Active baby

So far this has been an active baby. Early on, even before I could actually feel her kicking around in there, my medical care providers remarked on her activity level. The ultrasound technician at the CVS was surprised to see her flipping around so much, and one (lame) doctor at my OB's office couldn't even find her heartbeat because she kept scooting out of the way of the Doppler monitor.

Around 16 weeks I started feeling her move for myself. It was just as they describe: a shifting feeling like a stomach rumble about to happen, or the glancing brush of a small fish. Then over time the movements grew stronger and stronger, until eventually they felt more like a snake trying to find its way out of a paper bag.

I'm 25 weeks pregnant now, and according to the charts of average fetal development, the baby could be 14 inches tall (and a pound and a half in weight) by now. A few times I've felt her stretch out as far as she can go -- a poke down by my groin, and a simultaneous shove up by my ribs. That'll get your attention! Or have you ever heard bad news and had your stomach lurch in response? Sometimes the movement feels physically like that, but minus the negative emotional reaction.

Most often, however, it just feels like a gentle but persistent knock on a very soft door, usually two inches to the right of my navel. For nearly four weeks I've been able to see her movement in that area. (This week Isaac felt it there too, and he seemed pleased!) And for even longer there has been a definite pattern to the movement: a lot of thumping right when I wake up, then again around 3:00 p.m. (a time when I often sit down and relax after Isaac is asleep for his nap), then a big barrage of activity when I lie down to go to sleep.

That's why when, three weeks ago, I noticed this pattern of movement change, I was concerned. There was very little movement at 3:00 p.m., none in the evening, a big flurry of movement around 4:00 a.m. (which I noticed because I was having a hard time sleeping due to worry about the lack of movement!), but then very little in the morning. I called my midwife, who seemed to think it was too early in the pregnancy for me to be expecting fixed patterns of activity. Even doctors who recommend their patients do "kick counts" (mine never did) don't suggest them until the third trimester, or 28 weeks of pregnancy. The midwife did send one of her assistants over to my house with the Doppler monitor, although by the time the assistant got here the baby's activity had picked back up. However, we were all pleased to hear a nice strong heartbeat.

Everything went back to normal after that one day. But it's happening again now. Last night I felt a gentle thump or two, but nothing like I'm used to feeling, and this morning was even quieter. And 3:00 p.m. has come and gone without a real flurry. There's not no movement, so I know there's still somebody kicking around in there, but there's a definite change.

I guess I could drink a big cup of juice to raise the baby's blood sugar, and lie down quietly so I can notice the maximum amount of movement. Except now it's after 4:00 p.m. and it's time to wake Isaac up from his nap!