Why is my baby moving less?

Q: I am 22 weeks pregnant and my baby had been jabbing me a lot. They became constant, and then they stopped. I could not help but get worried…..I still am. i am afraid of calling my doctor because I don't know what to expect, and I cannot bear bad news. Could my baby die in my womb?

A: A baby's movement in utero prior to about 25 or 26 weeks is very inconsistent. That means that some days you will feel movement, and some days you won't. This is based on many different variables, including the baby's position, how often they are sleeping, what you are eating, how active you are, etc. Most OBGYN's won't have patient's keep track of fetal movement until about 25 or 26 weeks for this very reason. After 25 weeks, movement should be felt on a regular basis and you will be instructed by your practitioner to start doing daily fetal kick counts. So, it is likely that your baby is just fine and you are having a few quiet days for one of the above reasons I mentioned. That being said, in very rare cases, there can be something wrong, so it is important to discuss your concerns with your practitioner and let he or she decide if you should be seen.

Answered by Dr. Michele Hakakha