More on fetal activity? Sorry!

[kviddy]

Hiya,

39+6 over here and really struggling not to worry. The still birth rates released in the last few weeks haven't helped... I just dont know how I would cope if something went wrong at this stage. But trying to stay on top of monitoring my baby's movements and being realistic about is making me paranoid.

For instance, this morning when I woke up baby was kicking away. And then I think he got hiccups due to how frequently and rhythmically my belly was moving. It calmed down after 5 minutes or so but by then I was worrying he was moving too much. Came down to eat breakfast and now he's being quieter than usual but still had the odd movement. Normally its the other way around.

Its all driving me insane.

Am I just being completely paranoid or is this fairly common end of the pregnancy type worries? I keep thinking I'll be so much happier when bubs is here... although then I'm sure I'll just constantly freak out over cot death etc.

Help!

relax as much as you can, while you can! You will soon be very busy :) it is perfectly normal for babies to slow down and be a bit "sleepy" close to labour but if your worried you havent felt baby in awhile drink a nice big glass of ice wter and go lie down on your left side, baby should soon show a little protest to the cold. If your ever worried dont wait or think your maternity unit will think your making a fuss, they wont, they would ALWAYS prefer to do a hundred not really needed traces then miss a single baby who needed them... It is so normal to be worried but the vast majority of the time its not needed, but still so hard to turn off! Take care and Best of luck :)

I agree with secret wishes but I also give myself a time limit and if I have not felt anything within that limit, then ring. Say an hour after having a sweet sugary drink and a lie down, if you have not felt anything, then ring. Saves that worry after an hour of whether to just wait another twenty minutes or not...

This is my third and between them, I have been in a few times for monitoring all of which have beem absolutely fine, but the midwives have always been great and told me to come back again if worried, even if that is the same day. Good luck!

kviddy I am due today and have also been having the same freak outs. The silly thing is that my LO appears to be moving more than it has for a while...which like you, makes me paranoid in a different way.

It's tough at this stage. Knowing that your baby is 'cooked' and so you simply want it out to try and mitigate anything happening whilst it's still in there.

When I am being sensible I simply think of all of the healthy babies born every day and that there's no real reason why mine shouldn't be another. And that the longer it's in there the stronger its lungs will be...bigger its tummy will be etc etc. But yes, I know EXACTLY how you feel.

I also find that doing stuff helps. The more you're sat down counting kicks the more paranoid you'll get. I know that my baby is most active in the evenings...so have been trying to stay moving in the daytime and then when I do stop, simply give it a prod/stroke (or have an ice cream or something yummy ) to kick start it. Then I carry on.

You're not alone...x

Thanks for all your kind replies- just what I needed to hear!

Littlemilla I am sorry you are freaking out... but relieved at the same time! I hadn't thought to focus on each day meant the baby' lungs etc were getting stronger (not at this point anyway) and yes, thinking about all the 1,000's who are born every day just fine does help too...

I'm just glad I'm not alone in my worry.

Now if only these braxton hicks would turn into the real thing!!