36+2 - Bump massively reduced in size. Should I be worried or is baby just MORE engaged?

[MollyQueenOfSocks]

So last week I was told baby had engaged. It made sense as my bump was noticably smaller so I took a picture of it to send to DH (The picture with the white dressing gown sleeve).

Woke up this morning and noticed bump was flatter while watching Dbaby move about in there. Put it down to laying back (but upright) at the time. Stood up and walked about expecting bump to pop out but realised when at the sink I could actually reach properly to fill the kettle. Took the second pic (batman shirt) 20 mins ago.

Should I be worried? Has baby just engaged more? I would usually just call the midwives and ask but ive been up and down to the bloody hospital 6 times in the last two weeks and I am sick of getting told "it's normal" and sent home feeling like a complete timewaster.

No other signs of labour, no waters have leaked, not even a twinge of a braxton hick this morning. Just the usual aches and pains i've been having.

That's quite a big difference, is it exaggerated by the angles of the photos at all? Honestly I would go and insist on being checked- I'd want baby monitored and be asking for a scan.

How do you feel about it? Mums intuition is very strong. Definitely push for care if you feel you need it.

I unfortunately have a friend whose bump shrank like that and she had a still birth-placenta had stopped working and she had lost her waters. I don't say that to scare you but to encourage you to push for intervention if you feel you need it.

@TeddyTonks definitely not the angle (although I get that it can make a huge difference ) I can see my feet when I look down!

I think you are right though, I need to go in and get checked and stop being a fanny worrying about whether or not I am wasting time! The size change has happened overnight so not even a gradual shrinking over a few days - literally was huge yesterday and could hardly move and now I am very small.

Will report back!

Ok good luck! Stand your ground and insist on being monitored/scanned. If you're refused ask for a second opinion. Really at this stage the only thing you should care about is keeping yourself and baby safe, if you piss people off in the process, who cares!

Hope all is well, OP - our maternity team were very clear that no worry is worth sitting on, just ring for advice or come in ASAP.
Hopefully baby had just moved into a weird position - transverse maybe - and if you can feel movement that’s good, but definitely go to be properly checked over.

Good luck op.

How's it going @MollyQueenOfSocks? I hope they've been helpful and reassuring

Hi OP, this exact same thing has happened to me the last couple of days (and has done in previous pregnancies too!).

It’s perfectly normal and is a sign that baby is preparing for birth. I went for a routine growth scan today and they said baby is now so low in my pelvis they couldn’t get any measurements for her head at all. My bump is almost non existent!

The only reason this might be cause of concern is if you suspect your waters might be leaking/ have gone. X

Being sent home and told everything is ok is actually a good thing - you’re not wasting their time though as it’s always better to check out any concern. Sounds like it’s due to baby’s position but definitely check in with the midwives so you know for sure and I guess I’d want them to check amniotic fluid levels are all ok. I remained huge right up to the end despite baby being firmly head down in pelvis for most of my third trimester but I guess it totally depends on your shape and size.

I know this is an old thread but just wondered how everything turned out?