24 weeks pregnant - baby’s heart rate fluctuating?

[dreamerkr]

So there’s something new everyday! I went in last night for reduced movements, and ofc as soon as I went into triage, baby started moving like crazy again. The midwife at the hospital checked the heartbeat with a Doppler and seemed happy with it but I got worried because baby’s heart rate seemed to be fluctuating quite a bit? I asked her and she told me it was between 135-155 bpm and that baby was moving around a lot. Is it normal for the heart rate to be fluctuating so much in just a couple of minutes?

Also, it was crazy hot here in Birmingham yesterday. Could that have had an effect on baby’s heart rate? My pulse rate was a bit high too, the highest it reached was 114 (I know 😩) and it was fluctuating too, probably because of how hot it was. It calmed down a while later though. Could this have had an effect?

Obviously I'm not a medical expert but in my experience this is normal. Honestly though, trust the midwife. She'll know more than some random on MN

The baby’s heart rate will go higher when they move or kick and then will settle back again :)

Thanks guys :) it’s the first time I’ve ever gotten so far in a pregnancy so every tiny little thing worries me so much.

Not just normal but it’s reassuring, a fluctuating heart beat (variability) is a good sign. One that doesn’t change would be a cause for concern.