I started researching fetal movements in 2016 with a PhD focused on understanding what happened when women came into hospital with concerns about their babies’ movements. From the hours I spent watching care and interviewing women, midwives and doctors, I learnt that this was a really challenging area of maternity practice. Everyone I spoke to felt great pressure to ‘get it right’ and keep babies safe. But without clear information about what ‘normal’ movements should feel like, many women were struggling to make sense of their baby’s movements based on the information they received.  

Over the last 10 years, raising awareness of reduced movements in pregnancy has stayed an important part of work to reduce stillbirth in the UK. But it is not clear if the information and advice shared has helped make pregnancies safer.  

Some research has linked raising awareness of movements to increased anxiety in pregnancy and higher rates of monitoring and medical intervention, including where babies are well. Bereaved and non-bereaved parents have described wanting more detailed information about babies’ movements so that they can be more confident judging when the movements they feel are reassuring and when they should seek help.  

Learning more and pushing for change 

In 2024, with funding from Teddy’s Wish, Sands and Dr Tomasina Stacey from King’s College London launched a horizon scanning project focused on Improving information and guidance about fetal movements. We wanted to bring together key voices to drive the conversation forward and push for change - so that healthcare staff could provide all families with detailed, accurate, and accessible information and advice about babies’ movements in pregnancy.  

During this work, we reviewed the evidence and gained new insights by talking to bereaved and non-bereaved parents, professionals who work in research, policy, reviews and investigations, and charities. In April 2025, we published a Learning and Impact report sharing how we approached this work, what we learnt, and recommendations for next steps. 

Overall, there was wide agreement that UK families need clearer, consistent and more detailed information about babies’ movements in pregnancy. As one bereaved mother explained: 

If they had just given more information about what to look out for… what the differences are between the types of movement… Because how can we as first-time mums know what to expect, how these different movements are, what time of the day, or how much gap there should be between the movements . 

- Mother to a baby who died at 37 weeks 

Some bereaved parents told us they needed help understanding why their baby’s movements were so important. Describing a leaflet she had received in pregnancy, this mother told us: 

It just says that reduced fetal movements is a sign that the baby is ‘unwell’. My baby wasn’t ‘unwell’, she was growth restricted at the end of pregnancy as the placenta wasn’t working so well. ‘Unwell’ isn’t the same as having a reduced blood/oxygen supply. 

- Mother to a baby who died at 41 weeks 

Whilst I was in my second day of labour, with my first and only daughter, I don’t remember what time but my daughter started moving less than usual and her movements became faint but like she was still hanging on. I remember speaking on the phone to midwife about it, she said if I feel that my baby is moving less I should come in that’s all. She was adamant but never explained why she was adamant. But once I got off the phone to her, my daughter was moving fine so I proceeded, doing my best with the unbearable contractions. There were many times where I spoke to my midwife. But what she didn’t do in the most vulnerable and crucial time of our life, is tell me why I needed to come in, what reduced fetal movements mean, why it happens, and if they start and stop and start again doesn’t mean the baby is ok. Our life could have been so  different if they had told me the truth. 

Suehelen feels that conversations about risks are sometimes avoided because healthcare professionals do not want to scare women. But without this information, she explains, parents cannot play their part in keeping their baby safe. She asks midwives and doctors to give mothers like her all the information they need to know when to get help:  

At my first booking appointment, you ask everything of me. So, I ask that you give me everything of pregnancy, of labour, of delivery, and of the risks that can come with it. Teach me how to protect myself and my child. You say it may scare me, but what I need is guidance, I need information. Because without it, I am walking into this with no shield. Please give me the tools so I know how to use them when a problem arises. 

Suehelen is really pleased to see that Tommy’s new resources include the clear message that a small number of babies who move less are stillborn. But she reminds us that how these conversations are approached - honestly and with empathy - is as important as the information shared: 

I’d never heard of a stillbirth before. The midwife could have explained, ‘This is what a stillbirth is. A stillbirth is when the baby passes away after 24 weeks’… Just caring and being honest, telling the truth. I don't think that's scary. 

Finally, she wants everyone to understand that, while the updated resources are a great development, ‘valuable life-saving information cannot just be hidden in a leaflet’: 

It needs to be shown and explained at all times... You just don’t know who you will be saving from a lifetime of empty dreams, memories and so much more. My daughter deserved more and so did many other babies, and the ones to come, let’s give them a chance to live.