FamilyLife Forums

I'm in the early part of my second trimester...

Sometimes, when I wake up in the morning, my upper stomach is soft, but throughout the day it gets hard, then goes back to soft, etc. Could this be the baby moving around? I don't feel my stomach hardening, but if I happen to touch it I can feel that it's hard...

The other night, my DH was talking to the baby: ) and my stomach became hard again! I was wondering if the baby was moving around... : )

Congratulations!! I just had my first baby 2 months ago.

It sounds like it's one of 2 things. It's either what you think and it's the baby moving, or it could be Braxton Hicks contractions. Basically, your uterus just practicing for the impending labor.

My baby girl was very active and it got to the point as my pregnancy progressed you could see an elbow sticking out or tell it was her foot pushing on my stomach. It's such an amazing thing one your little one starts moving around and there's no doubt that's what the feeling is. It was a while before I started showing so that's when it really became real that there was someone in there.

Ohhhh....I'm so excited! : ) This is our first baby too. I'm waiting to feel the baby now, but the stomach thing that's happening right now is exciting too! I'm already showing because I'm so short, which isn't bad, but I wanna feel my baby! : )

How was labor? Was it what you expected?

What that is, is your body ... all parts and the baby pushing around and moving to make room for the "intruder" that is growing... and when you eat your stomach is fuller and pushes up, as does your kidneys... and down.  And it will get more and more until at the end, you will feel that it is ALL baby there and wonder where all your other organs fit. LOL.

Now that you do feel this, get a "stretch mark" cream and use it faithfully.  They have so many wonderful things now for new mom's... when I was having babies... all I could get for stretch marks was plain ole "cocoa butter"... but it worked... 7 kids.. one mark. NOW.. how does that happen? God.. alone.

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AND HE IS DRESSED IN A ROBE DIPPED IN BLOOD AND HIS NAME IS CALLED, "THE WORD OF GOD"... REVELATION 19:13

Don't forget, it's not just a baby in there, you have a amniotic sack, and a placenta growing also... pushing stuff around!  My placentas were always as big as my kids.. and it seemed when my water broke it was about a half of a gallon... ALL OVER! LOL. 

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AND HE IS DRESSED IN A ROBE DIPPED IN BLOOD AND HIS NAME IS CALLED, "THE WORD OF GOD"... REVELATION 19:13

I'm short too so when I started showing my stomach went straight OUT!! :)

Labor...well, my little Angel didn't want to make her appearance. They induced labor 11 days after my due date...36 hours worth of induced labor later, they decided to do a C-section because she was 9.5 lbs and hiting her head on my pelvic bone...so no, not at all what I expected. I had trouble at first because I felt like I started motherhood as a failure because I couldn't deliver her vaginally.

And unlike kensington, I have many stretch marks to show for it,but I'm hoping they will fade some in time!!

But even if they don't, she's worth EVERY minute of labor and every mark I'll ever bear on my body!

Well, I never had a C-secton...  7 babies all delivered the old fashioned way..

Of course I limp and I wet my pants when I cough after drinking ice tea.. but hey.. what the heck!  Right?  Right?  :-0

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AND HE IS DRESSED IN A ROBE DIPPED IN BLOOD AND HIS NAME IS CALLED, "THE WORD OF GOD"... REVELATION 19:13

I think I'm beginning to enjoy my pregnancy. I had just moved to a new state and a few weeks later I found out that I was pregnant. So, I had all of the "moving" emotions along with all of the pregnant ones : )

I had no idea that I would have to buy maternity clothes so early. I think that I started showing around 10 weeks. My husband was kinda smirking at me the other night because I was trying on some of my regular clothes, and they just wouldn't fit! I am just amazed at how fast everything is growing...

I'm trying to plan something for me and my husband to do together...I was thinking of getting a hotel for a weekend. What do you ladies think? We've both been so busy working and talking about "baby stuff" Do any of you have some ideas?

For me, my belly was hard when baby's rump was pushing against it.

 

The doc would verify...ahhh...there's the baby's rear end.

 

Probably the way the baby is sitting, but Braxton Hicks are totally an option as well.

It sounds like contractions. If you ever think you're contracting regularly (tightening of abdomen every 10-15 minutes, or cramping, or just a back ache here and there)  or you're in early labor, call your doctor or go to the hospital to be monitored. They can put you on the monitor to check for contractions (some people in preterm labor don't know it until too late!). They may do a test called a fetal fibrinectin to see if there is a possibility your baby might come early. If you ever notice any leaking of fluid or vaginal bleeding (or spotting if you're early may mean your cervix is dilating), then go to the hospital. This is especially true if you're under 36 weeks gestation because they would want to try to stop your labor. Also, if you notice less than 10 fetal movements in an hour (lay down half an hour after eating at the same time each day for "kick counts"). If you count up to 10, you can stop counting. If less, than let your doctor know. I tell my patient's that it's always better to be safe than sorry, and it's always better to come in and get checked out than to stay home wondering or have the baby at home without medical care. Stay safe and God bless!!!
 ~A labor and delivery nurse. ^_^

How exciting :) congratulations!

The other night, my DH was talking to the baby: ) and my stomach became hard again! I was wondering if the baby was moving around

It was the father and child bonding.  ;)

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John14:17 That helper is the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept him, because it doesn't see or know him. You know him, because he lives with you and will be in you.
Psalm 34:1

My husband and I had our first child, a daughter, in March.  She just turned 4 months old yesterday!

The early part of the second trimester.  Hmm.  I would think that either your baby is moving or you are having BH contractions.  I tend to lean to the contractions because your little one isn't very large yet.

In any event, I would mention this to your doctor at your next appointment.  If this was me, I would call them ASAP, actually.

Are you drinking enough fluids?  Dehydration can bring on contractions.

CONGRATULATIONS!

SummerSkies_08:

I'm trying to plan something for me and my husband to do together...I was thinking of getting a hotel for a weekend. What do you ladies think? We've both been so busy working and talking about "baby stuff" Do any of you have some ideas?

I think that you and your Husband getting away for a little "couple" time would be really nice.

The second trimester is usually really nice - you have energy, you are not "huge" yet, etc.

And let's be honest (at least for my Husband and I) the pregnancy "loving" was great!  Hehe!

kensington7:

Of course I limp and I wet my pants when I cough after drinking ice tea.. but hey.. what the heck!  Right?  Right?  :-0

This actually happens to my Mother!  LOL!  Poor thing.

Let us know how your baby is doing in your womb.  :)

Luke 1:44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.

Elizabeth was in her second trimester when John leaped for joy.

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John14:17 That helper is the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept him, because it doesn't see or know him. You know him, because he lives with you and will be in you.
Psalm 34:1