Week 29: Fluttering Feet

Posted by: Sharmila Rajah, 24-Jun-2007

 

 

At first, they were hardly noticeable. Then, they began … delicate and gentle before morphing into strong, robust strikes. Every kick, roll, flutter and swish, I’ve grown to cherish.

 

It’s an intimate connection that marks the start of an eternal bond between mother and baby. There are moments, I admit, when these gestures tend to get in the way of my sleep. But they remain as one of the many delights of pregnancy.

 

There are times during the day when the activity quickens and grows in strength. Other times they tend to be less impactful. Sometimes, this worries me. Experts say fetuses are only human with up days and down days. Most often their activity is linked to what mum’s been doing.

 

When I’m active, my baby is lulled by the rhythm of my routine. Besides I’m too busy to notice much of the kicking either. It’s when I kick off my shoes and relax, does the baby start kicking and moving. These intensify as I prepare for bed.

 

Gifts from Uncle Shaun. Those fluttering feet will fill these adorable shoes in no time...

 

 

The once erratic and brief movements, mostly from weeks 24 to 28, have now settled into a more organised routine. Doctors suggest mums should, from week 28 onwards, monitor fetal movements twice a day (once in the morning and once in the evening).

 

Set your clocks and start counting any kind of movement. Stop when you reach ten and note the time. Generally you would feel ten movements within ten minutes. Sometimes, it may take longer. If about two hours go by without ten movements, it is advisable to call your practitioner. An absence of activity, though may not necessarily signify a problem, can sometimes be linked to fetal distress. So, it’s good to check with your doc.

 

Ahh…I feel a kick….and a slight flutter of feet. Got to start counting.