What is the reason for decreased fetal movement at 39 weeks of pregnancy?

As the fetus continues to develop, the movement of the fetus in the uterus can be clearly felt when it impacts the uterine wall, especially at 39 weeks. These are all felt by pregnant women. If there are abnormal conditions, such as a decrease in fetal movement, they can also be felt. So, what is the reason for the decrease in fetal movement at 39 weeks of pregnancy? Let’s take a closer look at it below.

Normally, between 16 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus begins to have noticeable fetal movements that can be felt by the mother. As the gestational age increases, fetal movements also increase. After 30 weeks of pregnancy, a normal fetus will move at least 3 times per hour, and the number of fetal movements within 12 hours will be about 30-40 times or more. However, it is normal for a fetus to have reduced fetal movement as it approaches full term, which may be related to the fetus's sleep condition.

Fetal movement can be affected by many factors. The month of pregnancy, the amount of amniotic fluid, the posture of the pregnant woman, etc. can all cause fetal movement to change, but these changes are within the normal range.

Pregnant women can measure the fetal movement once in the morning, noon and evening, and calculate the fetal movement by measuring it once every hour. If you cannot measure three times a day, you can choose to measure for one hour at a fixed time before going to bed at night. Abnormal fetal movement may occur when the placenta function is impaired, the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck, the pregnant woman uses medication improperly, or there is adverse external stimulation.

If the fetal movement is less than 3 times within 1 hour, or less than 10 times within 12 hours, it means that the fetus is at risk of intrauterine hypoxia and you should go to the hospital for examination and timely treatment.

The above is an introduction to the reasons for decreased fetal movement at 39 weeks of pregnancy. I hope it will be helpful to family members. There are many reasons for the decrease in fetal movement at 39 weeks of pregnancy. If it is an occasional situation, it is within the normal range. However, if the fetal movement decreases for a long time, it should be taken seriously. It is best to go to a regular hospital for examination to avoid hypoxia and endanger the child's life.