What should I do if my baby is moving less than before or I don't feel movement?

First step: Contact a healthcare professional immediately

If you feel your baby is moving less than usual, has stopped moving entirely, or there's a change in their usual movement pattern, contact your midwife or local maternity unit immediately, day or night.

This is the most important and urgent step. Do not wait until the morning or your next scheduled appointment. Do not waste time on methods like drinking something sweet or cold to stimulate movements. A decrease in your baby's movements can be a sign that they are not well, and the sooner this situation is identified, the better it is for you and your baby to receive the necessary medical care. This could save your baby's life. A medical examination provides the necessary information about the baby's condition; you do not need to determine the cause yourself before seeking help.

When are the baby's first movements felt?

Most women start to feel their baby's first movements between 16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. These movements may initially feel like a gentle flutter or tremor. As your pregnancy progresses, these movements will become stronger kicks and sharper movements.

If this is your first pregnancy, it's normal to feel movements after 20 weeks. However, if you haven't felt any movements from your baby by 24 weeks of pregnancy, you must inform your midwife or doctor. They will check your baby's heartbeat and condition. Even if you start feeling movements earlier, if you have any concerns, you can contact them without waiting until 24 weeks.

What is your baby's normal movement pattern?

Every baby is different, and therefore there isn't a specific number of movements you should feel every day. The most important thing is to start recognizing your baby's unique, individual movement pattern day by day. Some babies are more active, while others are calmer. They also have sleep and wake cycles, just like us.

Your baby's sleep cycles usually last 20-40 minutes and rarely exceed 90 minutes. During these sleep times, your baby may not move. The number of movements typically tends to increase until about 32 weeks of pregnancy and then remains at roughly the same level until birth. As birth approaches, the type of movements may change – kicks might give way to more rolling or swirling movements, but the overall frequency of movements should not decrease. The main goal is not to count a certain number of kicks every day, but to notice any change or decrease in your baby's normal activity pattern.

Explanations that should not cause delay: Common misconceptions

Sometimes mothers consider various reasons to explain a decrease in baby's movements, but these explanations should not delay seeking medical help.

• "The baby moves less because there's less space closer to birth." This is not true. Your baby should continue to move until the moment of birth and even during labor. The type of movements may change, but their frequency and strength should not significantly decrease.
• "I have an anterior placenta, so I feel movements faintly." An anterior placenta can indeed make it slightly harder to feel movements. However, if you have already become accustomed to your baby's normal movement pattern and you feel a new decrease or change in this pattern, this cannot be explained by the placenta's position and should be checked immediately.
• "I was too busy, so I probably didn't feel it." You might notice movements less when you are busy. But if you feel that the usual pattern has decreased or changed, contact the maternity service immediately instead of sitting quietly and waiting for a result.

Home Doppler devices and movement counters

Using home Doppler devices (heartbeat listening kits) to listen to your baby's heartbeat is strongly discouraged. This is not a reliable method to check your baby's health. Even if you hear a heartbeat, it does not mean your baby is well. The presence of a heartbeat does not guarantee that the baby is not under stress. Only trained healthcare professionals can correctly interpret heartbeat monitoring.

Similarly, there is not enough scientific evidence to recommend the regular use of special charts for counting movements. The most important thing is to know your baby's individual movement pattern and to seek professional help immediately if there is any change or decrease in this pattern.

What awaits you at the medical facility?

The medical care you receive when you report reduced movements may vary depending on your stage of pregnancy. The general approach may be as follows:

Healthcare professionals will ask you about your baby's movements and conduct a full antenatal examination. This usually includes measuring your blood pressure, checking for protein in your urine, and checking the size of your uterus.

In many cases, examinations provide reassuring information, and an ongoing plan is agreed upon at home. Depending on the results and the stage of pregnancy, additional monitoring may be required. Even if the examination results are normal, if concerns about movements persist, communicate this to the team.

What to do if movements decrease again after examination?

Even after being checked at a medical facility and being told everything is normal, you must continue to monitor your baby's movements. If you feel that movements have decreased or stopped again after returning home, contact your midwife or maternity unit immediately again.

Regardless of how many times this happens, never hesitate to seek advice. Your concerns should always be taken seriously. Each new episode of reduced movement should be re-evaluated independently of the previous one.

What information is useful to provide to the medical team?

When contacting your midwife or maternity unit, try to remain calm and be prepared to clearly communicate the following information. This will help them assess the situation more quickly:

• Your name, surname, and date of birth.
• How many weeks pregnant you are.
• When the movements started to decrease or change (e.g., for the last few hours, or all day today).
• What the change in the usual movement pattern is (e.g., weaker, less frequent).
• Whether there are any other symptoms such as bleeding, pain, fluid leakage, or feeling unwell.

Thinking about this information beforehand can give you more confidence during the phone call.

Support and clear communication plan

Concerns about movements can be frightening. You don't need to self-diagnose or count a specific number of movements to seek help. It is enough to say that there is a decrease or change in the usual pattern.

Keep the contact number saved on your phone in advance; a loved one can help you make the call and go for the appointment. If it's night, do not wait until the next day. Even if you have been checked once, it is appropriate to seek help again for a new change.

You can record scheduled appointment dates in the Anacan Calendar. The app, a movement counter, or a home audible heartbeat does not confirm the baby's health and does not replace immediate medical consultation.