Expert: Dorothy H, LCCE - 2/21/2011

Question
Hi! I'm 21 weeks pregnant, due July 3, with my first child-a boy. I've been feeling him move quite a bit since 18 weeks, but lately it seems very low! I had an ultrasound last week and all seems normal, baby is 12 oz and healthy... they said the placenta is posterior so baby is near the front... but I just can't  get over how low it feels-I can feel kicks with my hand on my belly right around where my hairline is on my pelvis.  I thought the uterus was supposed to be by the bellybutton by now?  My doctor even seemed shocked at how low she had to go to find the heartbeat with Doppler.  I am 5'9", about 150 lbs and fit-have gained about 16 lbs since conception.  Should I be worried?  Around 18 weeks I had some pain/pressure feelings in my vaginal/pelvic area but have felt fine since... is a baby this low normal at this stage?

Answer
Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Take a deep breath!  What you are feeling is very normal for 21 weeks.

Your uterus may very well be exactly where it is supposed to be; the baby may just be in the lower part of it.  Many women do feel movement very low in the area that you described.  It is also common to hear the heartbeat low as well.

If your doctor was concerned about the size of your uterus or the location of the heartbeat, she would have mentioned something about it to you and probably scheduled additional testing.  If what she said to you was something along the lines of, "Wow, I have to go way down here to find that heartbeat!" and didn't mention anything about additional testing or concerns, then she was not concerned about it.  If this is still bothering you by your next appointment, mention it to your doctor.  Hopefully she will be able to reassure you and set your mind at ease.

The pain/pressure that you felt around 18 weeks was probably round ligament pain, which is very common in the 2nd and sometimes 3rd trimester as the uterus grows.

I wish you the best with the rest of your pregnancy!

Sincerely,