Dear Doctor ‘P’ 38

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Our team of experts
Team leader
Dr. Blasio Omuga
Lecturer, School of Nursing Sciences, University of Nairobi
Consultant Obstetrician/Gynaecologist
Based at Doctors’Plaza, Clinic No.18,Kenyatta National Hospital

How do I tell my baby is moving?

What exactly is foetal movement? Does the baby kick with legs, jab with the fists or maybe change their position, and should I be able to tell the difference between these movements? I ask because I am 21 weeks along in my first pregnancy.

Foetal movement is exactly what it sounds like: When the foetus moves his/her arms, legs or entirely body. At 21 weeks, it is practically impossible to tell just what appendage the baby may be using to give you a jab or a flutter (unless, of course, you were to watch a sonogram the time you felt the foetal movement).

You will become more familiar with your baby’s movement and her/his parts during the last trimester. You may clearly see a foot, an elbow, the rear end, the back or the head pushing out against your skin. For subsequent pregnancies, most women ‘feel’ the baby sooner.

I am unwell. Are we okay?

I am five months pregnant and have been feeling nauseated, causing me to vomit a lot. I am experiencing severe cramping, back pain and fever as well. I am not even sure if the baby is moving or if there is a heartbeat. Are my symptoms normal or should I consider this a high risk pregnancy?

It is normal to have fever, nausea, back pain and cramping at five months of pregnancy. This is the time you should feel most comfortable. You therefore certainly need to see a doctor urgently, who should ask you to do an ultra-sound scan besides running a physical examination on you to determine the wellness of the baby and yours too.

In search of a kick

Is it harmful to sort of ‘disturb’ the baby in search of a kick?
You see, I am 25 weeks along with my pregnancy and I have felt the kicks on many occasions. Unfortunately, my husband has missed the voluntary ones and therefore sometimes shakes my tummy to make the baby move and kick. Is this harmful?

There is nothing wrong as the baby is well-cushioned by the amniotic fluid. Besides, think of the times you are in a moving vehicle and your belly shakes. It is probably the same effect. I would encourage it as it is a form of bonding for all of you. Though let it not be too much or so hard that you are uncomfortable. Enjoy the bonding.

She felt something ‘drop’ in her vagina
My wife, who is three months pregnant with our second baby, felt something ‘drop’ in her vagina when she was taking a shower recently. We examined and could not determine anything wrong,—in truth we did not know what to look out for. But there was neither blood nor discharge. What do you think it could be?

In the first few months of pregnancy, muscles, ligaments and tendons stretch and reposition themselves. These readjustments sometimes cause uterine spasms or other movements. Did you know that during the course of pregnancy, a woman’s intestines can be relocated as far as 12 inches? It is possible that your wife was just very conscious of this kind of movement. A uterine spasm or ‘gut shifting’ may have push pressure on the vagina-like a dropping feeling. The other possibility is that your wife may have felt a flutter of foetal movement.

Is my baby fine?

I am 20 weeks pregnant with my second child. I have felt the baby move a couple of times,but I sometimes go days without feeling any movement. My doctor did a check up on us and told me the baby’s heartbeat and everything else was okay. I keep thinking the baby does not have all of its limbs but I cannot confirm so now as my next ultrasound is when I’ll be 21 weeks. Is it normal to not feel constant kicking at this stage?

At 20 weeks, you may or may not notice foetal movement. If you have noticed it once and have not felt it again, it is probably because of the baby’s new position. The baby could be facing and kicking inward instead of outward (where you can feel it). It is also possible that the foetus is moving when you are sleeping or too busy to notice the movements. Also, note that the majority of the foetal movements are not felt by the mother. At 28 weeks,foetal movement is much more obvious and continuous. If you notice a lack of movement for 24 hours at 28 weeks, consult your doctor. However, if you feel you must confirm with the doctor now, do it so that your fears can be allayed.

END: PG38/8