So I'm going to get a little serious here. I know, shocker! Just wanted to warn you all....
Critter wasn't too active the last few days. I have a slight cold and I'm not the best about making sure I'm eating and drinking enough water. Add that to the fact we're 29 weeks and that makes it kind of a perfect storm of inactive baby, apparently. With less room to wiggle around, babies aren't necessarily as active as they were in the weeks leading up. And with Critter being a less active baby anyway, even less activity can be slightly alarming.
I noticed it Wednesday. Usually I'm up and about so much that Critter is kind of lulled by my activity so they aren't as wiggly. But as soon as I sit down, take a break and eat something, whoop whoop party time!! However, that wasn't working Wednesday. Granted I was pretty stuffy and coughing some so my body may have been just trying to reboot in the time I did rest. And my evening usually ends with couch time and a nice bowl of ice cream, usually some kind of chocolate variety. This is when Critter really gets going-they must love the chocolate!! But this night, not even a blip. No nudges, hiccups (which I still have yet to feel), kicks, or elbows. Nada. I didn't think too much of it but it was in the back of my mind.
You know how a few weeks ago I posted about kicking, those lovely 4 am jam sessions? Well, it didn't happen Wednesday night/Thursday morning. Now I know you're going to say I am overreacting. Let me finish first! I woke up around 330-4 am to utilize the facilities (I'm trying to be delicate here ;) ) and noticed that Critter was quiet. Too quiet. So I drank some water and laid on my left side. Nothing. I squished my belly. Almost laid onto my stomach to squish the babe even more. Nothing. Usually if I lay too far onto my side, Critter gets mad and starts to wiggle and kick big time. This time, not even a blip really. Ok, now we all know I'm not one to overreact and get worried about things easily. There are times I probably should get more concerned than I do. So I feel it is legit when I get worried.
I started to pray. God, please make Critter move. Just a little? Ok, I lied. A big whopper of a kick. One? Please? Let me know this kid is still alive in there. I'm really starting to worry. I've read about people losing their babies at this point, please don't do that to me. I don't think I could take it... (as you can tell, I went down the rabbit hole a little bit here).
Then....wiggle wiggle. Just a little bit. But enough for relief, at that moment.
Thursday was a big day. I have been giving some lessons to some girls who's parents we are friends with. I decided since it is spring break to do a mini pony camp. So that meant up a little earlier than normal and in constant motion for about 6 hours. I tried to make sure I was drinking enough water again. But I still didn't feel anything. Not from the time I got up to the time I sat down about 7 hours later for a real lunch and rest. I ate some healthy good stuff but I also had a little chocolate, hoping that would help out. Nope. So I call Matt, just to give him a heads up. He texts back about 10 minutes later, asking me to call the midwife. Now he's worried. And it takes A LOT for this guy to get nervous. So like any good wife, I call. They ask me to drop everything and do the kick test again. If it comes out low, time to go into labor and delivery for monitoring. *Sidebar-they did say by having a front lying placenta (TMI I know) it is possible the baby is doing a lot but since I've got such a big cushion there, it may be hard to tell what's going on. I had also thought of this so that's why I wasn't totally freaking, yet. They also said that between 29-34 weeks they get more complaints from patients saying they aren't feeling as much from the baby so it could be normal still. Again, I thought the same.
As I'm speaking with the nurse on the phone Matt comes home. So he sits there with me and we do the kick count together. For those who don't know what a kick count is, it's when you eat and drink a little something, lay on your left side, and count how many times the baby moves. You should get 8-10 movements (which can me kick, punch, hiccups, topsy-turvey, squirms, and wiggles) within 2 hours. I had already done a count before Matt got home and I had only gotten 5 in 2 hours. So with Matt sitting there, on the clock, and us chatting, it took about 45 minutes to get 8 kicks. Good enough right, since we had the excavator coming to talk about the arena.
Fast forward to after dinner, Matt and I are having a discussion (aka, slight disagreement, aka, argument.) I shower and am a little upset. He then asks, how's the baby doing? Is it moving more? As a matter of fact, yes, yes it is. Apparently our baby hates it when I'm upset. Because it was going CRAZY! A hearty night's sleep was interrupted at times by Critter reminding me that they are still here and very well. Thank the Lord!
This morning I woke up to so much activity and you know what, I was so glad! It hasn't been a secret that I wasn't looking forward to the kicking and moving side of being pregnant. I worried it would freak me out, all the time. And up until now, I was just dealt with it as part of the package. Sometimes it hurt. But mostly, it was just there. Now, I am actually looking forward to it. I like to think that Critter is chatting with me at times. They are reminding me (and the Lord is too) that they are here and I'm to care for them. Not that I didn't care before but I would just think it'll all be over once they come out. Now, I actually may let someone else touch me when they get kicking! Shocker! I did say maybe so don't get too excited. Like I've said before, even at this point Matt doesn't get to feel much because the baby stops as soon as someone else comes near me. I think they may be a little shy like I was when I was little. Or more introverted like their daddy-he's hoping for that one!
So for now, I will revel in the movements. I will praise God that He is keeping Critter alive and well. I will not complain when the baby moves so much it keeps me awake. I will be grateful and thankful that I actually get to experience it all, when I know so many who would kill to have the chance. But I probably won't stand around stroking my belly and cooing over it. There is a limit you know?!
