Yuanne's happy feet

  


Everytime my baby kicks or punches, I feel relieved and happy to know that she's doing well inside me. Since I can't see her yet, it's her way of letting mimi and didi know that she's active and fine. It's her reponse to her dad's voice, to my greetings, to the song I love to hear, or a response to the loud sound system whenever where inside a movie house, or a way of letting me know she's hungry as well (usually kicks whenever I am hungry but still not getting up to get our food..like saying, mimi come on! Can't wait for the food!), or whenever didi touches or puts his cheek near my abdomen (they have a bond already), and whenever I'm lying down and doing nothing. It's like our own private time together. I so love when she does that and makes me keep on imagining what she looks like, or if she got my legs too. A very overwhelming feeling to realize that you have a growing life inside you. One of the greatest miracle and gift from above. =)

   So to all the moms-to-be out there, here's an article from e-How Health on fetal kick and movement. Read away!

One of the most anticipated and exciting moments of pregnancy is when a mom-to-be first feels the baby kick and move inside of her. In the weeks leading up to that moment, all any mom can think of is: When will it happen? The fetus begins kicking and moving around the seventh week of pregnancy, but it is so small that the mother cannot feel it. Most moms won't begin to feel the fetus moving until 15 to 20 weeks of pregnancy, although some will feel it earlier and others later.

1. Early Fetal Movement (Weeks 7-12)

   • The fetus first begins to move around the seventh week of pregnancy, shortly after its heart begins to beat. While a mother cannot detect this movement---the fetus is technically still an embryo at this point, only measuring about a half-inch long---she will be able to see it waving its tiny arm buds and kicking its legs via ultrasound.

   Movement in Early Second Trimester (Weeks 13-20)

   • The first fetal movements the mother can feel are called "quickening." Many first-time mothers will not realize when quickening occurs, as early fetal movements often feel like the rumbling of gas. Different women describe the sensation of the baby's moving in different ways. According to Baby Center, some women say it feels like popcorn popping, fluttering butterfly wings or a goldfish swimming.

   Fetal Movement in Late Second Trimester (Weeks 21-27)

   • As the baby grows, its movement will becomes stronger and more definite. During the late second trimester, most women will feel kicks and punches, as well as squirming and rolling. The woman's partner may be able to feel some of this movement when touching the belly. In some cases, the movement may be so strong that it can be seen from the outside: The mom-to-be's belly will jump and roll as the baby does.

   Fetal Movement in the Early Third Trimester (Weeks 28-32)

   • By the start of the third trimester, most moms can feel their baby kicking regularly (although not necessarily frequently). At this time, a woman should begin to keep track of her baby's movements by counting the baby's kicks. This exercise can help the mother become aware of any unusual decrease in activity and identify a potential problem. According to the American Pregnancy Association, the mom should do "kick counts" at the same time every day, preferably at a time when the baby is typically active. The mother should count at least 10 kicks within two hours.

   Fetal Movement in Late Third Trimester (32-40 Weeks)

   • By around 32 weeks, the mother may start to feel fewer movements, because the baby has grown so much that it has less room to move in the uterus. She should continue doing her kick counts and report to her doctor any substantially decreased activity.

Read more: In What Stage of Pregnancy Does the Fetus Begin to Kick & Move? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5072485_stage-fetus-begin-kick-move.html#ixzz1ONlKoCSM