Baby movement...ON one day and OFF the next?

[Stacey1718]

Hi Ladies,

Quick question:  On the weekend I felt quite a bit of movement from the baby - and some of the kicks were quite strong!  I'm almost 17 weeks now.  This week he has been pretty quiet with just a few pokes here and there and then today I have not felt him at all.

Is this normal??  I think I need to get a fetal heart dopler because I just know I am going to be paranoid throughout this entire pregnancy!!

Thanks for your feedback!
Stacey

[YvetteY]

I am 17 weeks too and I've just begun to feel what I'm 90% sure are baby moves.    I usually feel them everyday when I'm lying still and /or occassional sitting, but it's only because I'm paying attention.  

I can see that you might not actually notice it everyday this early because baby is still so small.  So I wound't be nervous about that.

As for the doppler, I could see myself with one of those and then not doing something right and just freaking out about it.  So I decided against it.  

[blinka]

It is totally normal to have it off and on in the beginning.  And it is not unheard of to not feel them later.  I was constantly at the Dr's getting fetal heart monitoring and U/S's with my first because I absolutely NEVER felt the baby.  This was during the 7th-8th month when you are supposed to feel them the most.  But we would go in and baby would be fine.  We could always see her thrashing around like crazy on the U/S.  The Dr. could not believe that I didn't feel her.  My sister had the exact same thing with her first and I have a friend pregnant with twins that is experiencing the same thing right now.  
I would literally lie to people when they would ask me if I felt her because they would get all weird if I said no.  Like my baby had problems or something.  I was sick of it so I always just said I felt her.  I learned that from my sister who had to do the same thing.
I still called the Dr. all the time because it is always better to be safe than sorry.

[NicMom]

It's normal I feel movements every day and then nothing. I did get the doppler and was going to send it back once I started feeling movements, but I keep it around for those days where I don't feel anything.

[chantal21]

Completely normal at this stage. With my son, the movement wasn't consistent until about 25 weeks or so. Our little babies still have so much room to move around in there and most times when they are moving we either can't feel it and they are kicking toward the back and you won't feel that. I rented a doppler with my son and loved it so much I bought it after 3 months. I use it with this pregnancy and I love to hear that little heart beat! =)

[Stacey1718]

Thanks!  I actually just ordered a dopler to rent for the next 6 months.  It's a good one and I think it will relieve some stress!

[Latrice414]

It is normal, they actually say once 20 weeks you should feel them more often.  I have a fetal doppler myself and it releives a lot of stress, i will be 15w 2mrw and i just feel flutters here and there.  I think i missed the post thaat stated you was having a Boy, Congratssssssss, my next ob appt is not until next friday but i wont b getting an u/s until week 18