The importance Of Reduced Fetal Movements And Movement Guidelines

[hopefulfor1st]

Kind of unrelated to kicks and fetal movement, and I feel REALLY stupid because as I'm at 27 weeks I'm just now realizing this... we're supposed to have some sort of belly support when we're laying on our sides sleeping? What kind of support and how bad is it if someone hasn't had any, and they've just been laying on their side???? I noticed lately he goes CRAZY when I lay on my left side, could it be because I'm squishing him?!?

First I've heard of that.

 

[Amsan]

Kind of unrelated to kicks and fetal movement, and I feel REALLY stupid because as I'm at 27 weeks I'm just now realizing this... we're supposed to have some sort of belly support when we're laying on our sides sleeping? What kind of support and how bad is it if someone hasn't had any, and they've just been laying on their side???? I noticed lately he goes CRAZY when I lay on my left side, could it be because I'm squishing him?!?

First I've heard of that.

I might (probably) have misunderstood lol.

 

[craftymama]

Having something to support your belly make sleeping a little more comfy, but no harm will come to baby if not. I use a pillow and just roll slightly to my back then tuck the pillow where my belly will rest. Not a super fluffy pillow. As for him going crazy when you lay on one side my babe does the same. A lot of times baby favors one side more than the other, and laying on that side probably pushes them out of their comfy spot.

 

[Amsan]

Having something to support your belly make sleeping a little more comfy, but no harm will come to baby if not. I use a pillow and just roll slightly to my back then tuck the pillow where my belly will rest. Not a super fluffy pillow. As for him going crazy when you lay on one side my babe does the same. A lot of times baby favors one side more than the other, and laying on that side probably pushes them out of their comfy spot.

Thank you! I started to panic thinking I was squishing him and he was going to come out with a flat face or something but my mom told me she practically slept on her stomach (as far over as she could anyway) with me so my little guy is okay lol.

 

[bornfree78]

Hi ladies...just want to say a big thank-you to all of you for the input, advice and information on this thread. A special thanks to Tasha who advocates this aspect and keeps bumping the thread so others may notice and read it. God bless you all always.

 

[Tasha]

Just a little bump x

 

[special_kala]

bump x

 

[Tasha]

Just thought I would give this a little bump x

 

[lunarsea]

I remember seeing this thread around the time I reached third trimester with my first (although I know it's much older than that) and I went in any time I felt that my son's movements weren't normal (which was a lot, he was a very sporadic mover for some reason, but he always turned out to be okay).
Unfortunately, not every L&D department is as welcoming and supportive as one would believe.
I was young when I fell pregnant with my first and had no idea what to expect, so naturally I had a lot of FTM worries. I made a lot of trips to L&D (but not an excessive amount, not nearly) during the beginning of my third trimester. I was asked on the last occasion before being dismissed from the care of my first OB if I was using drugs or if I was being abused at home because "there had to be some reason" why I was so worried about my son's movements in the womb.
I know this is routine, but it was not asked in a routine way at all. More of an accusatory tone if you ask me, and I was perfectly clean and had never experienced any domestic violence in my life.
The nurse seemed annoyed as hell with me and scoffed at me when she put on the monitors and everything was fine. She basically told me I was wasting their time and I "wasn't following doctors orders" of doing kick counts, which I had been, which is why I was there to begin with.
Two days later I received a letter in the mail stating that my OB refused to provide care for me any longer and that I would have to find another OB if I wanted to continue to receive prenatal care. I was nearly 30 weeks at the time.
Thankfully, I found another OB and my son turned out to be a perfectly healthy baby when he was born.
Re-reading this has made me realize that I shouldn't have been afraid of any movement concerns I had, and thinking back on how harsh and rude that nurse was makes me hope no one else has to suffer through anything like that just for being concerned for their babies health.

 

[Tasha]

it is awful the way you were treated. It makes me feel a bit sick that care was denied purely because you were concerned, that wouldn't happen here (UK) but it shouldn't happen any where.

I am so glad your son was okay

 

[lunarsea]

I'm so glad, too.
I read the story on your fundraiser page for your run, I was very, very touched.
Does it accept U.S. currency as well?
If not, I wish it did, I would love to support your cause.

 

[Tasha]

Thank you so much for taking the time to read our story, that means a lot to me.

Yes, there is an option for non-UK donations

 

[lunarsea]

Oh, awesome.
I'll make sure to remember to make a donation sometime in the near future!

 

[Tasha]

Bumping x

 

[Tasha]

Bumping

 

[Leanne27]

I have already posted about how my DD was born two and a half years ago by EMCS after I went in for reduced movements and how she was massively distressed and had to come out right away.... They believe the placenta was starting to fail.......well...

Fast forward two and a half years and I was going in for twice weekly monitoring (CTG's) to make sure same thing doesn't happen again... anyway one morning I noticed she was being quiet again so I went in for the third time that week. The CTG showed she happy, however Doctors were concerned as I had reported reduced movements a few times recently so they suggested a c-section that day if they couldn't break my waters (which they couldn't) anyway after much guilt on my part as was not even convinced by then that her movements had reduced, I went in for a c section only for her to come out in a bad way, needing to be resuscitated and spending 2 days in NICU and 2 days in special care. My Consultant said he believed the placenta was failing and said it was a VERY good job I had come in that day.

Anyway reduced movements indicating serious problems happened to me TWICE. It is so important to go in even if you feel you are in all the time (which I felt). Luckily they took my instincts and concerns seriously or the outcome both times could have been very different.

 

[Tasha]

I am so glad you listened to your instincts and that they listened too. Pleased to hear baby Isla made it out okay, congratulations.

 

[Janers]

I have to share my story as I sit here recovering from an emergency c section while my baby is in the nicu.

I have had high blood pressure in my third tri, and my dr decided I should be induced this week. He had me on the list to be induced on Tuesday, they called me Tuesday morning to say they have to bump me back a day, but to come in for a non stress test to make sure baby is happy. Everything came back fine. Today I got a call saying I'm being bumped again, I was find with that, but as the day went on I noticed less movement, then basically none. I hesitantly called labour and delivery to see what they thought. They had me come in, hooked me up to the monitors, to five my babies heart beat to be so fast the machine wasn't registering it. They did an ultrasound and rushedmecto the OR. They had my baby out so fast my husband didnt have time to get here! It turns out her heart rate was at 280, and her umbilical cord was wound up so right it was slowing breaking.

The dr told me if I had waited any longer she wouldn't have made it. Thank god I listened to my instincts and came down to be checked. I was so worried about being that annoying first time mum who panics over nothing. Baby Anna is in nicu with a heart rate of 220, but they are working on getting it down. She's beautiful, and I'm so lucky.

Basically I just wanted to say trust your gut and get checked if you notice a decrease in activity. I am sitting here thanking god that I did.

I thought this thread deserved a bump, and I wanted to give a little update on my daughter. I just finished celebrating my daughters first birthday, and have spent alot of time reflecting. I think about her birth often, and am still thankful that I trusted my gut, and that the nurses on L&D were so kind and took me serious when I called with my concerns.

My daughter was in SVT (Supraventricular Tachycardia) at birth, she had multiple holes in her heart (which isn't uncommon), they are being monitored and hopefully will close up on their own, her umbilical cord was wrapped up so tightly around her that it had started to tear, and she was born with a rare condition known as Goldenhar Syndrome, and part of that means she has no left ear. As of today, she is followed by a handful of specialists, she is doing really well. We are getting her a hearing aid in the next few weeks. We couldn't afford it, and asked a local charity to help us, and we were ecstatic too find out they said yes! We have had no other issues with her heart, the holes haven't closed yet, but they don't require surgery.

Anyway, just wanted to say again, its worth listening to your instincts!

 

[special_kala]

Bump

 

[Tasha]

Just bumping up x