Did you start to feel your baby LESS after turning head down?

[Anonymous]

I am almost 35 weeks and DS turned around 30-31 weeks. Since then, I have felt him less than I did before he turned (he was in a side-lying position). Has anyone else had the same experience? My doctor wasn't particularly concerned at my last appt (heartbeat was steady around 140, which is where it has been), and my next appt isn't until next week, but I am still concerned. I sometimes find myself shaking my belly just to make him move! When he first turned, I could feel feet jabbing at my ribs, but now there is mostly what I will describe as wiggling if anything. I know that they slow down near the end of pregnancy, but this seems a little early for that. As a first-time mom, I need any reassurance I can get! Thanks!

[Anonymous]

It's a good sign, actually. It means that db is likely head down and facing your back, so db's legs and arms are moving against the internal side of your uterus, rather than the external side. If db were head down and kicking against the external uterine wall, db would be facing the wrong way and you might end up with back labor (no fun). It gets tight in there too in the last month.

Try this for fun, when you feel db arch against your stomach, scratch db's back along the spine. Sometimes db will arch up against your hand like a cat does when you do the same thing. Very cool sense of direct interaction with your db in utero.

[Anonymous]

Just to second what the PP said: the farther along you get, the less room the baby has to wiggle. I find my baby likes wiggle from the right to the left side, but has remained head down (as far as I know), and I am now 34 weeks. Sometimes it will have it's back on one side with its feet curved around to the other, still head down...so the feeling changes. All to say, you are more likely to feeling "shifting" and moving versus "kicking" the farther along you are....at least in my experience. (although I still get some nice jabs...oh, and elbows, toO!).

[Anonymous]

I am 35 weeks and the baby has been head-down, with her back against my tummy, for a couple of weeks. I still get lots of movement when she's awake, but more like jabs and kicks. I am expecting it to taper off somewhat now that I'm getting close (and she is getting bigger), as the PPs have mentioned.

As long as you are feeling SOME movement every day, I wouldn't worry if I were you. So much variability in terms of each baby's activity, space in uterus, etc. Good luck!