Yes, a gradual drop from the early high peak to around 120-160 bpm is totally normal as the baby grows. Just keep track of your regular ultrasound reports to be safe.
Yes, it actually does decrease slightly as the pregnancy progresses. In the early weeks, it can peak around 170 bpm, but later it settles down to a normal baseline of 120-160 bpm. However, if there's any sudden drop during scans, let your doctor handle it immediately.
My mother-in-law said lower heart rate means a baby boy, but my doctor explained it's just the baby's nervous system maturing as the weeks go by. A gradual decrease to 120-160 bpm is completely healthy, so trust your doctor's word.
I just delivered my baby last month and went through this exact same worry! My baby's heart rate was 165 bpm in the first trimester and settled to around 135 bpm by the end. The doctor told me it's completely normal as their heart matures.
Haha, don't stress, the baby's heart isn't running a marathon all nine months! It peaks early on and then slows down to a normal human pace as they grow. As long as your gynac says the scans look perfect, you are totally fine!
I remember being so anxious when I saw the heart rate drop from 170 to 140 bpm in my later scans, and I almost cried thinking something was wrong. But it's just the baby's heart maturing, which is so beautiful. You are doing great, try not to stress.