What Happens When You Report Reduced Movements
If your baby is moving less than usual, contact your maternity unit or labor and delivery unit now and go in straight away if they ask you to. When you report reduced movements, staff first listen to your baby's heartbeat and ask about your pregnancy. From 26 weeks the RCOG says you should have a CTG, which records the baby's heart rate for at least 20 minutes; in the US the same kind of recording is called a nonstress test.
Written by the Bumpi Kicks team at Speed AI Labs LLP. Last updated . General information, not reviewed by a clinician, and not medical advice. How we write and check these pages.
If your baby is moving less, contact your maternity unit now
Call your midwife, maternity unit or labor and delivery unit immediately if your baby is moving less than usual, you cannot feel movement, or the usual pattern changes. Do not wait until the next day, and do not try to make your baby move first.
If you cannot reach them, or you are worried about your own health, call your local emergency number.
The checks, and what each one is for
The heartbeat comes first
The RCOG's 2026 guideline says a clinician should first listen for the baby's heartbeat with a handheld Doppler, comparing it with your pulse to tell the two apart. If you called and could not be checked this way, it says you should be asked to come in.
Questions and an examination
The RCOG says staff should ask how long movements have been reduced, whether they stopped, and about risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, or an earlier small baby or stillbirth. The RCOG and Tommy's say they also measure your bump, check your blood pressure and test your urine.
A CTG or nonstress test records the heart rate, not kicks
A CTG records the baby's heart rate, which the RCOG says rises with 92% to 97% of the large movements a mother feels. ACOG says a nonstress test measures the heart rate in response to the baby's movement, usually takes at least 20 minutes, and is reactive when the heart rate rises two or more times in 20 minutes.
If your baby seems asleep during the test
ACOG says a nonreactive result, too few rises in 40 minutes, can happen when the baby is asleep, and can also mean the baby is not getting enough oxygen. The test may then run for 40 more minutes, or a sound may be used to prompt the baby to move, and a biophysical profile, a scan scored out of 10, may follow.
A scan for some women in the UK, for more in Australia
After 28 weeks the RCOG offers a scan of the baby's size, the fluid and umbilical blood flow if reduced movement continues after a normal CTG or there are risk factors, unless you had a scan in the past 2 weeks. NSW Health's pathway says a scan should be considered for all women not scanned in the past 2 weeks, and also that no further tests are needed after a first visit with normal checks, no risk factors and no remaining concern.
Before 28 weeks
The RCOG says that before 28 weeks the baby's heartbeat should be checked, and an anomaly scan done, if not already, when no movement has been felt by 24 weeks. Its CTG recommendation starts at 26+0 weeks.
You are not wasting anyone's time
NSW Health tells staff to reassure women that they did the right thing in coming in and are not a nuisance or a burden, even when the checks are normal. Studies cited by the RCOG list fear of not being taken seriously among the reasons women delayed seeking help.
The same checks in the UK, the US and Australia
| Check | UK: RCOG 2026 and Tommy's | US: ACOG | Australia: NSW Health, adapting PSANZ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heartbeat | A handheld Doppler first, compared with your pulse | Not covered on the ACOG page we read | A handheld Doppler or CTG to exclude the death of the baby |
| Heart rate recording | A computerised CTG from 26+0 weeks, initially for at least 20 minutes | A nonstress test, usually at least 20 minutes; reactive with two or more rises in 20 minutes | A CTG to exclude immediate problems, with urgent medical review if it is abnormal |
| Scan | After 28+0 weeks if reduced movement continues after a normal CTG or there are risk factors, unless you had a scan in the past 2 weeks | A biophysical profile, a scan with a nonstress test scored out of 10, may follow a non-reassuring result | Considered for all women not scanned in the past 2 weeks; the same pathway says no further tests are needed after a first visit with normal checks, no risk factors and no remaining concern |
| After normal checks | One episode with normal checks is unlikely to mean a poor outcome, and there is no reason to bring the birth forward | A reactive result means that, for now, there do not appear to be any problems | Reassured that they did the right thing and are not a nuisance |
| If it happens again | Contact the unit again; a repeat episode means a review of your care and a scan | Not covered on the ACOG page we read | Managed like the first visit, with care tailored to you |
Common questions
How long does a CTG take for reduced movements?
The RCOG's 2026 guideline says a CTG should run initially for at least 20 minutes, and ACOG says a nonstress test usually takes at least 20 minutes, longer if the baby seems asleep. Tommy's says you should not be sent home until the movements are reassuring to you and the tests show you and your baby are well at that time.
What if my baby does not move during the nonstress test?
The test records the baby's heart rate. ACOG says a nonreactive result, too few heart rate rises in 40 minutes, can happen when the baby is asleep, so the test may run for 40 more minutes or a sound may be used to prompt movement. It says a nonreactive result can also mean the baby is not getting enough oxygen, and a biophysical profile may follow.
My CTG was normal but movements still feel reduced. What now?
Say so before you leave. After 28 weeks the RCOG offers a scan when reduced movement continues despite a normal CTG, unless you had one in the past 2 weeks, and Tommy's says you should not be sent home until the movements are reassuring to you. If movements reduce again later, contact the unit again.
Will I be wasting their time if everything is fine?
No. NSW Health tells staff to reassure women that they did the right thing and are not a nuisance, even when the checks are normal, and Tommy's says to contact the unit every time movements are reduced, even if everything was fine last time.
Should I eat or drink something first to get my baby moving?
No. NSW Health's pathway says coming in should not be delayed by trying to stimulate the baby with food or drink, and the NHS says to call immediately. The guide on trying to make a baby move sets out what each source says.
Can I check the heartbeat at home instead?
No. The NHS says not to use a home Doppler, and Kaiser Permanente says to contact your care team about reduced movement even if a home Doppler finds a heartbeat. Tommy's says that even if you hear a heartbeat, this does not mean your baby is well.
Will they induce labour?
Not because of one episode with normal checks. The RCOG's 2026 guideline says that where the checks show no sign of a problem there is no reason to bring the birth forward, and that any decision to do so is made individually with you.
Sources
These are the sources behind the statements on this page. We opened each one and checked it on the date shown.
- Whitworth M, Fisher M, Heazell A, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Reduced Fetal Movements, Green-top Guideline No. 57, second edition. BJOG 2026;133(8):e70-e92, first published 27 April 2026 (section 8.2)
The RCOG's 2026 guideline says that when a woman reports reduced movements, a clinician should first listen for the baby's heartbeat with a handheld Doppler to exclude fetal death.
Limits: Graded C. It says the clinician must compare the baby's heart rate with the mother's pulse to tell them apart, and that a woman advised by phone or video, without this check, should be told to attend her maternity unit. The examination also includes measuring the bump, blood pressure and a urine test.
Checked . Read directly from the source.
- Whitworth M, Fisher M, Heazell A, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Reduced Fetal Movements, Green-top Guideline No. 57, second edition. BJOG 2026;133(8):e70-e92, first published 27 April 2026 (sections 8.3 and key recommendations)
The RCOG's 2026 guideline says that from 26+0 weeks, once the heartbeat is confirmed, a woman with reduced movements should have a computerised CTG, initially for at least 20 minutes.
Limits: Graded B. A CTG records the baby's heart rate, which the guideline says rises with 92% to 97% of the large movements a mother feels. In one cohort it cites, 95% of 524 women had a normal CTG at presentation or after an initially non-reassuring one.
Checked . Read directly from the source.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Special Tests for Monitoring Fetal Well-Being (FAQ), published May 2019, last reviewed January 2026
ACOG says a nonstress test measures the baby's heart rate in response to its movement, usually takes at least 20 minutes, and is reactive with two or more rises in 20 minutes.
Limits: It lists decreased fetal movement among the reasons for testing. A nonreactive result means too few heart-rate rises in 40 minutes, which can happen when the baby is asleep and can also mean the baby is not getting enough oxygen; the test may then go on for 40 more minutes, or sound may be used to prompt the baby to move. A biophysical profile, scored out of 10, may follow a non-reassuring result. Read in a browser, because the page refuses scripts.
Checked . Read directly from the source.
- Whitworth M, Fisher M, Heazell A, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Reduced Fetal Movements, Green-top Guideline No. 57, second edition. BJOG 2026;133(8):e70-e92, first published 27 April 2026 (section 8.4)
The RCOG's 2026 guideline says that, unless a scan was done in the past 2 weeks, a scan should be among the first checks after 28+0 weeks if reduced movement persists despite a normal CTG or there are risk factors.
Limits: Graded B. The recommendation adds the condition that no scan was done in the previous 2 weeks. The scan measures the baby's size, the fluid around the baby and umbilical artery blood flow. A scan for every woman with reduced movements is not recommended, the guideline says, citing the AFFIRM trial.
Checked . Read directly from the source.
- NSW Health, Care Pathway for Women Concerned About Fetal Movements (GL2021_019), 7 December 2021, adapting the PSANZ clinical practice guideline (2019)
NSW Health's care pathway says women concerned about movements should be invited in for immediate assessment, and told they are not a nuisance or burden even if checks are normal.
Limits: It says coming in should not be delayed by trying to stimulate the baby with food or drink, or by asking women to phone back after concentrating on movements; that a scan should be considered for all women who have not had one in the past two weeks; and that a second or later presentation is managed like the first. It also says no further investigations are required after a normal first presentation with no risk factors and no ongoing concern. The UK RCOG offers a scan to some women only.
Checked . Read directly from the source.
- Whitworth M, Fisher M, Heazell A, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Reduced Fetal Movements, Green-top Guideline No. 57, second edition. BJOG 2026;133(8):e70-e92, first published 27 April 2026 (section 8.5)
The RCOG's 2026 guideline says there is insufficient evidence to recommend a biophysical profile for every woman with reduced fetal movements.
Limits: Graded B. It notes uncontrolled studies in which fetal death was rare after a normal biophysical profile in high-risk pregnancies.
Checked . Read directly from the source.
- Whitworth M, Fisher M, Heazell A, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Reduced Fetal Movements, Green-top Guideline No. 57, second edition. BJOG 2026;133(8):e70-e92, first published 27 April 2026 (section 14)
The RCOG's 2026 guideline says that before 28 weeks a woman reporting reduced movements should have the baby's heartbeat checked, and an anomaly scan if no movement has been felt by 24 weeks.
Limits: Good practice points, based on clinical experience because there are no studies. From 24 weeks it also asks for a history of risk factors for stillbirth and early growth restriction. CTG is recommended from 26+0 weeks.
Checked . Read directly from the source.
- Whitworth M, Fisher M, Heazell A, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Reduced Fetal Movements, Green-top Guideline No. 57, second edition. BJOG 2026;133(8):e70-e92, first published 27 April 2026 (sections 10 and 11)
The RCOG's 2026 guideline says a woman with one episode of reduced movements and normal checks is unlikely to have a poor outcome, and should contact her unit again if it happens again.
Limits: Graded B. Section 10 also says there are no data to support kick charts after normal checks (grade C). Section 11 says that where checks show no sign of compromise there is no indication to bring the birth forward (grade A), that any decision to bring the birth forward is made individually with the woman, and that after 39 weeks doing so does not appear to be associated with increased risk.
Checked . Read directly from the source.
- Whitworth M, Fisher M, Heazell A, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Reduced Fetal Movements, Green-top Guideline No. 57, second edition. BJOG 2026;133(8):e70-e92, first published 27 April 2026 (section 12)
The RCOG's 2026 guideline says a woman who reports reduced movements more than once should have her case reviewed and an ultrasound scan, because her risk of a poor outcome is higher.
Limits: Graded C and B. In the studies it cites, stillbirth occurred in 1.4% of women who presented two or more times after 28 weeks, against 0.6% of women with one episode. There is no universal definition of recurrent; one UK region uses two or more episodes within 21 days after 26 weeks.
Checked . Read directly from the source.
- Whitworth M, Fisher M, Heazell A, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Reduced Fetal Movements, Green-top Guideline No. 57, second edition. BJOG 2026;133(8):e70-e92, first published 27 April 2026 (section 5)
In a study of 244 women whose babies were stillborn, cited by the RCOG's 2026 guideline, some read warning signs as normal because they had heard movements decrease late in pregnancy.
Limits: Evidence level 2-. The guideline reports that most of these women felt decreased, weaker or no movements in the 2 days before the death was diagnosed. Other studies it cites give reasons for delay, including false reassurance from family members or friends, fear of intervention and fear of not being taken seriously by healthcare staff. We read the guideline's account, not the studies.
Checked . Reported by a named secondary source.
- Tommy's, Baby movements in pregnancy, last reviewed 30 January 2026
Tommy's says that over 26 weeks the maternity unit will check the heartbeat, measure the bump, check blood pressure and urine, and monitor the baby's heart rate and movements with a CTG.
Limits: It says you should not be sent home until the movements are reassuring to you and tests show you and your baby are well at that time, and to contact the unit again every time movements are reduced, even if everything was fine last time.
Checked . Read directly from the source.
- NHS, Your baby's movements, page last reviewed 8 July 2024
The NHS says to call your midwife or maternity unit immediately if your baby moves less than usual, you cannot feel movement, or the usual pattern changes, and not to wait until the next day.
Limits: NHS advice is written for the UK. Advice elsewhere differs, and your own midwife or doctor comes first.
Checked . Read directly from the source.
- NHS, Your baby's movements, page last reviewed 8 July 2024
The NHS says not to use a home Doppler (a heartbeat listening kit) to try to check your baby's heartbeat yourself.
Limits: NHS advice is written for the UK. Advice elsewhere differs, and your own midwife or doctor comes first.
Checked . Read directly from the source.
- Kaiser Permanente, Tracking your baby's movement by counting kicks, 6 July 2022
Kaiser Permanente says to count every kick, twist or turn but not hiccups, and to call your care team if activity suddenly drops, even if a home Doppler finds a heartbeat.
Limits: Its method times how long 10 movements take at about the same time each day. Read in a browser.
Checked . Read directly from the source.
- Tommy's, Baby movements in pregnancy, last reviewed 30 January 2026
Tommy's says you should not try to make your baby move, and to contact your midwife or maternity unit immediately if you think your baby is moving less or movements are weaker.
Limits: UK charity advice. The same page says not to use hand-held monitors, stethoscopes, Dopplers or phone apps to check your baby's heartbeat, because even if you hear a heartbeat this does not mean your baby is well.
Checked . Read directly from the source.
- Whitworth M, Fisher M, Heazell A, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Reduced Fetal Movements, Green-top Guideline No. 57, second edition. BJOG 2026;133(8):e70-e92, first published 27 April 2026 (section 8.1)
The RCOG's 2026 guideline says staff should ask about stillbirth risk factors, how long movements have been reduced and whether they stopped.
Limits: Graded C. Its table of risk factors includes smoking, a previous small baby or stillbirth, diabetes, high blood pressure and repeat presentations.
Checked . Read directly from the source.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Special Tests for Monitoring Fetal Well-Being (FAQ), published May 2019, last reviewed January 2026
ACOG says a nonreactive nonstress test, too few heart rate rises in 40 minutes, can mean several things, including that the baby is asleep or is not getting enough oxygen.
Limits: It says the test may then go on for 40 more minutes or sound may be used to prompt the baby to move, and that a biophysical profile, scored out of 10, may be done when other results are non-reassuring.
Checked . Read directly from the source.
- NSW Health, Care Pathway for Women Concerned About Fetal Movements (GL2021_019), 7 December 2021, adapting the PSANZ clinical practice guideline (2019)
NSW Health's pathway says coming in about reduced movements should not be delayed by trying to stimulate the baby with food or drink, or by being asked to phone back later.
Limits: The full wording is: or by requesting women to phone back after a period of concentrating on fetal movements.
Checked . Read directly from the source.
- Tommy's, Baby movements in pregnancy, last reviewed 30 January 2026
Tommy's says you should not be sent home after reduced movements until the movements are reassuring to you and tests show you and your baby are well at that time.
Limits: It also says to ask for the checks if you do not get them, and to contact the unit every time movements are reduced, even if everything was fine last time.
Checked . Read directly from the source.