I always imagined that feeling a baby move inside you would be maybe the weirdest thing that a human could ever experience. And I was right. It’s beyond strange.
I felt her move for the first time on Tuesday. I was laying next to Zack in bed, and I felt something bubble around my uterus. It was indistinguishable from gas. After all, as we’ve firmly established, I have a lot of gas. I froze and told Zack that I thought maybe, just maybe, I felt her move. Then she did some kind of intra-uterine ninja-baby kick-flip, dragging one of her teeny baby elbows (or something, who the hell really knows, right?) along the inside of her little muscular cave.
Baby elbows scraping along the internal surface of the uterus are distinguishable from gas. Baby elbows scraping along the internal surface of the uterus feel… well… exactly like it sounds like it would feel. It feels like one of the weirdest things a human could possibly experience.
At the last appointment, my doctor estimated that she weighed 7 ounces. That’s right on track for her growth, but nevertheless, it’s still really teeny. I tried to tell myself that for the rest of this week when I didn’t feel her move as much as I wanted to. When I’m up and moving around, I never feel her. She’s just too small, I guess, or it’s just too early. But then today, as Zack and I laid down to take a nap, she started pulling her little ninja-baby routine again. She is a very fierce 7 ounces; she made her presence known.
Every time I feel her, I can’t help but laugh. It’s like she’s tickling me from the inside. Zack held me in bed today for 15 minutes as she kick-flipped her way around my uterus, and I giggled the whole time.
Beyond strange. Weirdest feeling ever. But, also, jaw-droppingly awesome.
I know exactly how you feel. This is a great post. Just wait until your little one gets hiccups. Another strange sensation. You think you won’t be surprised by the next stage yet somehow your sweet little baby will be surprising you beyond words at each new movement or sensation. All I can say is that I’m glad you’re enjoying each moment. It all goes by so fast!
“She is a very fierce 7 ounces; she made her presence known”.
I’d expect no less. I’d expect no less whatsoever.
I’m about to go all Shakespeare on your ass, but this reminded me of a quote I love because of KK .
“Though she be but little, she is fierce!” William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Those little (and later huge and jarring) movements are the one thing I miss about pregnancy, and easily what I loved the most. It is truly awesome, and very “Alien” too. Treasure it! I cannot WAIT to meet my fierce little niece!!
the weirdest part is when they get so big that their elbow or foot pushes you and you can see them move from the outside. super alien, but very special. (until they keep you up at night)
The absolute best part of pregnancy. The only way I knew it was baby and not gas with my first pregnancy was an intense attention to the question, “Do I have to toot?” When the answer was a hard-core no, it was baby. Now with baby #3, my stomach entertained a whole room last night. Total ‘Alien’ movements. I will miss this for always about being pregnant. I am so glad you are reveling those elbowed-from-the-inside moments.
That is so cool!
“intra-uterine ninja-baby kick-flip, dragging one of her teeny baby elbows.” This post really made me want to go watch Aliens. Can I nickname your small child Alien?
CRAZY thing? Post-partum, I sometimes have phantom-baby kicks in my belly. Like I still have wee little E inside my belly, wiggling around. Then I look over and remember that hey… she’s totally out of my body, swinging in her swing!
The kicks are the most beautiful, wonderful thing ever. i definitely always compared it to growing an alien, however. Enjoy it, it goes by so slowly, yet so quickly, and before you know it, you’re in labor! And that part sucks, but after a few weeks, even that part is so wonderful and amazing in your memory.
Sarah – I’m behind on this news, but SO excited for you!! Congrats, lady! You’ll be a stellar mom!