Pregnancy is a wonderful time in a woman’s life, but it is filled with tension regarding your baby’s health. Constantly monitoring its health with the help of your doctor gives you some relief, but you can never be too careful. You know your baby is healthy when it shows signs of activity sometime during your second trimester, around the 14th or 15th week of pregnancy. You will be able to feel it move and kick. The movements become more evident as your pregnancy progresses. If your baby does not move as much as you expect it to at around 23 weeks into your pregnancy, it can be a cause for some concern. When you feel something is not right, you should consult your doctor immediately. Here are a few reasons why your baby can become less active around the third trimester of pregnancy.
1. You Get Used To Its Movements
When your little one moves for the first time, it is quite noticeable. It is one of those happy moments during your pregnancy that tells you everything is alright. As your pregnancy progresses, there is a high possibility that you get used to these subtle movements, and you do not notice them as much. Perform a kick count and see how long it takes for it to make 10 movements to reassure yourself of its good health.
2. Your Baby Is Sleeping
Your baby is not always awake when it is in the womb. By the 23rd week of your pregnancy, it starts developing a noticeable sleep-wake cycle. When you notice its first kick after a break of an hour or 2, perform a kick count. You will know that your little one is awake at that time. It might take only 15 minutes for some babies, and for some, it might take longer than 2 hours. If it takes too long for it to kick 10 times, get it checked by your doctor.
3. It Might Be An Indication Of Stillbirth
In some cases, babies unexpectedly in the later half of the second trimester. If that is the case, you will notice a gradual decrease in its movements leading up to its death. Consult your doctor if you feel that your baby’s movements are decreasing during the later stages of your pregnancy. Stillbirths are not always preventable in most cases.
4. Your Baby Is Small
Intrauterine growth restriction refers to the poor growth of your baby when it is in the womb. It can be caused due to the use of drugs, poor maternal nutrition, mother’s smoking habits, alcohol use, illness, or lack of proper oxygen supply to the fetus. When your baby is smaller than it should be, it still moves as much, but you might not be able to feel its movements. Get an ultrasound done to check for any abnormalities.
5. Your Baby’s Position Makes It Difficult To Notice Its Movements
In many cases, you might not be able to feel your little one’s movements due to its position. If it faces your spine, its legs might not be able to stretch far enough to reach your abdomen when it moves. Even the placenta makes it difficult for its legs to reach the walls of your abdomen. Give it some time. Its movements will be more noticeable as it grows in size.
Being pregnant is a difficult task. Exercise caution about what you eat, keep yourself well hydrated, and be in constant touch with your doctor. Go out, relax, and sign yourself up to some prenatal yoga or exercise classes. You will feel better and less worked up about your pregnancy.
