Worried

[Awaken]

Argh, I always have such crazy fears. Last night at the fireworks, it was SO loud, I realized all of a sudden that it probably wasn't a good idea for the baby to be there! The way it is near our house, anywhere you sit you are practically in front of the fireworks so it was deafening! And I know you shouldn't go to loud concerts, etc when pregnant! And then thinking of how ultrasound and dopplers can agitate babies in utero, I thought yikes! This is a hundred times louder than that! I was so paranoid that the baby was scared and upset inside

And to make it worse, I really haven't felt much movement since then. The baby had turned in the past few days- I think with it's back toward my back, and arms and legs in front b/c I had been feeling a lot more kicking right near my navel and lower in my uterus, and it had been kicking pretty regularly in the mornings when I woke up- and today, nothing. I feel pressure under my ribs again like I had been, so I am hoping the decrease in movement is only due to change in position.

And I know I'm only 19.5 wks so you don't necessarily feel consistent movement daily at this stage. But I just have this awful sense of fear all of a sudden and am imagining the worst! I"m sure everything will be ok- I just really need some good kicks to reassure me.

Thanks for letting me getting this off my chest.

[TCMoulton]

I actually questioned my Dr. about this one when I was pregnant because I had a friend who was super hyper about everything (Dr told her everything was bad for baby) and she wouldn't go to loud movies for fear of the baby's hearing and she told me that for the noise to hurt the baby it would have to be so loud that it would damage your hearing first as the noise would be muffled by your skin/fat layers before it reached the baby!
I wouldn't worry Mama!

[Kavita]

Keep in mind too that along with all the muscle (uterine muscle, abdominal muscles, etc.) and fat and skin, the baby is also in water. I don't think if you were in the same location in a swimming pool or with your head in a bathtub, the fireworks would have sounded as loud! Your intestines are probably lots louder to the baby!! I don't think that it is going to hurt the baby.

Also, for what it's worth, the neural system still isn't totally developed, so there is some debate over whether they can even feel pain until about 26 weeks. They ARE developing reflexes, and will move away if you poke them! It's my opinion that they move more from the poking with doppler than because of any pain due to the ultrasound, but that's my belief. I've noticed that my baby moves around/out of the way just the same when I try to listen with an fetoscope as with a doppler. I think they just react to something pushing in there! JMO!

Hugs! I understand the fear--I find it very upsetting now if DH and I fight, because I don't like to think the baby is hearing/feeling me angry! Hey, if you weren't a good mom, you wouldn't care about any of this!

[flapjack]

ITA with everyone about the noise thing. Babies can hear, but not clearly, as far as I'm aware.

[MrsMoe]

concerts are ok to go to honey, no worries.

[Awaken]

Thanks That is all really good to know. I just get these irrational fears sometimes even though overall I think I've been pretty relaxed! And I am totally not one of those 'follow every pregnancy rule' type person either (hey, haven't even cracked "What to Expect' this time!). I just wish it hadn't coincided with feeling less movement!

[crsta33]

I'm the queen of irrational fears...and they didn't get better once the baby was born! I had some terrible dreams about my baby encountering the pin cushion and have just recently gotten over that fear.

But, to reassure you about the movement...I'm sure it's not b/c of the noise unless the sounds made the baby change position (and it sounds like that's what has happened) If the noise was loud enough to cause damage to the baby's ears, I don't think he or she would stop moving. I get that pressure under my ribs from little feet...so maybe baby is heading for a head down position and has those little moving pokey parts pointed toward your back right now.

Sometimes if you drink a glass of juice and lay down you can get baby moving enough to feel. As soon as the little one gives you a few kicks, you'll feel better.

Christa

[Gunter]

I am with you on the combonation of not feeling movement with or after something alarming. I didn't feel movement one day and woke up to old blood, too. I was horrified and called me mid-wife while frantically searching online for info! All is well though! Let's be thanful that we are so aware of our babes in utero. Perhaps it's a good sign that we will be attentive mothers. Just need to get that balance down where we don't worry too much, eh?

I greatly enjoy going to concerts! This summer it has been even more enjoyable b/c I want to expose the babe to good music! I hope that once s/he is born, they will recognize certain songs or voices of friends who are musicians. It brings me joy and I don't worry too much about hurting the babe's hearing.