What to do if the fetal movement is low

Once the number of fetal movements in the belly decreases, pregnant women will become very worried, because they do not understand what fetal movement means to the baby. In fact, fetal movement should not be too frequent or too infrequent, otherwise it will cause serious effects on the fetus in the belly, or even fetal death. If you are worried about your baby's condition, you can go for further testing to know the specific condition of the fetus.

Not all pregnant women need to monitor fetal movements every day, but if the pregnant woman feels that the fetal movement has decreased significantly, she should be informed to actively contact the obstetrician for further fetal monitoring.

If the fetal movement is less than 20 times in 12 hours, it is abnormal; if it is less than 10 times, it indicates that the fetus is in danger and is suffering from hypoxia in the uterus. If the fetal movement exceeds the normal number of times within a period of time, the fetal movement is frequent, or the fetus is restless without interruption, it is also a manifestation of intrauterine hypoxia. A significant decrease in the number of fetal movements until they stop is a sign of severe intrauterine fetal asphyxia. Abnormal fetal movement is caused by pathological conditions and functional disorders, such as a tight umbilical cord around the neck, placental dysfunction, or abnormal medication by pregnant women and adverse external stimuli, which lead to fetal hypoxia in the uterus.

When the life of the fetus is threatened, the fetus will experience abnormal fetal movements, not only in frequency but also in nature. For example, strong, continuous pushing and twisting fetal movements or kicking, or even weak fetal movements, are all ominous signs. If you experience abnormal fetal movement, you should seek medical attention promptly. After 28 weeks of pregnancy, fetal movements are mostly located in the upper and middle abdomen and rarely in the lower abdomen.

If fetal movements occur frequently in the lower abdomen, it can be considered abnormal, indicating that the fetal position is abnormal, mostly breech or transverse, which can easily cause difficult delivery and you should seek medical attention in time. Numerous studies have shown that decreased fetal movement is associated with an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. Decreased fetal movement indicates the occurrence of intrauterine fetal death, which in some cases occurs within a few days after the decrease in fetal movement.

Normal fetal movement indicates that the placenta is functioning well, that the fetus is receiving sufficient oxygen, that the fetus is growing and developing healthily in the uterus, and that the fetus is moving happily. Observing fetal movements in early pregnancy is helpful in estimating the prognosis of pregnancy. Counting fetal movements is an economical and convenient method to monitor the condition of the fetus. Mothers can count fetal movements (the number of times the fetus kicks) as a means of prenatal fetal monitoring. At 7 weeks of pregnancy, the miscarriage rate is only 3% if there is fetal movement; while the miscarriage rate can be as high as 98% if there is no fetal movement. Ultrasound is also more sensitive in observing fetal movements in the middle and late stages. Sometimes smaller fetal movements are not felt by the pregnant woman but can be seen during ultrasound.