Baby movement question

[ChristieB]

This is my second baby, but there's so much I don't remember from last time. I remember that he was very active, but I don't remember where the movements were or when he started getting really active.

My question is this. Is it normal at 22 wks. for the baby to be active much of the time, and to be active in various places in my belly? I've been feeling the baby since about 12 wks., much earlier than last time (17 wks.), but I understand that it's normal to feel movements earlier the second time around. I'm feeling movement down low, up high, and sometimes both at the same time. It's been that way most of the time I've been feeling movement. It's never been just down low, like some women have described. My midwife was surprised that I was feeling movement near my belly button as early as 14 wks. I think it may be that sitting pushed things higher in my abdomen.

I'd appreciate if others would share their experiences.

Thanks,
Christie

[lizabird]

I thought that baby movements varied a lot between my 2 pregnancies. In the first, after I got the hang of things I thought I pretty much always knew where the baby was, but in the second, even all the way to the end, I never felt like I really knew how the baby was positioned because the movements I felt were so spread out. Also my first was really active in utero and the second was much more mellow.

[Llyra]

I don't want to alarm you :loveeyes: but have you considered the possiblity of twins? Because what you're describing sounds a lot like what I'm feeling this time around....

[rmzbm]

Sounds normal to me!

[ChristieB]

Yes, I've considered twins, which is why I posted this.

But it also seems pretty unlikely. So far I've gained less weight than I did with ds (then again, I gained 60 lbs. last time!).

And I've been measuring right on for how far along I am, until last time -- 24.5 cm at 21 wks. -- but that happened with ds about this time in the pg. She really startled me at first. She said "well, you're measuring 30 cm, which is just right, since you're 29 wks." Shocked, I reminded her that I was only 21 wks. She measured again, and she got 24.5 cm. Whew!

Plus, until recently, it's been hard to find the heartbeat. I would think that if there were 2 in there, it would be easier to find at least one heartbeat. The finding of the heartbeat is made more challenging by the fact that the placenta is anterior this time (on the left side, though, not all across the front). She hears the placenta just fine, and she hears the cord a lot of the time, too.

On the other hand, I've been having a really hard time keeping my blood pressure up this time around. I'm having to drink like a fish just to keep myself from feeling like I'm going to pass out. It occured to me that if there were 2 in there, that would be more difficult, since I assume the blood volume may be tripling instead of doubling (scary, scary thought!).

Anyway, I asked because I wondering if the movement is normal for one or if it was pretty indicative of two. I guess I'll just have to wait and see. And until anything else seems off, I'll just assume that there's only 1 in there.

Christie