Hearing your baby’s heart beat is one of those experiences that I cannot truly describe using words. If you’ve never experienced it, it will be hard for you to truly understand that feeling you get at hearing buh-bump buh-bump buh-bump over and over again. Your whole body fills up with joy and your own heart starts dancing along to the rhythm of your baby’s heart.
How I wish I could hear that rapid drum beat every day…
Unfortunately, I cannot be at my OB/GYN’s office every day. And, though there are tools out there you can purchase to help you listen to your baby’s heart beat at home, I’ve never heard of anyone who had real luck getting them to work.
So, how do you survive those excruciating 4-5 weeks in between prenatal appointments during the beginning months? Those months where you can’t yet feel the baby’s movements, have no clue what’s going on inside that belly of yours, and are dying to know all is ok with your baby.
Focus
I try to focus on taking care of myself and in turn, my baby. I make sure to eat often, drink lots of water, and take my daily vitamin. I try very hard not to sit and wonder how the baby’s doing. It’s not like I’ll be able to answer the question, so what’s the point of stressing my mind over it?
Trust
This is a hard one, but I have to trust that all is well since I have no reason to believe otherwise. The mind is funny and can play tricks on you. Any little thing can become something. Even the lack of something, such as the absence of pregnancy symptoms one day, can get your mind going. I remind myself in those moments that if there are no bad signs, then I need not worry.
In the past few weeks, I’ve been reminded how hard pregnancy can be. Apparently, the last five years have overridden the memories of my first pregnancy. I forgot how much all the emotions and extra hormones can affect you.
So, for now, I’m trying to keep my mind busy and not worry. But…I am counting down the days until our next OB visit.
