Not Enough Fetal Movement?

Updated on February 03, 2011
A.G. asks from Pocatello, ID
12 answers

I am almost 29 weeks pregnant with my 3rd baby and within the past few days I've been feeling like I really don't feel that baby move all that much. Or not really hitting the front of my tummy. Like I feel the baby kicking or punching inside (like it kinda feels like she's punching my crotch area lol) or I'll feel a punch on the sides of my waist from time to time but nothing in the front. I did just have another ultra sound the other week because I did have a low lying placenta but that has moved back up so I know my placenta isn't in the way at all. So besides not feeling much movement in the front I feel like this baby doesn't really move all that much. I'm going to lay down today and count kicks......I know I should feel 10 in 2 hours but what if I do this a few times today and I don't count that much? What doesn't that mean? The baby is stressed? Any other problems that could be a cause for this? I have my next appointment on Friday so I will discus this with my doc but i just wondered if you ladies have had the same thing?

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M.B.

answers from Lancaster on

My daughter hardly moved at all in utero and is perfectly happy and healthy. I am pregnant with number # 2 and she never ever stops moving. Every one is different - even in the womb!

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C.T.

answers from New York on

Each of my pregnancies were very different.

With my first, I did not get the stereotypical "punches" and "hits", instead, that baby was my stretchy baby. I would literally get a hand or foot that would push across my belly from one side to the other and stretch out my belly even further! You could actually see fingers and toes. It was really like something out of an alien movie!

With my second baby, he hardly moved at all. He was more than content to get into position (he was head down and facing backwards at 27 weeks) and just hang out there till he was born. No amount of soda, juice, sugar, exercise or anything made this kid moved. Now he is like a demolition derby on wheels!!

Now, I am preggo with our third and this kid has not stopped moving - ever! I am actually dying as I cannot even get a good nights sleep this one is moving so much.

I really think that sometimes we get so wrapped up in what is "correct" and worrying about things like kick-counts that we forget to enjoy just being. Now, if there was a reason to worry - a slip on the ice, a sudden fall down the stairs or some other tramatic injury - then I would be concerned and honestly at that point only a fetal monitor or maybe an US can give you a true picture of baby's movements. I wouldn't worry too much. Sounds normal to me.

~C.

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T.W.

answers from Denver on

I just had baby #4 and can tell you that two of them never stopped and two of them barely moved. You are totally correct in taking notice but my guess is that you have a baby that is just more delicate and you don't notice the movement as much. I would say your baby is just fine and you will get confirmation on Friday.

Funny thing is, my kids that were heavy movers in my tummy are very mellow kids whereas my light movers are the go go go kids. Figure that one out. = ) Enjoy.

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B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

My son didn't move much during the day, but at night he'd kick up a storm.
He actually kicked Dad out of bed while I slept and I didn't wake up till Dad hit the floor. Once he was born it took him a long time to get his days and nights straight (he kept wanting to be up and play all night).

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K.B.

answers from St. Louis on

I actually had a similar situation to this around 29-32 weeks (they are all blending together now, but I know it was in my third trimester that it happened). I went and got the non-stress test and he had turned himself around to my back so I could feel so much. I still felt the little thumps for the next few days down in my pelvic area and sometimes side movements. As long as your still feeling him, then the baby is probably not stressed, but more so just positioned wrong. They can still move around in there at 29 weeks pretty well.

W.M.

answers from Philadelphia on

Hi, I did not feel my son move that much because I had an Anterior Placenta so he was kicking a big cushion in front of my stomach. I do know that the further along in your pregnancy you get, which you are about 10 weeks away, the baby does not have much room to move anymore because she is getting so big!

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D.S.

answers from Houston on

mine was like bs and i would have traded you in a heartbeat. I would have rather had little movement like I did with my oldest which was just streaches like another mom said and my youngest literally beat the tar out of me. constantly and it got worse when it rained.

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J.P.

answers from Denver on

I had a friend who's placenta was at the front of her uterus, so she never ever felt the baby kick through the whole pregnancy. Baby was fine, though :-) Your placenta may just be in front so that's why you're not feeling as much. It sounds like you are feeling movement, though, so it's probably alright. Let us know what the doctor says.
J.

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K.H.

answers from Denver on

My dd hardly kicked at all...by all means keep talking to your dr. Drink the juice, lie on your side, count kicks. I went in for several nonstress tests because I couldn't feel much, just to be sure. She is happy and healthy-walked at 10 months. Some babies are just quiet.

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L.S.

answers from Spokane on

Baby's feet may just not be in front. Have a glass of juice and lay on your side to count - and make sure you count ALL the kicks/punches, no matter where you feel them. Call your doc if you're still worried.

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A.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

drink a ton of water. and then drink some more. I think it really helps. I always notice her moving more on the days I remember to drink my 3 HUGE bottles of water at work.

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L.M.

answers from Denver on

I barely felt my daughter move at all throughout my entire pregnancy. Needless to say I was worried. Especially since my son was non-stop movement. When I went in for an ultrasound they told me she was moving quite a bit; the movements were more internal and not hitting me directly. Thankfully my daughter was born healthy and strong.

I wouldn't worry too much about the amount of the baby's movement being felt. Just make sure there is movement and go to your appointments. Hearing the baby's heartbeat during my doctor visits was very reassuring to me.

Good luck!

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