Monday, June 20, 2011

Movement!

I have to admit, this is so amazingly cool. About a week ago, at about 18 weeks, I started feeling something in my lower belly, but I figured it was gas. Sometime last week I was in the middle of a meeting, and I felt a distinct movement – nothing that felt like gas, or cramps, or anything. And then it is getting more and more pronounced, each and every day. I can’t believe it – I actually have something growing inside me! The movement is still very sporadic, but oh so distracting. How am I supposed to get anything done over the next few months? All I want to do is stop and focus on feeling my baby move.

And what kind of freak feels movement in her belly and still grabs the Doppler to make sure there’s a heartbeat? I think I didn’t want to feel like a fool when I’ve been telling the hubs about movement, and then it turns out the baby is no longer alive. I keep telling the hubs I feel movement, and he scoffs and tells me it’s probably gas – he’s definitely living up to the stereotype of men during this pregnancy – I don’t think it will seem real for him until he holds the baby. Can’t wait until we see the baby on Friday – it’s been so long since the ultrasound, and we get to find out the sex!

A good friend at work asked me last week how the baby is doing. How are you supposed to answer that? I responded with what I was thinking: “Still here, I think!” He called me creepy… I think that will be the last time he asks me how the baby is doing…

Other than the awkward responses to people, I’m doing just fine. I’m very excited to find out the sex, as I think it will help make it more real when we start calling the baby by its name, and although I won’t truly believe it until there is a baby in my arms, I think there may actually be a child at the end of this road. I’ve stopped reading most of my pregnancy books – there’s not a lot I can do right now about the pregnancy except keep myself healthy. But I can learn about how to take care of a baby, of which I know very little. So I’m reading about things like breastfeeding and sleeping and such. People keep telling me my life will change so much after the baby is born, trying to warn me. I always respond, “I know – I can’t wait!” At least I’m positive with that response…

29 comments:

  1. Of all the things I miss from pregnancy, fetal movement is the most missed. It is the coolest feeling in the world, and I would give just about anything to feel it again.

    Don't feel silly about the doppler. My doppler and I were like this *crosses fingers* I even took it on vacation because I couldn't not handle not being able to hear my baby's heartbeat every day. I listened to it every day until she was born. I even listened one last time before I went to the hospital to have her. I think it is so cool that we have the ability to listen, why not take advantage?

    I can't wait to hear what you are having!!!

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  2. Cool beans!!! I am so happy that you've got a little dancing baby in there!

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  3. Yaaaaaay! I'm so happy for you. I still think it is one of the most incredible experiences EVER. And I love that you dopplered before sharing. Maybe a bit sad that you felt you had to, but sweet!

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  4. I'm so glad the little one has started to move so much that you are feeling it. The husband will be able to feel it soon enough and then he'll be a believer. I also am excited to find out the sex. Can't wait!

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  5. 2 times now, I've gone from really looking forward to feeling the baby move at 5-6 months and then realizing at the 2-3 month point that its game over-so the movement thing is like this mythical unicorn that I cant believe I will ever see.

    I'm SO glad you got here, and given all you have been through, it is perfectly normal to grab for the doppler every chance you get- god bless the person who invented it!

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  6. So cool! Wait until your LO kicks your DH's hand off your belly...then he won't call it gas anymore ;-) Can't wait to hear the big reveal!

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  7. feeling the baby is sooo awesome, you'll learn what makes him or her really boogie in your belly... for me, it was iced sweet tea, when I drank that he just squirmed like crazy! Wait until he does a whole belly roll, that feels crazy!! and I used to listen to him move with the doppler, so you are not crazy at all!!!!

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  8. Yay! Oh, it's the best! It took Eric a little while to get excited about the movement, too. Soon you'll be feeling movement all the time-- which I wish I could say was reassuring. Instead, you start wondering if the baby is ok if you haven't felt it move in the last 10 minutes! It gets ridiculous. I'm sorry to say. :)

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  9. How exciting! Don't feel silly about the Doppler. I still use mine sometimes just because it's reassuring to know the heartrate. Just a few more weeks and your husband will be able to feel baby, too!

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  10. Fun fun! The movement only gets stronger and more often.

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  11. Oh there is nothing better than baby movements :)
    I'm an awkward question answerer too! I dont mean to but its hard to try to be "normal"!

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  12. Amazing Alex, I'm so happy for you!

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  13. yay for movement! I can't wait to be able to feel that myself!

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  14. Those movements are so cool! Don't worry, you will get used to them enough to get work done...maybe :). I definitely recommend reading a lot to prepare for having the baby. So many people don't do any reading, and I don't know how they survive! It helped me so much to feel like I had a general plan (Babywise style) for when the little guy arrived so I wasn't completely lost and overwhelmed by the newness of taking care of a baby. And it was fun to read and imagine what it would be like for me :).

    Enjoy the utrasound! Hopefully even your husband will be excited to actually see the baby!

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  15. It is such a cool feeling, isn't it? I never get tired of it. Enjoy!

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  16. So exciting that you can now feel your little one dancing around in there! Enjoy your ultrasound!

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  17. Feeling the flutter of movement is the most AMAZING thing ever! And I loved my doppler! It puts your mind at ease.

    Enjoy it! Can't wait to find out the gender!

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  18. Thanks for checking out my blog! Congrats on the pregnancy. You are right, movement is hands down the greatest feeling during pregnancy!!!

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  19. How exciting!!! My doppler got me through, too, even on days that I felt her move.

    You had commented on my blog about Lovenox and your protocol. I *think* there are two ways to do it. Switch to Heparin (it stays in your system less time, which is why some doctors switch you in case you go into labor) or keep you on Lovenox and then run clotting tests. They can reverse the effects of the Lovenox if needed with something (I really think that my doctor said it was medication derived from salmon sperm). Does this sound right?

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  20. I wanted to have a post about the "oh your life is going to change" crap comments, but I haven't had the energy. Yes, I know, I get it. do you think I've been living in lalaland for 5 years?

    anywho, excited for you, lady!

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  21. yay for movement! that was the coolest thing about pregnancy for me :)

    enjoy it!

    i had one person ask me how my baby was during pg and i was just as awkward as u!

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  22. Feeling the baby move is the best thing ever. With my last pregnancy I wanted to get a video so I set up the video camera pointing at my belly while I lay on the bed reading. Sure enough I managed to get an amazing video of Dexter kicking which I will treasure.
    Only thing is the next day the video was still on the tripod pointing at the bed and Steve's cousin came round. Steve gave him a tour of our house including the bedroom and now he must think we make fetish porn films. :-\

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  23. I can't wait to feel movement. I'm always pausing and trying to detect something!

    Thinking about you today and waiting on the ultrasound update!!

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  24. oh gosh..that is so cool! Just today..I was yearning to be where you are. This must be an exciting time. They say that at night after you eat and you sit down the baby gets real active. have your husband come over and put his hands on your belly! He will get it! :)
    hugs

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