Friday, January 05, 2007

Baby Kicks

Baby Kylie was really active yesterday. Her movements are beginning to feel less like flops and more like nudges and kicks. At one point yesterday, I felt her nudges way up high in my abdomen. I looked down and could actually see my shirt move each time she kicked. I said to my belly, "What are you doing way up here? You usually do this much lower."

It may have had something to do with the fact that I was stuck waiting at the Social Security Office (to get my new name social security card ordered) for almost two hours with three screaming babies in close proximity. And no, these babies weren't fussy... they were screaming. And honestly, I don't blame them. The atmosphere in that office was incredibly tense and exasperating.

But it felt like Kylie was nudging me as if to say, "I hear crying babies! Do something Mom!"

Does every pregnant woman do this? Take our own experiences and transfer them onto our baby?

I've found myself lately saying things like:
"The baby is hungry" (when I'm hungry and then I feel the baby kick)
"The baby likes the music" (when I have music on and then I feel the baby kick)
"The baby says hello" (when Karen is talking to my belly and the baby kicks)
And so forth

The rational part of me knows that the baby is just moving around in there as she is supposed to do for her own growth reasons and not my emotional ones. But it seems that I can't help myself from making these little observations.

I guess it's natural since she's living inside me and at this point is "a part of me" but I wonder if I'll be able to quickly break this habit once she's born and is her own individual.

Or whether it will pass as the kicks become more usual and less "fun". (I have to admit, right now they are really fun. I laugh almost every time I feel her and delightedly announce "the baby is kicking". I know this will change soon but for right now I'm really enjoying this phase.)

Oh and one last thing about kicks. I was a cheerleader in high school (go ahead and laugh) and my family and friends like to compare her kicks to cartwheels, back handsprings and flips. I enjoy it. It makes me smile and I know it's just light-hearted fun. Yet I wonder, if in some way, we are already deciding whether she will be a little gymnast like me or a basketball player like her other mom rather than her own person who might like the tuba instead. Hmmmmm.

-Wendy
[23w, 4d]
[28 Babies R Us visits]

8 comments:

Stacey said...

I still announce the baby's movements. I think it's cool. :-P

I always use the baby to get my way. "The baby doesn't like this music." or "The baby wants Greek food tonight." Hehehe.

Anonymous said...

Every time our baby moves I tell my partner that the baby is saying "hi" to her. I wonder if this will stop once the kicks are hard enough for K to feel for herself so that I don't feel the need to announce them?

Momai said...

As long as she's not swinging a tuba in there, I think you're fine.

And yeah, I totally do it too. I don't think that it's 100% incorrect to assign some basic needs or reactions to the kid. Ours does tend to perk up when Mombi is around, or even when she shows up online when we're in different locations, and my only explanation is that Griffin is reacting to my body's physiological response to her. Whether or not it's true, who knows?

As the kid develops taste buds, it's even possible that she'll react to foods, since strong flavors will affect the taste of the amniotic fluid.

On the other hand, I don't think the kid can taste the difference between General Tso's or Mu Shu Pork. I can, though!

Holly said...

I personally think the kicks are always fun. I recommend putting something on your belly and watching it dance as she kicks away.
Plus, I see no problem with relating her movements with happy responses to things.
This is so exciting! Enjoy it!!

Dee said...

How amazing you can now see her moving under your shirt! I can't wait for the day I can see/feel Riley in Shelly's belly.

The whole "baby wants, baby needs" is sooo not fair. It's very much used in our house: "The baby wants more hot chocolate.", "The baby reallys likes watching basketball". Thank goodness, "the baby" will be able to speak for herself some day!

Mo said...

I loved the kicks all the way through. And I don't think it's wrong to associate kicks with things going on outside. You'll probably start noticing patterns of movement that reflect that anyway. Seeing a baby move from the outside has got to be one of the coolest things ever!

Anonymous said...

Baby's kicks were always fun to me. I don't think they ever get "usual" do they? My thought was always "Wow, I can't believe it's my baby!" Of course, every now and then as it got closer to term and baby would kick my bladder and I'd pee my pants or something...it got a bit more interesting depending on where we were at the time! hehehe

Anonymous said...

until she has language, you can continue to assign your emotional responses to her facial expression once she is born. the fun never ends! just wait for the punching the bladder whilst concurrently kicking the stomach. despite having some embarrasssing consequences, that too was fun. enjoy! Lisa O