Tap Tap -- Are you in there?

When you were pregnant were you one of those ladies that would poke at your tummy just to see if they baby’s still in there and moving? I’m one of them. I’ll admit to it. I think a little of me has even rubbed off on my husband. He’ll climb in bed with me early in the morning (when he gets home from night shift) and poke and tap on my tummy till baby wiggles. Then he’ll go to sleep. I think it’s fair to say I’m a little paranoid. Everything has been going so well that I think trouble must be just around the corner. Do you ever have that feeling?

Yesterday I was WORRIED! And because I was worried I made my poor husband worry and my mom worry and my sisters worry and my boss worry. I had mentioned to Mom and Tim a few times throughout the morning and early afternoon yesterday that I couldn’t be sure if I had felt the baby move since last night. Mom thought maybe the baby was just having a good sleep and would wake up in a bit. Tim kept telling me to phone the doctor but I’d say well I’ll just give it a little more time to see if I feel something. You see, yesterday was a super busy day at work as it was my boss’ last official day of work before he retired. It was a madhouse around the office. So I would convince myself that maybe the baby was moving but I was so busy that I didn’t notice.

By 2:30 in the afternoon I still couldn’t 100% say I had felt the baby. I talked to Tim and Mom and they both told me to PHONE MY DOCTOR! I did. They told me to come straight to the clinic. I did. I was so worried that I chewed off all my nails on the drive there and I’m SO NOT a nail biter ever.

The clinic was great. They put my in a room right away. None of that waiting crap. But I didn’t relax right away. It took them over 10 minutes to find our baby’s heartbeat. Those 10 minutes felt like forever. I could see the nurse’s face looking so nervous because I was so nervous. She kept telling me that she wasn’t worried cuz she couldn’t find the heartbeat – she just couldn’t even find the baby. How does an almost 3lb baby go missing? But then she finally found the heartbeat and it was good and strong – 148 bpm. The doctor then explained that the baby is in a really awkward position right now which made it hard for them to find the heartbeat and why I hadn’t been feeling anything (or at least not feeling anything I recognized as movement). Sometime during the night the baby had flip itself around and is now breech plus he/she was facing backwards (towards my spine). So the little feet that I’ve grown accustom to pushing out of my ribs were pointing down and the little bumps from elbows and knees were towards my back. The doctor wasn’t surprised that I hadn’t felt anything all day, even in my back, given the position. I was so relieved.

My doctor then did a full check-up on me and the baby. I’m measuring one week ahead, but he said that’s still okay. And he told me the baby has 7 weeks to flip itself back upside down before being breech is a concern. As of this morning the baby is at least facing outwards again. I can feel so much more now. If I concentrate really hard I occasionally feel little “twinges” in my lower back that must be the little kicks. Feels completely different than when the little feet are in your ribs.

Driving away from the clinic I had a little chat with our baby. I told him/her to never make mommy worry again. Then thought, who am I kidding? The worrying part is only just beginning.....