does activity level in utero indicate later temperment?

[sunbaby]

this baby is so much more active than dd ever was, giving super strong kicks that we can already feel from the outside, and i am only 19 weeks. also, the moment i sit, he is flipping all around in there. now, dd is a pretty active kid, but she was definately not as active in my belly as this guy. so i am feeling slightly nervous, am i in for a roller coaster when this babe is born? is he going to be a wild animal or what?

[Annabel]

In my experience this is true. My son kicked nonstop, I remeber getting into a panic once because I hadn't felt him move for an hour. He's a very active kid, always in to everything and never stops.
My daughter didn't kick much, she stretched out occasionally but was pretty quiet. Now she's not even two weeks old yet but she sleeps most of the time and when she's awake she is very calm and relaxed. So for me, what they were like in utero is what they are like now.

[zionsmom]

OMG I hope not!!! This will be one wild child!

[Village Mama]

This has been true for me as well. My first son was very active. My second son barely moved at all in there. Thier personalities match

[Moon Faerie]

PLEASE someone, anyone, tell me this wasn't true for them. My son was pretty active in utero, and he's non-stop, into everything now. This baby is WAY more active in utero though. If this baby is more active than him after birth, I can't even begin to think about how I'd deal with 2 so young and active.

[TiredX2]

Voice of disent here :D

DD was amazingly active. She was my first and I could definately feel her before 18 weeks (and I was *not* thin). At our u/s at 18.5 weeks the tech was AMAZED at the activity level. I had not known for sure I could feel her before then, but he was like, "Whoa, you've gotta be feeling that--- and I was and had been for quite some time."

DD is not *that* pysically active. BUT, she was definately a high needs baby and could be (and has been) described as intense.

DS was also an active baby, but not to the extent that DD was. He is higher energy but was definately a more mellow baby (though he has a very strong streak of perfectionism that is becoming more obvious as he ages).

They were both, though, very focused (abnormally so). I get several comments each week when DS & I are waiting for DDs classes to get over (about his attention span, concentration, etc...).

Actually, they are both on the intense side, but they have a fairly steady level of activity versus the random spurts you see with many children. Additionally, they both gave up napping on the earliesh side (DD started fighting her last nap around 12-13 months, DS was totally done with naps at 2).

[Cutie Patootie]

I was on bed rest for over 6 months with ds, and I think he was a fairly average mover...but because I was on bed rest for so long and hardly moved, when he was born and even still, he did not like anything that baby's usually like. Like bouncing, etc. He hated the swing, the exersaucer, the car, and everything that moved too much. So I think it matters what happens out of utero too. :LOL He is still very much a quiet little guy at 16 months. :)

[Luvbnmama2alex]

This was my experience, also. The first time I felt my unborn dd it was a good kick at 16 wks. I was always very aware of where her feet were after that. :) She was a very high need infant because she was so alert and active and bored easily. She enjoyed bright colors and a lot of movement in her environment and wasn't interested in sleeping which wasn't what I expected in an infant. It took me awhile to figure out her temperament, but once I did, it helped make our days better. Now, she is a very spirited toddler who rarely stops moving and still hates to sleep. I get tired just watching her.

I'm really hoping to have a less active one this time because I don't know how I will handle two who never stop moving. So far, this one seems active, though. I first felt it at 12 wks, 2 days and now at 15 wks, 2 days, I feel it fluttering around in there frequently throughout the day. At least, it hasn't kicked me yet. ;)

Cynthia - mama to Alex, 34 months and due with #2 May 24th

[carlasher]

I hope this baby wears itself out! :LOL

I dont have 24/7 kicking, stretching, turning, but when it happens it is pretty strong. A few times, I have almost lost control of my bladder from one kick. It used only happen at night, but I guess Baby is learning to sleep at night now!

[weebitty2]

Voice of disent here :D


Here too, lol. DS was so inactive in utero sometimes I wondered if i'd just grown an extra few feet of intestine to take up all that belly space. Now? Oi. He's off the walls 90% of the time ..the other 10% he's eating, in the bathroom, or recharging (read as : asleep.)

DD was so active I thought she'd come clawing out my belly button (or throat even, once or twice) - that gal NEVER stopped wiggling, hiccuping, kicking, punching, stretching - you name it. Now? LOL. At 15 months she still takes 2 2-hour naps a day, is perfectly content to sit with a ball of yarn and unwind/re-wind it for hours, and loves to cuddle.

[woo27ks]

My ds hardly moved at all, but did the army man crawl at 4 months. He is never still. I always said he was resting up in my belly.

My dd moved a lot. It seemed anytime I wanted to take a nap or go to bed for the night she did acrobatics. She is a deviler now...likes to tease and have a good time. But still compared to her very active brother.

[happymamajenni]

I have been wondering about this subject, so I am so glad to see it on here.

My dd was calm when I was carrying her, but she is a little tornado now, and needs to keep busy at all times and runs everywhere she goes.

My ds inside me now moves, kicks, punches, dances, etc.... all the time, that I am sure I am in for a treat when he's born. At least I shouldn't have a hard time getting the baby weight off, eh? I think if the doctor asked me to start doing kick counts now, I'd probably not even worry about it. I know he's alive and thriving and attacking my bladder almost all of my waking moments.
Yesterday, my dad saw my belly jump from across the room. He said "Did you just jump?" I said "Nope, that was all baby!"

[orangebird]

Both of mine were exactly the same in utero as they are now and were as babies. It is hard to explain exactly but it was like once they came out they just kept doing what they did. DS1 was mellow inside, he moved about but it was fairly mellow, he was a mellow baby and continues to be a mellow almost 12 year old. DS2 was always pushing, kicking and stretching. and to this day my almost 3 year old is pushing, kicking, and stretching me in every way. When DS1 was born and I heard his voice he made me feel calm, to this day he makes me feel calm (except his pre-teen hormone stuff) and when DS2 came out he was quiet for a few minutes and then let out a blood curling scream, I looked at the midwives panicked and then looked at DH and said "oh shit!" all I was thinking is what am I going to do with this one? He is still my little monster. I love him terrribly but he is a handfull.

[momto l&a]

All three of been constant wiglers while I carried them. With my last baby my widwife would chart for postion "all over the place." in fact she would be usually be breech the first time she check postion and then a little later in some other postion. Whats really amazing is I am very small and have 7-8 lb babies and you wouldnt think they couldnt move at all.

Anyway my oldest (almost 5) and middle (2 1/2) are very lively girls, they are on the go from the time they get up to bedtime, no naps. The baby is very mellow and laid back so far while have to see what happens when she starts crawling and walking.

I love having live wires for kids, they are so fun. We go and visit some other kids and I have to wonder whats wrong with them, whay arent they moving? I am just use to crazy kids, I think it normal :LOL

Edited to add that dh reminded me a year ago that I said I wanted lively kids long before we had any. Be careful what you wish for :LOL

[mamabeca]

Well, I too had an active pregnancy #1, and now have an active 6yr. old. I do think there is something to knowing their personality - which is set in genetic stone from conception. there probably is some affecting it, but the lady who was on bedrest and now has a very quiet boy probably would have had a quiet kid, even without the bed rest - it was just enhanced with all that quiet time. Probably... anyway, get to know your babe. If they surprise you, that's ok, but expect the 'worst' and you'll be prepared for whatever may come. And rest assured, I have a friend with three boys (a 5th grader, one set of 1st grade twins) and a little girl (almost 2) and she manages to make it through each day. You will too. These are your children and you will be fine! :love

[darsmama]

In my experiance, Darlene was active. and she's pretty active now.

My friend Nancy though had two daughters: The first never moved, she's a 26 year old can never sit down type of gal and has been all her life. The other, kicked the hell out of her...As a kid she would go and hide behind the couch to take naps. She still needs her naps at 24 years old.

So, yeah Voice of dissent here too lol

[bwylde]

When I was pregnant with DS, I never got a moments peace once he started kicking. He just moved constantly and he was born a high needs, intense child who never sleeps or stops moving. With DD, she was so still I spent half the pregnancy convinced something was wrong; I cherished every slight flutter I felt with her and she is so quiet and content and sleeps really well. I constantly marvel at how different they are but it started before they were even born.

[musingmama]

well, my ds was extremely active in my belly, always somersaulting and kicking, etc... and he is very very active, always on the go - always!!! He is nonstop. My Mom is always amazed at how he keeps going and going and going, all on one nap a day! So, in my experience - yes- the new baby will be a mover and shaker! ;) keeps things exciting!
my ds loved to do flips when I laughed, so i knew thqat he would like to laugh with me and make me laugh- which also turned out to be true!

[sunbaby]

thanks for all the interesting replys. i guess i'll only know for sure when he comes out. :)

mamabeca, i dont know how to use the quotey, but your words just warmed my heart: '...and she manages to make it through each day. you will too. these are your children and you will be fine.' i keep reading that over and over; it feels nice. are you a rebecca? i have a good history with rebeccas :love .