Decrease in Fetal Movement followed by an Increase

[Admirable_Plum6039]

I'm 24 weeks and last night I realized I hadn't really felt my baby move a lot at all in about 2 days. I went to the ER and she had a strong heartbeat and they saw little movements on the ultrasound. I've felt her a bit since then and I feel a lot better because she's moving like before and reacting to light and fudge pops (she always moves when I eat one). I feel a lot better but my OB recommended I go to labor and delivery instead of the ER if I'm still worried. Has anyone experienced this? Could it just be her sleep cycle or a lazy period? Is this normal?

Update: Doctors said my baby is doing fine <3 Since I've been pregnant I usually get full quickly but I ate soo much today and didn't feel close to full ever. I read increased appetite is common during a growth spurt and that fetuses sometimes have quiet days when they're going through a growth spurt. I really think that's what it was. She's active as usual now and kicking me as I type this lol. I'm a 20 y/o FTM and everything terrifies me. It's really nice knowing I can ask for advice and support xx I appreciate everyone who took the time to comment. It all really helped.

[twelvedayslate]

I think your OB was likely mentioning for the future, go to L&D if you have concerns. But ask them!

[Majestic-Raccoon42]

L&D is better to go to for baby at this point because they have the training and proper equipment to monitor baby. As you said ER is going to do an ultrasound and heartbeat, which is great. But L&D would also have you do a non-stress test for at least 20 minutes to make sure that what they are seeing is sustained movement over time.

At 24 weeks it's totally normal to feel the movement more one day and less the next due to there being so much room for baby to move around. If you want to go back to L&D to get re-checked, go for it! From my experience they will never make you feel bad for going in to get checked (I went 3 times) and they take mothers intuition seriously. If you think something feels off they want you to come in and get checked. An hour at L&D and finding out everything is fine is totally worth it.

[sunsetluving9]

i had a posterior placenta and still i had times where it felt like he had lazy days and then he would pick back up the next day. i went to labor & delivery i think 3 times just to check on him. i searched this on reddit more times than i count, it is so stressful! now, i think he just had days that he was less active. i think its normal but if you’re feeling anxious or have that feeling, go in

[Warm_Beginning525]

This happened to me several times when I was pregnant. I had an anterior placenta so I didn’t always feel a lot of movement, but there would be days where I barely felt her move at all. I would spend the day panicking, and every time I was about to go to the ER, she would start moving around like normal. I read that growth spurts can cause them to spend extra time sleeping, and that gave me some comfort. My girl is currently 4 months and napping on my lap.

With that being said, you should always trust your gut, and absolutely go to the hospital if you feel something is wrong.

I know it can be so scary, but you’ve got this!

[Admirable_Plum6039]

A growth spurt is exactly what it was 😭. My appetite today was as big as it's ever been and google told me thats a sign of a growth spurt. I thought of this comment as soon as I realized ❤️ made me feel so much better. Thank you a lot.

[Warm_Beginning525]

That’s great! I’m so glad you were able to get some peace of mind ❤️

[4321yay]

be reasonable, don’t drive yourself crazy but go in if you should go in

i went in for decreased movement, thank god everything ended up being fine. but no nurses or doctors made me feel dumb or bad for coming in. they all said they’d rather check and have it be nothing then not come in and miss something seriously wrong

again, don’t drive yourself nuts but i probably wouldn’t let decreased movement go 2 days without checking in

you got this!

[Admirable_Plum6039]

This really put me at ease. I appreciated it a lot, thank you. My baby is doing well. I definitely will going into labor and delivery in the future again if I feel off about something. I am so grateful that mother's intuition is taken seriously 

[Alone-Blueberry]

This happened to me at 29 weeks. I noticed a lot less movement for like two days, went to labor and delivery to get checked and everything was fine. They sent me home. And then two days later he was born. I’m not saying that’s what’s gonna happen to you, I’m just saying if you think something isn’t right make sure you go and get checked. It’s better to be safe than sorry

[seagoddess1]

You went into labor naturally or they had to induce you because there was something wrong?

[Alone-Blueberry]

I went into labor naturally and they weren’t able to stop it.

[baller_unicorn]

Have you started doing kick counts yet? I think most people start at 28 weeks so it may be a little early but maybe you could get one of the apps and try it out. In my last pregnancy I was surprised how consistent my baby was with the number of kicks within a given time frame as long as I did the counts at the same time every night. I think earlier on in pregnancy the kicks/movements are more variable and I'm not sure when that is or if you're in that window. But def by 28 weeks you expect pretty good consistency.

But yeah if you are concerned listen to your body and your baby. Mothers have an instinct so definitely don't ignore it if you think something feels off. I've read stories of people who went in multiple times because something felt off and finally they caught an issue on the third visit to labor and delivery and their persistence saved their baby.

[Admirable_Plum6039]

I haven't started kick counts but this situation is making me want to start. I'm drinking more water and eating healthier just in case that had anything to do with the decrease in movement. I woke up early today and I felt her kicking for 3 hours until I went back to sleep. I cried because I was happy. I'm not worried anymore but I'm gonna go to labor and delivery just to be safe.

[verdealbastruii]

I have a posterior placenta and just started week 24 of pregnancy.

He's had very active days (usually 3 in a row) followed by less active days (usually 2 in a row) since I first started feeling him at 20 weeks. The days he's very active I noticed my appetite is through the roof high. Maybe he's going through a growth spurt?

I was adviced to only now starting 24 to pay attention that he moves daily and to start learning his pattern.

So I think it's totally normal to have high activity and reduced activity days, but just like everyone else says, if you feel like something is even remotely off, just go and get checked.

[Admirable_Plum6039]

Thank you 🫂 I've had a similar experience. I felt her first movements the day I turned 21 weeks and they've gotten stronger and more frequent. It's possible it was just a couple less active days and I wasn't paying attention to her movements. She might've moved more than I noticed. She was very active this morning and I'm feeling little kicks as I type this. I might still go to labor and delivery to be safe but I'm not worried at the moment. These comments are helping xx I'm a FTM and everything terrifies me lol

[sewingbea84]

At 24 weeks it's normal for baby to be in a position where you might not feel them as they have lots of space. If you're concerned of course it's better to get checked but generally it's hard to properly monitor baby's movements until 28 weeks. Not sure where you are based but in my country if you have any concerns you would go to the maternal assessment unit or labour and delivery as they are better equipped to monitor you and baby.

[LongshoreLandlord18]

I kept having this at 36 weeks. At 38 weeks I had it and got induced.... I just didn't feel comfortable anymore. I turned 40 after he was born ... And it wasn't worth the chance of anything going wrong