38 Weeks - Is this normal? Help!

[handers]

Hi, I've been reading these boards for most of my pregnancy, and never had to post a question myself (as the answers are always here). However I can't find anything for the following and was hoping someone could help me with it:
MOVEMENT:
I'm currently 38 weeks and have a baby that moves a LOT. I would say that I have hour-long movement 'sessions', at least 4 times a day. I've not come across anyone else who comes close to this. Is it normal?
TWINGES:
I have been having twinges/braxton hicks pretty regularly for the past few weeks. The 'twinges' can be quite painful at times and are becoming increasingly regular. Is this normal.
ENGAGEMENT:
I woke up this mornign and could breath again. Whilst the baby still appears to be 'ridin high' I suspect that maybe it has dropped a little. Is engagement a gradual thing or something htat happens pretty quickly.
Any help would be MUCH appreciated!

I think this all sounds pretty normal. Why don't you post on the December ante-natal thread where most of us are around the same week? You'll have immediate access to a whole group of women fretting about imminent birth

Hiya - sounds all normal. Baby is big now, and not alot of room, so all movement is pretty intense. My DS didnt engage till very late... I think maybe only days before birth, and either his head or his bottom was constantly in my ribs. Braxtons hicks usually increase in frequency and intensity over the term... its all perfectly normal, your body is getting ready

As everyone says, all sounds about right, with my youngest, she moved so much at about this time, it was painful! I thought that she must have been ready, but as Mother said, she's just finding her way to get into position, movement tails off once they are ready and she was right! Strangely this was my third and I couldn't really remember it with the other two...don't worry!

I'm sure it's normal. Remember an active baby is a healthy baby.

I thought my first (ds) moved alot but ohh my god, I hadn't experienced anything untill dd. She just didn't stop. It was so painful some evenings that i was crying. She would wriggle and squirm all the time. I never thought my belly could be pushed into the shapes she made it. It was the weirdest thing, honestly. I will never forget it. I am now pg with no.3 and desperatly hoping this one wont move as much. Oh and by the way dd never stopped or slowed down for birth she was still squirming throughout labour. Actually she is 15 mths now and doesn't sit still for a second. So watch out for an energetic baby. However this doesn't mean it will not be content, dd will amuse herself for ages and from about 6 weeks has been very very content.

movemnet..normal, occasioanly,when labour imminent, babty will not move as much..but does continue to move. A moving active baby is a happy baby on the whole!

twinges..also normal...your uterus is practicing for labour

engagement - bump does drop - the 'lightening' and the top of the uterus is lower than previous weeks....and LO can be partially engaged for a little while...second babies often don;t engage until labour starts!

all absolutely fine and normal! IMO!!

relax xx