Anyone know - does/can fetal heart rate drop a little towards end of term, is this normal?

[chocmint]

I am 39 wks pg and the baby's heart rate is usually 140-150 or thereabouts, however twice this week it has registered at 125 & 130.

Is it normal/usual that the HR reduce the nearer it gets to term?

Also, it has moved less this week (although it has been seen on a scan and also felt (palapated??) by two different MWs, so I'm not worried something drastic has happened obviously, it's just with the lowered HR plus less movement means I'm a bit concerned.

What's it doing in there?!

I think I've read something like that about the heart rate. Less movement is normal at the very end I think as there just isn't the room any more for the acrobatics. Seem to recall both hapening with my 2 boys.

I'm sure someone qualified might be able to reassure you about the HR. I bet it is just the calm before the storm so to speak!

Flip, it's posted twice!! First time I did a preview then when I posted it said "You may not post a blank message". So I pressed Post again and it's put it on twice!!!

Thanks, CurlyhairedAssasin. Have heard about the less movement thing before but not the reduced HR.

The MW said it wasn't a problem (I actually pointed out the difference to her!) and said the HR gets lower towards the end as the baby is bigger now, a bit like a mouse's HR is super fast compared to a dog's (or something

I see the logic however TBH if there was an issue, surely the HR is one of the first places for something amiss to show up?

Also, I am paranoid First Time Mum

chocmint, I'm a MW, it's absolutely normal, prem babes have a HR of up to 160bpm reducing to between 110-150bpm at term. Your MW will be able to tell you whether everything's ok from the variability (how much the base HR goes up and down) and accelerations in the HR (when babe's moving). Hope that's reasuring

Ah, thanks, maestromiddy!

I do value what my MW said, however it's not been an entirely straightforward pg with a few little things being overlooked here and there, (eg polyhydramnios) so confidence is not exactly at an all time high you see...