New Delhi, Sept. 13 -- I am in the eighth month of my pregnancy and the baby's movements have decreased considerably over the last week. Is this a cause for concern?

It is indeed a cause for concern. You should visit your doctor at the earliest. She will perform a check up, hear the fetal heart and get an NST done. NST is a simple, non-invasive test that gives a fair idea about the baby's well being. If this is normal you will be sent home and asked to keep a kick count. This entails counting the baby's movements for one hour after every meal. If there are

3-4 movements each time all is well. If the NST is abnormal or inconclusive further surveillance is required. An ultrasound with a BPS (biophysical score) will be done where the baby ...