Hi Avi and everyone else with concerns about baby movements. I am due on the 5th of November and have in the last 7 days noticed reduced and lighter movements.I spoke to my doctor and he told me to go to the foetal monitoring centre at my hospital. For all those who are a bit concerned can actually go for foetal monitoring .It's done for 20-25 minutes. They strapped something to my tummy and the output was abtained in the form of a graph. There were two graphs one for baby's hearth beat and the 2nd for uterine contractions (like braxton hicks etc.) .It was good fun to hear the baby's heart beat for 20 mts and also at end to be reassurred that everything is okay. Infact most of the hospitals have this facility available for 24 hours. I don't think it costs much either.(I don't know exactly as mine was billed directly to our public health insurance system available from the govt.). So pls go for it even if u are slightly worried.

Take Care and keep me posted if any of you tries it.
Ritu Vindhya replied. Hi Ritu,

It sounds very much like the Non-Stress test they do here. Yes, they attach two monitors using elastic belts, one to record the contractions and one for the heart beat. I have already gone through it twice. From this week onwards, they would be doing it every week. As of now, I am not paying anything for it, the insurance is taking care of it.

Yes, it is very reassuring to know everything is fine. I am glad your's went well too.

Vindhya Suma replied. Hi! Ritu!

It happened to me 10 days back. I observed very less movements for couple of days. I was feeling some movements but those are drastically less than usual. So, I called the doctor's office and they told me to come to the doctor's office and did the fetal monitoring. They have this fetal monitoring facility at the doctor's office itself. They observed for 20 minutes and said everything is normal and the baby is doing good. It was very reassuring.

When i called the doctor's office, I did not think that they would ask me to come b'coz I was feeling some movements. I guess they did not want to take any chance now that I am in third trimester.
And regarding the billing, they billed directly to my Insurance. If at all we have to pay in future, probably that will be the co-pay of $15.

So, even I think it is better to call the doctor if anything is drastically unusual.

Take care
-Suma
Avi replied. Hi Ritu, thanks a lot for the info...
I am unsure as to whether or not my hospital has a seperate place where they do the monitoring (I think it is done as part of the OBGYN) but will certainly talk to my doc about it... thanks again