Medical professionals have issued an urgent warning to all expectant mothers following revised guidance on foetal movements. During pregnancy, sensing their baby's movement is one of the primary ways women can determine if their baby is healthy, thriving, and developing properly.
Expectant parents should begin to detect their baby's movements between 16 to 24 weeks of pregnancy, with first-time mothers potentially not experiencing movements until after 20 weeks. The NHS states that movements can initially feel like a gentle swirling or fluttering sensation, before progressing to more pronounced jerky motions and kicks later in pregnancy.
The NHS had previously instructed mothers to contact their midwives urgently if their baby was moving less than usual, they could not feel the baby move, or if their baby's movement pattern altered. Yet, this guidance has been revised following fresh expert research from Tommy's, a prominent charity conducting research into pregnancy loss and premature birth.
A Midwife, Angie, who posts vital updates on maternal health and guidance for new parents and expectant mothers on TikTok, revealed the update to her 122,000 followers. She said: "Foetal movements during pregnancy, the guidelines have just changed and the advice has just changed too. And if you are someone who is pregnant, someone who is supporting someone who is pregnant, a student midwife, a midwife, a doctor, strap in."
"So we used to talk about a pattern of movements. So all babies between about 16 and 24 weeks should begin moving during pregnancy. And around about 24 weeks onwards, you should start to notice that your baby will move more frequently, up to around about 32 weeks, where the frequency of your movements will stay roughly the same."
"And as midwives, we used to say, look out for a pattern of movements and any changes in the movements, then you need to call your triage or maternity assessment units, to get immediate advice and help and assessment."
"What some researchers have done is undertake some qualitative interviews with women who sadly had stillbirths. What the researchers find is that there was vague and inconsistent information in their lives, and that a change in the foetal movement pattern is really hard to determine sometimes."
The midwife revealed she experienced this dilemma during her first pregnancy while working rotating day and night shifts, resulting in her baby's movements varying from week to week. She said: "So the messaging is really clear now. If your baby is moving less than they have done, if they are feeling weaker, or if they have completely stopped, or alternatively, you have got any concerns, you need to be calling your maternity 24 hour triage lines straight away."
"Do not delay, do not do anything at home, just call your maternity unit straight away, and they should invite you straight in. Between 24 and 26 weeks of pregnancy, your midwife or your doctor should do a thorough check on you, checking your blood pressure, checking your urine, having a feel of your tummy, but also listening to baby."
"There is now some really helpful, clear guidance for healthcare professionals on how to discuss foetal movements. Being clear, being consistent, being concise, having some conversation around your foetal movements at every single appointment."
Consider the context and explain why babies sometimes move less, and make that explanation really clear and why it is so important to get checked.
What is the new advice for pregnant women on foetal movements?
Leading pregnancy loss and premature birth charity Tommy's has issued fresh guidance urging expectant mothers to contact their 24-hour maternity unit or triage immediately upon noticing any one of three key warning signs. These three signs to be aware of are a reduction in the baby's movements, movements that feel weaker than usual, and movements that have stopped altogether. The updated guidance and a printable leaflet are both available to download directly from the Tommy's website.
