Fetal Movement
By Barbara Parker, RN, ARNP, CNM

Q. I'm really worrying. I keep reading these horror stories about women who had decreased fetal movement. They ignored it or didn't notice it and their babies later were born still. Reading these stories has got me terrified! I'm currently 26 weeks, and I've noticed that most of these stillbirths occur between 28-32 weeks. How much should I be feeling my baby move now?

A. As long as you feel your baby move EVERY day, you are fine. She changes position and moves different parts of her body, and you will sense these things in different ways. At 26 weeks you should feel her move at least once every day.

A little trick I tell my patients, is lie down on your left side (best circulation for the baby) and drink a glass of ice water, or something cold--even a coke, orange soda, juice--just make sure it's really cold. Wait 30 minutes--that will usually do the trick, you'll feel the baby move. They also like it when you eat something sugary--although I can't recommend that for you ladies with gestational diabetes!! The ICE cold drink usually does the trick, though. You will notice less movement if you are hungry, thirsty or very tired.

If you EVER think something's NOT RIGHT regarding the baby's movement, CALL YOUR DOCTOR OR MIDWIFE!! That's the sort of thing we take VERY SERIOUSLY!!