Pregnancy and reduced fetal movements

Contacts about pregnancy may need rapid referral to maternity services, urgent clinical assessment or emergency help. Reception staff must not assume symptoms are normal for pregnancy or safe to wait for a routine GP appointment.

Reports of reduced fetal movements are particularly important. If a pregnant person says the baby has not moved, movements are reduced, or movements feel different, follow the local maternity or urgent pathway rather than treating it as a routine request.

Listen or look for

• Reduced, absent or changed fetal movements.
• Heavy bleeding, leaking fluid or severe abdominal pain.
• Severe headache, visual disturbance, sudden swelling or feeling very unwell.
• Collapse, fainting, chest pain or breathlessness.
• Severe vomiting, dehydration or inability to keep fluids down.
• The pregnant person saying something is seriously wrong.

Use the right route

Many pregnancy concerns go to specific local services: maternity triage, midwife advice, early pregnancy units or emergency care. Reception staff should know the local routes and how to act if the patient is unsure who to contact.

Do not reassure someone that reduced movements are probably normal, or advise them to wait for the next routine appointment. Follow the approved local pathway for escalation.

Maternity pathways

Pregnancy warning words should be routed to the appropriate urgent or maternity pathway, not treated as routine reassurance requests.