23 Weeks and Barely Feel Him Move

You're probably fine. I was fat when pregnant too, by about the same margin, and I couldn't feel her much at that point. I also had one of those things you use to hear the baby's heartbeat, and that never worked for me. But whenever we went to the doctor, their stethoscopes picked it up fine.

C.,

As an overweight mom, when I was pregnant with my little girl.. being oversized... It was a little while longer before I felt all the movements... don't worry as much... it was just like those heart monitors that you can buy in the store.. with my size, I could not use it to hear her heartbeat.. just enjoy every moment, because when you do feel the baby move.. that is something that is special for the moms....

Good luck and enjoy...

C.

I had a friend who was pregnant with her third and had the same problem. When she went to the dr and expressed her concern, she learned that she had an anterior (I think that was it) placenta -- in front, making it difficult to feel movements. So, just ask about it next time you're in, it may not be a problem.

I never have a problem feeling my kids move, but I have very large babies and I am not large. I have a coworker that never felt her child move and she had him at 35 weeks. She had no problems with her pregnancy except her water broke early. She just had a small baby. I think sometimes it depends on the way the baby is kicking. If he is kicking towards your intestines or kidneys you don't feel that as much. At least that is what my doctor said with my daughter. As long as you are feeling some movement I think that everything should be ok. I would ask at your next appointment though. If you have any pain or cramping before that you should call though.

Hi C.

At 23 weeks you may feel some slight flutters when you are quiet and still but you shouldnt be feeling a ton of movement. Check with your doctor if you need piece of mind but it doesnt sound outside the norm to me.

Hope you feel better soon!
T.

Mothers' intuition is VERY strong! Many, many, many times mothers "get it right" when doctors "get it wrong". I think this is because mothers know their own children - even in the womb. Not that you have anything to worry about, but you should NEVER hesitate to go to your doctor with any concerns. The worst thing that can happen is that you get pegged as the "worry wart". The best thing that can happen is that something wrong gets detected early and can be fixed. If your doctor seems frustrated with your "overreacting", try to talk it out first and if that doesn't work, find another doctor. Congratulations on your marriage and new baby!

I am normal weight and 24 weeks, I only feel my baby move about twice a day as well. Hope that helps for make you feel better

I am not a doctor so I can't answer your question, but I can tell you that I did not feel my daughter move until I was 6 1/2 months pregnant. If you are concerned you should ask your doctor that's what they are there for....there are no stupid questions when your pregnant!! Hope that makes you feel better.

Hi C.,

I'm sure that you have nothing to worry about. I was also overweight with my second child and I didn't really feel him moving around to much before I was about 27-28 weeks. Don't worry everything is fine!

with both of my pregnancies i was very overweight, and they were both different. my daughter i did not feel move until 20 weeks, and then not really much until 25 or more weeks, and my son was moving like crazy by 14 weeks. all pregnancies are different, but you should never feel bad about calling your doctor. that is what they are there for. use them while you can, and after the baby is here, use the pediatricians office too. they are your best resources.

You're doctor won't mind - thats part of what you're paying for. Additionally, most doctors have nurses on staff to answer those types of questions. And, any doctor who does mind isn't worth the degree he has. If you doctor does treat you like a moronic overreacting mom, it's time to change doctors. :-)

Congratulations! Good luck!

C.,

If you are concerned then call the doctor. They will probably bring you in just to make sure everyhing is ok. I was overweight when I was pregnant with my daughter. I only felt flutters until about 23-24 weeks. Even then there were times she wouldn't start moving for hours at a time. Call the doctor. Good luck with your baby.

E.

Uhm! CALL the dr. anytime you want to, he works for you. Do not feel bad about that. He is employed by you, so if you have a worry or question, you call who cares if they get put out, you do not want to take a chance something is wrong. Peace of mind is valuable.

Don't you ever feel bad about calling your doctor for anything. I called several times with my first pregnancy. Most of the time it is the nurse who answers your call anyway. But, to answer your question, they say that as long as you feel the baby once a day your are fine. :o) But call your doc or nurse just to know what they think and make you feel better.

W. M.

Congratulations. I'm 31 wks. Know you said you already have another child too, but this is my second (which I've heard you notice movement sooner, and I felt him move around 16 wks, but I work at night, and that's when it's always happened, late at night on the couch after I get home and watch TV. My thinking is that's why I noticed it, because I was up. Never did feel it during the day until somewhere after 20wks. I wouldn't be too concerned, unless you still don't notice anything for weeks to come. I'm 5'9 and pretty skinny, and didn't feel any movement with my daughter, who's now 4, until 25 wks. I am sure of that because I just saw that I had written it down while looking through her baby book the other day. Everything was totally normal with her too - no complications. Good luck!!!

Just go to the Dr. so you feel better about it. Babies in the womb can sense stress of the mohter. You need your mind put at ease. Chances are everything is okay, but if it turns out there was an issue and you should've gone in, how would you feel about not having gone in? When it comes to your children, my philosophy has always been...better safe than sorry! Good luck!

you can never be "overreacting" when it comes to the welfare of your child. never feel bad for asking your doctor a million questions, if you feel like it. plus, unless your doc is a jerk, they won't mind because that's their job. trust that "mommy instinct" that you have! it's better to be safe than sorry. you'll be alright!! good luck!! :)

I'm 21 weeks pregnant with twins and I am still not feeling them move a whole lot. This is my third pregnancy and it just varies I think with each one. Don't worry yourself over it. Soon he'll be moving so much you will be wanting him to stop!!

C. Snyder

I think that you are alright. You are feeling him move a little. He may be a small baby and he may be a calm baby and you may have a lot of water securing him really well. I think you need to stop worrying and enjoy your pregnancy and just mention to the dr on your next visit so he can tell you everything is alright and why you don't need to worry.

I'm overweight as well, and it wasn't until I was a good 6-7 months before I really started feeling my son moving. I was around 5 months before I ever even felt it for the first time. Then it was sporadic. It will increase. As long as you feel it a little at this stage, that's fine. Nothing is wrong as long as you feel fine and you can feel it at all. Don't worry, you'll start feeling it a lot more soon.

If you feel your child even once a day then you shouldn't worry. You can't measure the activity of an unborn against another persons or even a prior pregnancy. If your child wasn't moving at all then there might be reason for concern. I had 4 pregnancies and each were active differently. But call the doc. Ease your mind.

The baby is probably moving a lot and you just do not feel the movement all the time. it is still early in the pregnancy. You can always call and talk to your MD's nurse about a question like that. Everyone has asked that question before, so do not feel bad. Take care and congratulations!

Hi C.. I worried the whole time I was pregnant with my daughter because she never moved alot like my son did. She was a "lazy" baby. She went the entire pregnancy without alot of movement and I worried myself crazy about it. I brought it up with the doctor and he said if I went something like an entire day without feeling any movement then they would do a stress test. My point is though, try not to worry. I know, that's easier said than done, but my daughter turned out absolutely perfect and beautiful! Congratulations!!!

I think that is okay, especially if it's your first. I didn't feel my first move to around 23 weeks. With my second, I would start to feel him move around 22 weeks, and then it would be a day or two before I'd feel him again. I did ask my doctor about this and he blamed it on my activity level (I was on my feet a lot) and that at this point, the baby is just so small.

If you need reassurance, please call your doctor. I know that there is a certain point that you do need to feel the baby move everyday, but I believe that's further along in your pregnancy. Congratulations on the pregnancy!

Hi
I was also overweight with my son. I did not feel him move for the first time until I was about 20-24 weeks along. But around week 30 I really was able to feel him move. My doctor said that was normal with bigger ladies. So just quit worrying and enjoy your pregnancy.
Blessings, Leshia

Hi C.!

I hesitated before responding but I just couldn't keep quite any longer. I too am extremely overweight. I kept telling the doctors for WEEKS that I just wasn't feeling the baby move like I thought I should. FINALLY at 34 weeks they decided to put me on a non stress test and things went down hill from there. Within 4 hours of that doctors visit, I was admitted to the hospital and told I wasn't leaving till I had this baby. He was born the next day weighing 2 lbs 7 ozs and spent 4 weeks in the NICU. He was born the size of a 28 week gestation. For some reason he just stopped growing which was why I wasn't feeling the movements. THANK GOD he was born just fine just a little tiny. Now I know every woman and situation is different but don't hesitate to CALL the drs office or even show up at L&D.

Good luck to you!

Hi C. and Congradulations! I just had a baby in dec and I'll tell you I can really relate to what your saying. I hardly felt my son move until 28-29 weeks....and it was freaking me out too. I also have "a little extra padding" LOL and my doc said sometimes that can affect how much movement we feel. Even at 30-31 weeks I didn't feel him as much as I though I should. So, my advice....try not to worry about it, but if you are really concerned, call your doc. That is what they are there for, don't worry about what they think. Peace of mind is better for you and the baby and they should agree with that.

C.,

I had two successful & uneventful pregnancies with an extra 80 pounds. I ma glad you called your Dr that iswhat YOU PAY THEM for.

Trust me, in a few more weeks you'll be wondering what your worry was.

Have a healthy pregnancy & delivery!

I think that your weight probably does make a difference, and I'm sure there's nothing wrong. But wouldn't you rather know than worry? Don't stress about calling the doctor, that's why they are there and you should call whenever you need to. :)

I felt the same way when I was pregnant and I'm sure everyone else does too. Give them a call and see what they say, at least you will be able to stop worrying. Good luck with the new baby!

call the doctor and it could be that you have a gentle babe...I had four and they were each different.
The doctor would want you to call.......................it could prevent a problem.

When I was pregnant with my fourth child I rarely felt him move. I asked the doctor about it because my other children had been so active. He told me that the placenta was across the front--it was like having a big pillow across the front of my stomach and it made me feel less movement. My last child was also a much smaller baby so I felt less movement. I would go for several days at a time without feeling any movement at all. It freaked me out for awhile. Ask your doctor about it your next appointment. Ask to hear the baby's heart beat and get an ultrasound if you are really worried. All of that will put your mind at rest. To this day, my last child is my most calm child. He has the sweetest disposition and he is very bright.

Don't worry about your weight affecting the baby. If you want to make the little one move, really cold grape juice or other sweet drink can make them dance. Drink it and wait-it is pretty funny. Eat the right foods-veggies, fruits and watch the carbs you will feel great! Best of luck!
J.

Hey C.,

This is totally normal. I can't tell you how many calls we would get in our OBGYN office with women complaining of the same thing. It will increase, but at this point in your pregnancy it's totally normal to not feel the baby as often. Try not to worry... But at the same time, if you are worried or concerned you should call your doctor. That's what they're there for. As you get further along you will feel it more, but being a little bit heavier does affect how much we feel. This may just be a more layed back baby, and it depends on how the baby is lying as well. Sounds fine! Congrats.

i didnt feel my first baby move until i was 20 weeks and didnt feel her move all the time until 25 weeks ish... so i wouldnt worry yet as long as there is movement i think you are ok.

Hey C.,

Last year I had my fourth baby, and like you it had been many years since I had been pregnant. I was also overweight when I got pregnant, life long struggle for me. With my son, I hardly ever felt him move the entire pregnancy. He was what I call a lazy baby, but I guess he was resting up and saving energy for when he came into the world. If you are really concerned call the Dr. and ask them if this is normal, but at 23 to about 27 weeks I would go days or weeks without feeling anything from him. After that I would feel him twisting and turning or punching me (he did not kick, he was a boxer)at least twice a day. I hope this helps, but I do stress if you are concerned call your Dr or the nurses to make sure.

I am almost 32 weeks and also about 50 to 60 lbs overweight...I didn't feel my daughter move as much until about 27 to 28 weeks...although I did feel her back at 23/24 it was just not regularly.
I also have a 9 year old daughter and from what I can remember she was pretty lazy with a definite propensity to lay in wait for two to three days to scare me...I am sure you are fine but when in doubt call your doctor, he will be happy to reassure you.

I had the same problem with both of mine! My daughter was worse, we were in the hospital every week at least doing non stress tests. they would have to bring a little vibrating thingy and push it to my tummy to make her move! just relax. if you feel there is something wrong, then call the doctor. it's better safe then sorry. Another thing you can try is to eat something that is amazing- with my daughter any time i had the herb chicken from hardrock or ate something spicy she would move all over the place! With my son, I had to lay with my feet propped up and he would start moving after about 20 minutes. I hope this helps- at least it lets you know that you are not the only one who has had this!

Hi C.! Congratulations on the pregnancy! I didn't feel my daughter (now 1 year old) move at all until around 23 weeks, and I didn't really feel her move all the time until probably 6 or 7 months. She was small (born 6 lbs 9 oz), and I am also overweight, but I found out during an ultrasound that my placenta was in the front. Another lady on here explained all that. So, you shouldn't have anything to worry about, but definitely don't hesitate to call your doctor and have them do an ultrasound if necessary.

Good luck! I hope you have a wonderful pregnancy!

~M.

I've had four kids and one was just not that active... and still is the calm type! You should feel movement everyday, but how much can vary. At the times you are concerned, drink some orange juice and lay down after 5 minutes or so on your left side. Count how many movements you feel in a minute and then tell your doctor. I forget how many is considered within the normal range, but the juice should give the baby a kick. (I likened it to Popeye eating spinach!) It always reassured me when I got concerned. (I was obese during two of my pregnancies and had gastric bypass surgery before my last two- very normal- pregnancies!)

YOu should be feeling the baby move about 3-4 times an hour. You probably do feel him but are busy and don't realize it. Once a day lay down on your side with a glass of orange juice (something cold) for about 20 min-hour. And count how many times the baby moves. You should be pleasantly surprised. If you don't feel baby moving that much give your Dr a call.

Any good doctor does nit mind hooking you up to a heart rate monitor for twenty minutes. If you are ever really concerned, you can go to emergency to be checked.

Good luck! Some babies are less active in the womb than others.