2nd pregnancy - my belly feels paper thin, is this normal - low fluid?

[Salad]

Hi, this is probably a dumb question but its been playing on my mind, I am pregnant with my second baby, when the baby moves I can feel the movements as normal although they do hurt more than with my first pregnancy, but when i touch my belly i can really feel parts of the baby, I am not entirely sure what I am feeling but I think its bottom, back and feet, knees hands etc, I know you can feel body parts etc as I felt feet with my DD but this is different, its like my belly is almost paper thin, like i could hold the babies hand. Is it because everything is preloved so to speak.

I had low amniotic fluid with DD, and I am wondering if this could be the case with this baby aswell.
I have an appointment next week with my ob so I will ask him about it then and maybe get him to check the levels. A midwife said to me at my last checkup that if I had low fluid I would be measuring small but I measured normal with DD and the fluid was low, so I dont believe this is a good indication.

I have also read that minimal movements from the babty can be a sign of low fluid but again DD moved heaps and this baby moves even more.

[Salad]

I guess this was a dumb question!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[~TT40~]

are you small build?
I dont have much help here...
but i know ive palped a few tummies in my time and everyone has been different, some of them you can fell little feet etc.
your midwife is right that you would be measuring small.
sorry i dont have much else
as long as your feeling bub move lots
keep us posted what happens at your Ob, be curious to see what they say.

[HotI]

is this all over your tummy or more in the middle?

i had abdominal muscle seperation (DRAM-diastatus rectus abdomin musculoram) where the ligament that runs down the middle of your tummy holding the two sides of tummy muscle together is stretched. I was really sensitive to touch in this area and could feel bub much stronger in this area.

if you think you might have this, see a physio to get checked out.

[Salad]

Yes I guess I am a small build.
The movements are everywhere so I dont think its abdominal separation but thanks for the suggestion.
I can feel the baby everywhere, up high down low to the side, just didnt have movements like this with DD, I am so uncomfortable and I never felt uncomfortable with DD, it doesnt matter how I sit I cannot get comfy. If i didnt know my due date I would honestly believe I was due any day.

[Alan]

Hi Salad
I don’t think that it’s anything to worry about. When I feel a pregnant tummy sometimes it is very easy to feel the limbs, hands, feet, head etc. And yet with other tummies it can be quite difficult to know what you are feeling.
Measuring small for dates could be an indicator for low fluid levels but it could also indicate that your baby has changed position, or even that you have put a little extra weight on around your tummy and is therefore not a good indicator of your fluid levels.
One reason that you could be finding it easier to feel hands and feet etc is that you are more ‘tuned in’ to know what you are feeling. During your first pregnancy you would have felt your tummy a number of times and trying to work out what you were feeling. With this pregnancy you have already had some practice so to speak and therefore you are finding it eaiser to identify the parts you are feeling.

[Salad]

Thanks Alan , I appreciate your reply. I guess I will see what the ob has to say at my appointment next week.

[YoYo]

No advice but just wanted to say I know exactly what you mean!

With this baby I can feel SOOO much more....like I don't remember AT ALL with DS feeling things this much!

IT will be interesting to see what your OB says next week

[Dr. Tal]

Make sure to let us know how you go at your appointment!

[Salad]

Just thought I would pop in with an update - nothing too exciting, ob didnt really have much to say about it but organised an ultrasound which I had today, and everything is fine, the fluid is 13 which is great and baby is measuring 4 days ahead. I guess its just a second time pregnancy thing. Pre loved home so to speak lol.

[deletedit]

If your placenta is at the back rather than where your stomach is then this may be a reason why you can feel more through your tummy.

This is exactly right - check your orange book pregnancy notes for 'posterior placenta' or just ask the doc - I've had this twice and you can practically count the toes when those feet poke out. The ultrasound techs love it - it makes their job easier

[Salad]

Thanks, yes I think I remember them saying it was prosterior