At about 16 weeks pregnant, you’ll start to feel butterfly-like flutters. Some women have even mistaken these flutters for gas or hunger pains.
But by 20 weeks pregnant, the kicks have become stronger, and the movements are called “quickening.”
Between 24 weeks and 28 weeks pregnant, those little flutters will have turned into full-blown jabs.
What is Kick Counting?
Kick counting is really simple, and it’s just what it sounds like. You’re counting baby’s kicks and movements to monitor how he or she is doing. Tumbles, kicks, and punches all count, no matter how subtle.
Although those hiccups can be cute, those little bumps don’t count toward kick counts.
Why You Should Count Baby’s Kicks
kick counting is a safe way to monitor baby’s well-being. It’s such a reliable indicator that studies suggest, in the absence of ultrasound, “fetal movement counting and controlling can be used as a primary screening method to assess fetal health.”
By keeping track of their movements, you’ll also be able to tell when something is off. It’s important to start doing kick counts to establish a pattern of what is normal for your little one. That way, if his or her movements significantly increase or decrease, you’ll be able to tell the difference right away.
Plus, spending that time monitoring and loving on your belly is a great way to bond with your baby!
Should All Moms Kick Count?
Absolutely! Even if you’re not a high-risk pregnancy, the benefits of monitoring fetal movements are still there.
How to Do Kick Counts
1. Wait until baby is 28 weeks
Since your baby will be too small to feel much early on in your pregnancy, it’s not recommended to start kick counting until 28 weeks pregnant. Once baby reaches 28 weeks, his/her movements are much more predictable and consistent.
If you’re a high-risk pregnancy or carrying multiples, you’ll want to start doing kick counts a little earlier, at 26 weeks. It’s also recommended to monitor kick counts at the same time every day so that you really start getting a feel for baby’s patterns.
2. Pick the right time of day
Pick the time of day when your little one is more active, which is usually the evening. Don’t put yourself in panic mode by choosing the afternoon if you know your baby is usually resting. Sometimes though, even when they’re normally active at a certain time, your baby may be resting and may need a little more prompting to move around.
3. Assume the position
Get into a comfortable position—either sitting or laying down—preferably on your left side. Relax, and concentrate on feeling your baby move.
Don’t try to do this while you’re doing the dishes or out running errands. It’s too easy to get distracted and miss movements, which defeats the whole purpose of this exercise!
4. See how long it takes baby to move 10 times
You want to time how long it takes for your baby to move 10 times. Usually they’ll move 10 times in the span of 30 minutes, however, it may take up to 2 hours.
What’s Normal When Monitoring Kick Counts?
What’s normal for your baby will vary from what’s normal for another. But as a general rule of thumb:
“After 28 weeks the baby should have at least three active periods of movement in a 24 hour period, in each of those active periods the baby should move at least 6 times in a half hour (or 10 movements in an hour). Small, subtle movements also count as movement.” — Cynthia Mason, CNM, APN, MSN
As you’re monitoring kick counts, keep track of them on an app or a printed fetal kick counts tracker like this one. They’re simple and easy to use, and it’s a good way to have a record to show your doctor or midwife—this way you’ll be able to establish a baseline and know what’s normal for your baby.
What Things Make Baby Kick?
When you’re up and about, your movements often lull your baby to sleep. So the best time to track kick counts is when you’re resting. You’re more likely to feel baby kick if:
- You lay on your left side (for optimal circulation)
- Eat or drink something, especially if it’s sweet or cold
- It’s evening
- You make loud noises, like yell, sing, laugh, or play music
- It’s between 9 pm and 1 am and you’re not moving much (they’re responding to your declining blood sugar levels)
When Should You Be Worried?
- If you can’t feel baby move 10 times within two hours at the usual time, wait an hour and try again.
- If you’re still not feeling anything, contact your birth professional right away for further monitoring.
- If you don’t feel any movements, your baby may not be getting enough oxygen or nutrients through the placenta.
Your baby’s movements will increase in frequency and intensity as the pregnancy progresses, so also inform your birth team if movements start to weaken or decline. You want to keep them updated if kick counts change drastically from one time to the next.
And if you’re counting kicks then you’re preparing for birth. You deserve to have the birth experience you want, and our Hypnobirth Class can help you achieve it. Or if you’re still in your first trimester then join us on the Just Found Out Course. Don’t leave your birth to chance – join us and gain the knowledge, tools, and support you need to have a safe, empowering, and fulfilling birth.
Enroll now and take the first step towards the birth of your dreams!
