A mum from Leeds is reminding pregnant women to seek urgent medical attention if you think your baby is not moving as much as they were or you cannot feel your baby move.
Steph, a mum from Leeds says: “Please call your midwife straight away if there is a change in your baby’s movements. During my pregnancy I sometimes felt like I was wasting the midwives time when I worried. However, this wasn’t the case and I was always taken seriously when I was concerned.”
You should start to feel your baby move between around 16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. If this is your first baby, you might not feel movements until after 20 weeks.
If you have not felt your baby move by 24 weeks, tell your midwife. They’ll check your baby’s heartbeat and movements.
Dr Helen Haywood, GP and clinical lead for children and families at NHS Leeds Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “During the coronavirus pandemic you might feel less able to contact your midwives, but they are available and if you need to be seen it will always be in a safe environment.”
“Please make sure you contact your midwife immediately for urgent advice if you think your baby is not moving as much as they were or you cannot feel them move.
Your midwife will want to check your baby’s movements and heartbeat. Never wait until the next day.
Remember too that all pregnant women are recommended advised to have the flu vaccine as soon as it’s available at whatever stage of pregnancy they’re at and vaccination against cough from 16 weeks up to 32 weeks of pregnancy”.
“The sooner you’re vaccinated the sooner you, and so your baby, are protected against these preventable, but serious infectious diseases.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
If your baby’s pattern of movement changes or reduces in number, please call and speak to a midwife promptly
Leeds General Infirmary 0113 392 6791
St James’ 0113 206 5781
Your baby’s movements are as important as ever. While there is no current indication that Coronavirus poses a threat to an unborn baby, delaying contacting your midwife with concerns does. If you think that your baby’s movements have changed, slowed down or stopped:
- Don’t put off calling until tomorrow to see what happens
- Don’t worry about calling – your midwives and doctors will want to hear from you. The Maternity Unit is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so there will always be someone available to talk to.
- Don’t use any hand-held monitors, dopplers or phone apps to check your baby’s heartbeat. Even if you detect a heartbeat, it doesn’t mean your baby is well.
It is more important than ever that you don’t arrive at the hospital unannounced – always phone first.
If there are concerns about your baby you can be seen, regardless of whether you are showing symptoms of Coronavirus. Ensure you mention if you are showing symptoms though so steps can be taken to ensure the safety of those looking after you.