No. It's a common belief that babies move less near the end of pregnancy, or once they run out of room, but it isn't true. Your baby should keep moving right up to and during labour.
What the guidance says
It is not true that babies move less towards the end of pregnancy (Tommy's). You should continue to feel your baby move right up to the time you go into labour, and your baby should move during labour too (RCOG, Tommy's).
RCOG's guideline for health professionals says the same: there is no reduction in how often babies move in the late third trimester. Movements build until about 32 weeks, then stay roughly the same until labour starts (Tommy's, RCOG).
Your baby doesn't run out of room
Tommy's Movements Matter campaign names the idea that babies move less in the third trimester because of a lack of space as a myth. Kicks Count, a UK charity, explains that the womb is not a fixed size: it grows with your baby.
What does change
The type of movement may change as your due date gets nearer (RCOG). NHS Healthier Together describes it as fewer strong kicks and more gentle rolls, while how often your baby moves should stay about the same.
So a change in how movements feel can be expected. A drop in how often you feel them is not. What counts as a kick covers how to count rolls and pushes.
Why this myth matters
Tommy's says that in around half of stillbirths, the mother noticed her baby's movements had reduced. Reduced movements don't cause stillbirth, but they can be one of the signs that something is wrong. Believing that babies slow down at the end can make someone wait when they shouldn't.
If your baby is moving less than usual, or the pattern has changed, at any stage, contact your midwife, doctor or maternity unit now. Do not wait until tomorrow, and do not use an app to decide. What to do.
What happens when you call
From 28 weeks, RCOG says you'll be asked about your baby's movements and have a check-up that includes your baby's heartbeat, usually with their heart rate monitored for at least 20 minutes. An ultrasound scan may be arranged. Kicks Count adds that you should not be sent home until your baby's movements feel reassuring to you and any tests show you and your baby are well.
If it happens again, call again, every time (RCOG). If you think you might be in labour, Bump Pulse has a guide to when to go to the hospital, but reduced movements are a reason to call on their own.