13. Babies’ Movements Are Different
The movement of every baby is
different. One baby may move less than another. If your baby has been
very active, then is very quiet for a long while, you may want to
discuss it with your healthcare provider. He or she will determine if
there is cause for concern.
When Kerri came in
for her 28-week visit, she was tired and concerned. She had been up all
night because the baby was kicking her. She wanted to know if this was
OK. Was it a bad sign about the baby? Could it be moving too much? I
reassured her this wasn’t bad and told her I’d rather have a baby move
a lot than not enough.
Some women complain their baby is
extremely active during the night, and it keeps them awake. There
really isn’t much you can do about it, but you can try changing your
position in bed. Avoid exercising just before bed—it may cause baby to
move more.
Taking acetaminophen or relaxing in a
warm (not hot) bath may help. Between 20 and 32 weeks of pregnancy, the
fetus can move between 200 and 500 times a day, kicking, rolling and
wiggling!
Occasionally you might feel pressure from
your baby. For relief, rest on your opposite side for a while. For
example, if you feel pressure under your right ribs, lie on your left
side.
Women sometimes ask if some of
the pressure they feel low in their pelvis means the baby is falling
out of the birth canal. Your baby can’t “fall out.” If you experience
this sensation, what you’re probably feeling is the pressure of baby as
it moves lower in the birth canal. If this occurs, tell your healthcare
provider about it. A pelvic exam may be done to check how low the
baby’s head is.
14.Monitoring Baby’s Movements
A healthcare provider may ask a
pregnant woman to monitor the baby’s movements if she has had a
difficult pregnancy, a previous stillbirth or a medical condition, such
as diabetes. Recording the movements at certain times each day may
provide the healthcare provider with additional information about the
baby’s status.
15. Some Pregnancy Discomforts You May Experience
Along with the many joys of pregnancy,
there are some discomforts. Most of them are minor, although it may not
seem that way at the time! At the beginning of pregnancy, you may have
the urge to urinate frequently. If you have to urinate, don’t wait to
go to the bathroom; it could lead to a urinary-tract infection.
During pregnancy,
your immune system works differently. Your immunity to infection is
altered to keep your body from rejecting the fetus. This may make you
more susceptible to illness, like the flu. It can also increase a
woman’s risk of serious illness, such as pneumonia and respiratory
problems, if she doesn’t take care of herself during pregnancy.
As you progress through pregnancy, you
may have to deal with constipation. Toward the end of pregnancy,
swollen hands and feet may be a problem along with more frequent
heartburn.
16. Uterine Tightening
Your uterus tightens and contracts
throughout pregnancy. (If you don’t feel this, don’t worry.) As your
uterus grows, you may feel slight cramping or even pain in the lower
abdominal area, on your sides; this is normal. However, if contractions
are accompanied by bleeding from the vagina, call your healthcare provider immediately!
Braxton-Hicks contractions during
pregnancy are painless, nonrhythmical contractions you may feel when
you place your hands on your abdomen. You may also feel them in the
uterus itself. These contractions may begin early in pregnancy and
continue at irregular intervals throughout pregnancy. They are not signs of true labor.
Some women experience tingling,
numbness or pressure in the uterine area or abdomen. These feelings are
associated with increased pressure as the baby moves lower in the birth
canal. To help decrease pressure on pelvic nerves, veins and arteries,
lie on your left side.
17. Round-Ligament Pain
Round ligaments lie on either side of
the uterus. As your uterus gets bigger, these ligaments stretch,
becoming longer and thicker. Quick movements can overstretch the
ligaments, causing round-ligament pain. This is not harmful to you or
your baby but can be uncomfortable.
Slow down; be careful about making quick
movements. If you feel pain, lie down and rest. Most healthcare
providers recommend acetaminophen if the pain bothers you. Tell your
healthcare provider if it gets worse.
