movement, pressure....is it all normal??

[Lorrymac]

Hi all,

me again! it's my first so please bear with me!

i posted a few days ago because i was concerned about the amount of movement - it's now getting even more! but i mean proper movement and lots of elbows or feet or whatever sticking anywhere and everywhere! i'm getting a lot of pressure too, like there's no where near enough room in there. could these be braxton hicks? they just subside.....? but i can definitely tell baby movements but can't be sure of the braxton hicks (if tha'ts what they are) yet.

I'm 31 weeks almost and just really struggling to come to terms with how different things are from only 10 weeks ago - i can feel hard lumps under the skin of my belly now and when i put my hand there and some pressure the baby moves (but then digs me somewhere else!). oh, and i got my first rib kick before! ouch!! i'm always saying "ow" or "ooh" at my desk at work. is all this normal? i'm not worried but just checking!!

i'm due 23 march by the way. tick tock......

[DSJ]

Absolutely normal. A future footballer for England?

[redcrx]

perfectly normal for many women.
The baby is rapidly filling what space it has in there and is trying to get ready to get into a head down position, so will do cartwheels for a bit then once head down youll get kicks in the ribs and punches down below which can make you think that everything is gonna fall out.

BHs are practice contractions and with first baby are usually painless. You can tell if its BH as your whole uterus gets tight and solid so you can feel it under your hands and theyll be little or no give in it until it subsides. This can take up to a couple of minutes.

ah its all fun and games with pregnancy isnt it? have you had one of those BHs where baby is all at one side and you can almost see shrinkwrapped baby in there, that whens things get really freaky lol

[Psychick]

I get the shrink wrapped baby effect when I sit up from laying down lol

Lorrymac, the movements you are describing are perfectly normal and sound like its just from baby moving. Like red has said, with braxton hicks, your tummy goes rock hard for a minute or so then goes back to normal. Not all women get them though. I didnt with my first. My baby loves sticking its rear end out! Has yours done a stretch yet? I get bottom in the ribs and limbs against my hip when this happens......OUCH! lol I love it when you can feel a foot or a hand. I try and hold it but baby always moves it so we play chase lol

[Psychick]

Just one more thing, make the most of being able to feel those movements, you will miss them when baby is born. I know I did after I had my daughter, after all the grumbling about being kicked and the aches and pains, I missed having my bump! lol