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Fetal tachycardia
By ella | December 21, 2007
Matthew and I went out to the pub for a rare meal out. All I wanted to do was lie down - the pain I had been feeling for a couple of days on the right side of my stomach was bad enough to make me push my plate of chocolate cake and ice cream away and attempt to recline on the very uncomfortable bench I was on.
I went to see the midwife the next day. As soon as she put the Doppler on my stomach I could hear that the baby’s heartrate was much too fast. She started to count. I waited apprehensively, trying to quieten the two rowdy children I had taken with me, thinking mistakenly that they would behave, and wanting to ask why the heartrate would be so fast but not wanting to interrupt her. We waited ten minutes, forcing small talk as if nothing was wrong while she checked my blood pressure, pulse and temperature. She felt the baby’s position and placed the Doppler on again.
‘I think it would be a good idea to go up to the hospital for monitoring,’ she said.
‘When?’
‘Now.’
I silently thanked God that Matthew was at home and I could dump Harry and William back with him and go straight there.
The monitoring was reassuring, but not entirely. I am now on high monitoring and every kick and movement that I have so enjoyed, but taken for granted, has taken on new significance. Or rather the lack of any movement has, meaning I now stop what I am doing if the baby hasn’t kicked for as little as two minutes, lie down and poke the baby until it moves. I can almost hear it sighing, like a recalcitrant teenager, with frustration at me. Not only that but when it’s born I will once again have to become the neurotic first-time mother I once was and poke the baby when it is asleep/quiet/otherwise absorbed just to be sure it is still breathing. Otherwise it will start feeling deprived.
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Categories: Pregnancy
Oh, E, you don’t need that, do you! I hope it all settles down soon and you can relax a little again.
Here’s hoping it’s “just one of those things” that pops up with pregnancy from time to time and everything goes smoothly from now on. Thinking of you!
Is that baby already giving you a hard time? ;>
I remember when I was in labor with Isobel I was relaxing in the tub in my room and I was finally feeling comfortable but she had stopped moving (I was monitored the whole labor) so they asked me to start poking her to try and get her to move but she wouldn’t at all so they made me get out of the tub. Of course when I got out she woke right up and began moving all about. Now it’s the same when I put her down for a nap. If I lay there next to her she sleeps great. The second I get up she’s all awake again! Hope the next few weeks are more relaxing! And Merry Christmas!!
Kristen - I think it’s given me a hard time since it was conceived!
And Merry Christmas to you and everyone who visits here.
I just hope the baby won’t come out grumpy from all the disturbed sleep…