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Dr Rahul Sen | Specialist care for birth and beyond | Sydney, Australia

Clinic conveniently located in Edgecliff : Freecall 1800 890 964

Fetal Wellbeing in Pregnancy

Most of the tests and visits in pregnancy are designed to ensure that your pregnancy is progressing normally and that your baby is well.  The most important form of reassurance that your baby is fine is when you are feeling good fetal movements.  Most babies have spurts of movement every few hours during the day, which is very reassuring.  In late pregnancy babies often squirm instead of kicking.

In the third trimester (after 28 weeks) there should be a 2-hour window every day during which you feel the baby move at least ten times.  If you do not then you may need extra monitoring, and possibly even a planned delivery.  I am very concerned about a reduction in the number of movements.  If this occurs you should contact the Delivery Suite of your maternity hospital the same day.

The other thing I am concerned about is the development of itch in the third trimester of pregnancy, especially itch without rash or itch on the palms of the hands and/or soles of the feet.  If you develop itch during late pregnancy then please contact my rooms immediately and arrange to see me as soon as possible, or after hours ring the delivery suite of the hospital at which you are booked.