11. What are normal baby movements? And why we bang on about them so much

Baby movements is your baby’s way of telling you all is well. A healthy baby should move. Imagine if you were really sick, you would still move around the bed and get up several times a day to go the toilet. If you lay in bed for many hours, not moving at all, you would probably be dreadfully ill. A baby that’s doing nothing is not normal.  And why are we so insistent about baby movements? If we look at unexpected stillbirths in the third trimester, an alarming number of those stillbirths are preceded by a couple of days of decreased or absent fetal movements. Your main defence against this is to be focused, from about 28 weeks, on YOUR baby’s pattern of movement. This podcast covers: How picking your baby’s pattern of movement is important Why we moved away from ‘kick charts’ Why going to sleep on absent fetal movements is not a strategy What to do if you think you have reduced or absent fetal movements Why a baby ‘slowing’ down at term is not a sign you are going into labour. And if you haven’t yet subscribed, hit the subscribe button now and thanks so much for your support. All show notes can be found at www.growmybaby.com.au/podcast  LINKS  Instagram @thekickpregnancypodcast_  Facebook @thekickpregnancypodcast  Ask a question on the podcast:  Send a voice message to     GrowMyBaby  Join the Grow My Baby Program  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.