The First Movements 🤍

The moment I had been waiting for

I think one of the things I had been waiting for most during pregnancy was finally feeling our Mini move. Everyone talks about those first little flutters and kicks, and I think I had convinced myself that when it happened, I would just know.

But as the weeks went by and I still hadn't felt anything, that familiar pregnancy anxiety started creeping in again.

One of my friends is due only three days before me, and she had already started feeling her baby move. Of course, instead of reminding myself that every pregnancy is different, my brain immediately went to, "Why can't I feel anything yet? Shouldn't I be feeling something by now?"

As it turns out, I have an anterior placenta, which explained why it was taking a little longer for me to feel those first movements. But before knowing that, it was definitely another one of those things I found myself quietly worrying about.

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Was That the Baby?

Then, at exactly 21 weeks, it finally happened.

I was lying there one night when I felt something I had never felt before. It wasn't a big obvious kick or anything dramatic. It was almost like the lightest little flick from inside my belly.

I remember lying completely still thinking, "Was that movement?"

I wasn't even confident enough to say that it definitely was. I think I'd always imagined that feeling your baby move for the first time would be this instantly recognisable moment where you'd just know exactly what had happened.

But how are you supposed to recognise a feeling you've literally never felt before?

The next day, I was sitting at my desk at work when I felt that same little flicking sensation again — only this time it was much more prominent.

And that was when I started thinking, okay... I think that's actually our baby.

It's such a strange feeling to describe because people can tell you what movement feels like — butterflies, bubbles, flutters, flicks — but until you actually experience it yourself, none of those descriptions really explain it.

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From Tiny Flicks to Little Gymnastics

Since then, those tiny little flicks have definitely started getting stronger.

I've also started noticing when our Mini seems to be most active. When I'm up walking around or busy doing things, I barely feel anything. But the second I sit down and relax, or climb into bed and sit there scrolling on my phone, apparently it's time for gymnastics. 

It's become one of my favourite parts of the day.

There's something so incredible about finally having this little reminder that there's actually a tiny person in there, moving around and doing their own thing while I'm just going about my day.

Of course, with movement came a whole new thing for me to overthink. 

I'd had a few days where I was feeling heaps of movement, and then suddenly I went about two days without really feeling anything. Naturally, I started worrying again. I even said to Tenison that I was getting nervous because I hadn't felt the baby move.

And then came Grand Final day.

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Dad Woke the Baby Up

It was Saturday and the footy Grand Final was on — and anyone who knows Tenison knows that saying he's a passionate footy fan might be putting it lightly.

He was yelling at the TV throughout the game, and when the team he'd hoped would win actually won, he was yelling and carrying on at the screen while I sat there laughing at him.

And suddenly...

there was our Mini.

After I'd spent two days worrying because everything had been quiet, it was almost like Bub heard Dad carrying on about the footy and decided it was time to wake up and join in.

All of a sudden I could feel those little kicks again.

I couldn't help but laugh. Apparently Dad's Grand Final celebrations were enough to get someone's attention in there. And judging by the little footy kicks I was getting in return, maybe we've already got another footy fan on our hands.

It was such a tiny, ordinary moment, but it's one I don't think I'll forget.

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A Feeling I Don't Think You Can Explain

Feeling our baby move is genuinely one of the most incredible feelings in the world.

Before pregnancy, I don't think I could ever have understood what it would feel like to know there's this tiny little person inside you, and then suddenly feel them.

For so much of early pregnancy, everything happens without you really being able to see or feel it. You know your baby is there. You see them at ultrasounds. You watch your belly slowly start to grow. You buy little things for the nursery and imagine what life is going to look like when they're finally here.

But those first movements somehow make everything feel different.

Now there are these little moments throughout my day where it's just me and Bub. I'll be sitting quietly and suddenly feel a little kick, and nobody else in the room even knows it's happening.

It's our own tiny little conversation.

And after spending so many weeks wondering when I would finally feel something, I now find myself sitting still just waiting for the next little kick.

I don't think anyone could ever properly explain this feeling to you before you experience it yourself.

But now I understand why mums say they'll never forget it. 🤍