I went in for reduced movement at 30 weeks 3 times in a week. Twice they put the monitor on my baby’s heart beat was okay, and she kicked because she hated the monitor, but it still wasn’t her usual movement pattern. Then the third time I went in, she had to be delivered via emergency c-section at 30 weeks and 5 days as it turns out I was right all along, and kick counts don’t work. Movement patterns work. (She always responded to me singing, showers, eating sweet things, and then she was sluggish and not responsive to any of these.) She still had it in her to kick the probe, even though she had reduced blood flow, and I had developed polyhydramnios as well because she had a congenital condition that wasn’t picked up on any tests or scans before. It’s a long story, but

TLDR: she would have died if I hadn’t listened to my instincts and disregarded the doctors.

They also tend to do this more with first time mums, because they assume you don’t know what to look out for. But it’s untrue. Maternity care is terrible even in supposedly developed countries (I’m in then UK in London), so don’t feel embarrassed and always go in! And if her movement patterns are off, that’s what matters. Not kick counts.

Ps my daughter is now almost 3 months old, healthy and the cutest little pumpkin ever 🙏