Fetal Kick Counts

Good fetal movement usually means that the baby is receiving enough blood and oxygen. Contrary to adults, babies have short sleep cycles during the day and night, therefore you will only feel the fetal movements intermittently. 

 

Each pregnancy is different and the way the movements will be felt is very dependent upon several factors:

 

• the amount of amniotic fluid

• the size and position of the baby

• the location of the placenta

 

Fetal movements can be felt as strong kicks and turns, but also as simple rolls, twists and swishes.  Usually as the pregnancy approaches term, the gentle rolling movements will be the most common.

 

Beginning at 28 WEEKS gestation, start counting these movements TWICE DAILY. This can be done anytime during the day, whenever it is most convenient for you. Pick the time when your baby seems to be most active. Babies are often more active after a meal or after a short walk. If it is difficult to feel the movements, you can lie on your left side and put your hands on your lower tummy.

 

FEEL FOR 10 MOVEMENTS IN ONE HOUR. AFTER YOU HAVE REACHED THE COUNT OF 10, YOU CAN STOP COUNTING.

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If you have not felt your baby move ten times within one hour, drink 2 glasses of iced cold water or other sugar beverage (if you do not have gestational diabetes) and lie down on your left side.  If your baby still has not moved (10 times after the additional hour of counting) call the clinic anytime day or night. You might be asked to go to the clinic or to labor and delivery for some external fetal monitoring. This usually does not take more than an hour or two.  In the great majority of cases, no problems are found, but this extra monitoring will allow us to be aware of any changes at an early stage.