My wife is in week 29 and worries every few days
because she feels that the baby is kicking less
frequently and with diminished intensity than in
days past. So far this diminished intensity lasts
2 days or so and then improves.
Her doctor said that if she notices she hasn't
felt the baby in a while to lay on her side and drink
something sweet and wait to see if she feels her
moving.
My wife always eventually feels the movement, but
worries mainly about the decreased intensity of
the movement.
Has anyone had a similar experience? Is this normal?
I had this when I was pg with my daughter - now that I can look back, most of it was due in part to fear that something would happen to the baby. Some of the time the baby was actually moving and kicking less, but that happens because like "born" babies, they sleep a lot and respond to their environments. They may move in response to a loud noise or increased activity of the mother, and may remain less active if there isn't much stimuli. I would recommend buying one of those fetal heart monitors so that she can listen to your baby's heartbeat whenever she gets worried or nervous. Hearing your little one's heartbeat may help ease the worries.
Alot of the fetal movements may occur while your wife is sleeping. Also, like all of us, babies can have their up and down days, as far as how active they feel. my baby does that too. I was commenting to my hubby that the fetal movements were less intense, and 2 days later she's back to beating the heck outta me. Be carefull what you wish for! lol j/k.
Durring my pregnancy I worried a lot about that. I was sure I felt nothing for days but you know, I think most of it was my imagination. I drove my doctor crazy with my worring. I worried for nogthing though my baby is perfectly healthy.
Cammy
If your wife is far along, she may not feel a lot of movement because the baby may be running out of room to really move around in. Also if she was a smaller size woman it may be harder for the baby to move around, because she was so small herself.
Good luck and keep us posted <IMG SRC="http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif">
Angie
All of the suggestion's made to you are indeed helpful. Be careful though, sometimes decreased fetal movement IS something to worry about.
If your wife every feels like something is "wrong" and the baby hasn't moved in a "while", have her ask her doctor for a non stress test. This will allievate her fears.
The suggestion to get a fetal heart monitor is a very good one. I'm not sure where you'd get one though.
The one's that I use at work are on a stand.
