Counting kicks (fetal movement counting) in pregnancy is a way to monitor your baby’s health. It involves expectant parents tracking fetal kicks and movements during development.
Changes in movement patterns can sometimes indicate that the baby is under stress. Knowing your baby’s normal movement patterns can help you sense when something seems off.
The two main ways to track fetal kicks are:
- Count the number of kicks you feel in a one-hour period.
- Measure the amount of time it takes for baby to kick 10 times.
During pregnancy, you'll most likely begin feeling kicks around 20 weeks. If it’s your first pregnancy, it might be later. If you’ve been pregnant before, you might feel kicks a little sooner. Babies move at different times and in different ways. By the time your third trimester rolls around (28 weeks of pregnancy), you should have a general sense of your baby’s movement patterns.
Discussing fetal movements with your healthcare provider at prenatal visits gives them insight into how your baby is developing.
Kicks from inside your uterus feel soft and may be hard to distinguish (especially at first). The baby is small, so its movements aren’t strong. Some people describe kicks as flutters, swishes, rolls, jabs or butterflies. Fetal movements will vary depending on fetal age and get stronger in the third trimester (28 to 40 weeks in pregnancy).
Don’t panic if you’re not sure what you’re feeling at first. You’ll eventually learn your baby's movement patterns and when they are more likely to be active.
It’s a good idea to always be aware of your fetal movements during pregnancy. Kick counting becomes more important in the third trimester (between weeks 28 and 40), when a lack of movement may suggest the baby is stressed.
Talk with your healthcare provider about when to do kick counting or how many kicks you should feel. There's a range of what's considered normal, and only you and your provider can decide what's normal for you.
There are a few ways to count fetal kicks. Using an app on your phone may help, or you can use a timer or clock and a piece of paper.
Ten movements (kicks, flutters or rolls) in one hour is considered typical fetal movement. Don't panic if you don't feel 10 movements in an hour. Feeling fewer than 10 kicks doesn't mean something is wrong. It may also take a little longer than one hour to feel 10 movements. This is usually OK and not a cause for worry.
Here are the steps to count fetal kicks:
- Choose a time when you are least distracted or when you typically feel the fetus move.
- Get comfortable. Lie on your left side or sit with your feet propped up.
- Place your hands on your belly.
- Start a timer or watch the clock.
- Count each kick. Keep counting until you get to 10 kicks.
- Once you reach 10 kicks, jot down how many minutes it took.
Alternatively, you can set a timer for one hour and grab a piece of paper. Once the timer starts, make a mark on the paper each time you feel a kick. At the end, tally up the number of marks you've made. Remember, you're looking for 10 movements in one hour.
You may even want to make note of the strength of the movements you feel. Sometimes decreased strength of kicks or movement can be a warning sign.
After a few days of kick counting, you'll notice patterns and what’s normal for your baby. Every baby is different, so remember that you’re figuring out what’s normal for your baby. Once you know that, you can call your healthcare provider if you notice significant shifts in fetal movement patterns.
Download the Count the Kicks app to help track your baby’s movements
Healthcare providers have different opinions on how many movements you're looking for within a set amount of time. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that you time how long it takes you to feel 10 kicks, flutters, swishes or rolls. Usually, you want to feel 10 movements in one hour.
If you don't feel 10 movements in two hours, it's OK. There are ways to "wake up" the fetus, or you can try again when the fetus is more active.
If you still can't feel the fetus move, contact your healthcare provider for advice.
Fetal movements are unique, so you may notice he or she is more active at certain times during the day. It’s common for you to notice more movement after you’ve eaten a meal. This is because of the increase in sugar (glucose) in your blood. Others notice more movement in the evenings when they are going to bed. It may also be that you simply don’t feel movement during the day because you're busy, at work or caring for your other children.
Some experts believe that babies might be more active at nighttime because your movements during the day help rock them to sleep in your uterus.
It’s always recommended to count kicks once you determine your baby's active times of the day. Even then, there will be times when he or she doesn’t want to cooperate. Some suggestions for getting your baby to move are:
- Taking a walk or moving your body.
- Drinking juice or another sweet beverage.
- Eating a meal.
- Lying down on your left side (this maximizes blood flow).
- Playing loud music.
Try not to be alarmed if your baby hasn’t moved in several hours. It’s normal for babies to have periods of rest, sleep and activity — just like you.
In some cases, you may just need to increase the time to two hours instead of one hour. If after two hours you haven’t felt 10 movements, it might be time to let your healthcare provider know. They can decide if more monitoring is necessary based on your pregnancy and health history.
Remember, kick counting shouldn’t make you stressed. Talk to your provider to see how many kicks you can expect to feel each day and what to watch for.
Contact your healthcare provider if fetal movements change abruptly, slow down or stop. Most of the time decreased fetal movement isn’t a sign of a problem. It's better to be safe than sorry and let your healthcare provider know. They can check the fetal heart rate or perform an ultrasound to make sure everything is OK.
Babies don’t move less before labor. By the time your pregnancy is full-term (39 weeks), you may feel more rolls and fewer kicks. Some people mistake this for less movement when it’s just a different type of movement. You should still be able to feel the same number of movements per day. Remember, only you know what is normal for your baby. Contact your healthcare provider if you notice changes in your fetal movements.