Lower heart rate as pregnancy progresses?

[Stayseeliz]

I'm 22w5d and went to the dr today. Not the normal dr or nurse I see (several dr's in the practice I go to) and the nurse had hard time finding the heartbeat. I told her my placenta was anterior and she was going to have to look around for it. She finally went low and picked it up and said it was around 140. The baby's hr has always been 160+. Is the lower hr anything to worry about? She didn't mention it but she doesn't know me or know the baby's hr is usually higher. I'd love some input. Thanks!

[~Adorkable~]

yes it slowes down as they get bigger, the larger the heart the less beets it need to get things flowing. totalllllly normal

[crazyms]

Yep totally normal. DS was around 160 early in the pregnancy and later ran around 140. DD's stayed around 160s the whole time and this new baby was around 140. Last visit only came in at 128. It's normal for the heartrate to lower farther along in the pregnancy. Ask your doctor at your next visit for reassurance but until then I wouldn't worry.

[Aliy]

baby could have been resting... totally normal for the heart rate to change around

[allisonrose]

My baby's heartrate tends to start around 140 and then accelerates to around 160 during my prenatals. So the nurse might have only picked up on a resting heartrate. And PP are right that the heartrate does slow over pregnancy as baby grows. It's likely one or the other rather than any kind of problem.

[Stayseeliz]

Thanks for the reassurance. My placenta is anterior this time and I just don't feel as much movement so the little things freak me out this time. Glad to know this is normal!

[JFTB1177]

Originally Posted by crazyms 

Yep totally normal. DS was around 160 early in the pregnancy and later ran around 140. DD's stayed around 160s the whole time and this new baby was around 140. Last visit only came in at 128. It's normal for the heartrate to lower farther along in the pregnancy. Ask your doctor at your next visit for reassurance but until then I wouldn't worry.

 This is good to know! I just used my doppler last night since my baby has been unusually inactive (I am almost 36 weeks). The hb has been in the 140s recently but last night it was around 127, sometimes dipping to 122 and sometimes going up to 134. I was pretty worried as none of my kids ever had heartrates this low! S/he is very active right now as I type so that makes me feel better but glad someone started this thread! :)