoke on

Hi A.,

I understand your concern. I didn't feel my daughter move until 22 weeks pregnant. Everyone started asking me at about 15 weeks, so I was worried. I agree with the others though, that all children are different, but if you are worried, see your doctor and make them listen to your concerns if you have to. An ultrasound will clear up any worries you have, so will hearing the babies heart beat. You doctor should let you listen when doing a exam.

C.

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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

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G.M.

answers from Roanoke on

Sure it is normal not to feel it yet...I don't think I felt my son kick for real until around 20 weeks and then even after that he wasn't much of a kicker! And if your doc's not worried, don't add the extra stress to your body!!

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L.W.

answers from Greensboro on

I experienced the same thing with my second child and drove my doctor crazy with my paranoia. Utlimately he told me to drink 1 or 2 Dr. Peppers to get her going. It worked so that I could feel her move but then a few hours later we were back to the same thing. Basically, he said as long as the heartbeat was strong I didn't need to worry and some babies were just more active than others. He explained to me that my daughter was just very comfortable - and remained that way since we were 2 weeks late (and everyone kept assuring me the second child is usually early!). Good luck with the remainder of your pregnancy and just try to enjoy it!

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C.W.

answers from Raleigh on

A.,
I do know how you feel. I did not feel my baby move until 22+ weeks. This was also true for my sister's pregnancy. We had no complications and the babies were perfect. There are all kinds of wives tales about drink a coke and then lay on your side and your baby will probably move, but I didn't like the idea of all that sugar and caffeine. Take care.

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A.B.

answers from Asheville on

I wouldn't worry about it. Most women don't feel the baby move until they are 20 weeks along. Just give it some more time!

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