Less movement?

[CDsMom1031]

For those of you that watch the Belly Photo Thread, you saw that my stomach shrunk from week 20 to week 22.

Week 20. ^^^

Week 22. ^^^

Besides the fact that THAT freaked me out really bad, I haven't been feeling my baby much the past couple of days, either. I read that he could have just dropped lower, so it's harder to feel him... ? I also keep getting random sharp pains in my lower abdomen, but they aren't cramps or anything. I'm not sure what they are. I have another appointment/ultrasound next Tuesday, but I don't know if I can wait that long.

Help? Should I be worried?

[MsVyky]

The size of your tummy can change drastically with position. Depending on where your placenta is, his legs might be pushign into that, decreasing your perception of movement.

But of course, if you are worried, call your HCP.

[octanebeetle27]

I'll add that the size of your tummy can differ from morning to evening due to delightful things like gas and recently eating, etc. On the movement, if baby is facing your spine you won't feel the movements as much. Sharp pains in your lower abd: probably round ligament pains. But yeah, if you are worried it wouldn't hurt to call.

[Lula's Mom]

The size of my belly totally depends on the time of day (and whether I'm bloated, have recently eaten etc).  Plus you are a little closer in the top picture.  Your purple star is bigger in that one too, for example, and you can see more booty!

Also I would definitely say there are days when I feel a ton of movement, and other days when the baby seems quieter.  Do you have a fetoscope?  That's one of my favorite ways to connect with and check on the baby.

[Abraisme]

Yup, this is all true.

My belly photos from #2 are in the first post of the Belly Photo thread.   You can see in those pics that my belly would totally change shape and shift around from week to week.   I'm 21 weeks along now and some days I feel the baby move a bunch and other days hardly at all.  They still have plenty of room to roll and shift in there so the position changes a lot.
 

Originally Posted by octanebeetle27 

I'll add that the size of your tummy can differ from morning to evening due to delightful things like gas and recently eating, etc. On the movement, if baby is facing your spine you won't feel the movements as much. Sharp pains in your lower abd: probably round ligament pains. But yeah, if you are worried it wouldn't hurt to call.

[AprilGlynn]

I had the same issue, I didn't feel babe for 2 days and yesterday had alot of discharge in the morning. I freaked out and called into work and seen my midwife and thankfully everything is fine.

[TalkToMeNow]

I don't think I've changed size in a couple of weeks and most people say how small I am when they see me. However, baby is measuring big. So I think our tummys can be decieving.  Also, some days I feel tons of movement, others almost none. I think it depends on his position, how busy I am, etc. I find drinking some OJ and taking 30 mins or so to lie on my left side usually wakes him up and I feel better.

*However* there is nothing wrong with calling. If you are worried, call! It is always better to be safe, IMO. 

[Dov'sMom]

Joining the chorus to say bellies change day by day. I looked more pregnant from 14-16 weeks than from 18-20 -- suddenly flat belly because baby turned head down and was lying vertically instead of horizontally. Also time of day matters a lot. I find my belly protrudes more and more over the course of the day -- on the commute to work I don't look pregnant but on the way home people are always offering me seats! :lol

As for kicking, at 22 weeks the baby is still small enough that if it's facing your spine you'll feel much less movement. If you're lying down and concentrating, you should still feel the recoil from the kicks, but you wouldn't necessarily notice just going about your day.