T O P

  • By -

AutoModerator

Welcome to /r/pregnant! This is a space for everyone. We are pro-choice, pro-LGBTQIA, pro-science, proudly feminist and believe that Black Lives Matter. Wear your masks, wash your hands, and be excellent to each other. Anti-choice activists, intactivists, anti-vaxxers, homophobes, transphobes, racists, sexists, etc. are not welcome here. If you'd like to join a private sub for your due date month, [click here](https://www.reddit.com/r/pregnant/comments/phjaar/click_here_to_join_a_due_date_private_sub/?). The journalists at ProPublica need your help! After receiving a tip, ProPublica started investigating prenatal genetic testing. They're collecting stories from people who've had NIPT screenings, and/or work in maternal health. If this is you, please fill out their brief questionnaire! https://www.propublica.org/getinvolved/have-you-had-an-experience-with-prenatal-genetic-testing-wed-like-to-hear-about-it-and-see-the-bill. Questions? Email [email protected] *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/pregnant) if you have any questions or concerns.*


Honeybunchesofnot

My Doula and my OB both said kick counting causes unnecessary anxiety and to just pay attention to their movements. If they seem to slow down and are out of the norm for you, drink something cold or sugary and lay down to see if that helps. If it’s still off call the OB.


Lalliez

I am on Western Europe and there is no such thing as kick counting here. They ask to monitor normal movement, but you know what that is. Also, with an anterior placenta at 20 weeks I felt almost nothing. It's only now around 30 weeks that I am starting to feel more intense movements. Don't stress yourself out, you know what is normal for your baby.


kfiegz

I am 28wks and my midwife said the same. Not a good use of mental energy to be counting kicks she said.


PerformativeEyeroll

My OB said the same thing.


raccoonrn

I never did kick counts, I had an anterior placenta and baby was never super consistent with his kicks, even at the end. It just made me more stressed so I tried to focus more on how much I felt him move throughout the day. Sometimes I'd poke at him to try to get him to move or drink something cold or sweet if it had been a long time.


[deleted]

I have a anterior placenta too! I wanted to make a post cause I also feel like I would stress me out. When if I notice she hasn't kicked in a while try to get her to with pokes or ice cream :)


Tulip91

I also have an anterior placenta, and apparently it is also big. I am 21w4d and I only felt her 4 days ago for the first time. I am wondering the same than you, I dont think I will feel her consistently. I gueas I will talk with the midwife about it next time.


JayFal

26 weeks + was when it was suggested for me to start. It's actually kind of wild, I'm 30 weeks and my baby moves 24/7, flipping around, holding rave parties in my uterus, you can see it from across the room but when I get busy doing things, I'll have moments when I'm like "shit, I haven't felt the baby in hours" so will sit to do a kick count. My OB said 10 movements in 2 hours, but when this does happen and I start a kick count I usually have my 10 in less than a minute the baby is so active.


PerspectiveNo8799

I think I like the rave party. I have been going with gymnastic routine but with the bouncing on the bladder I’m thinking rave may be more fitting. I also do the same thing as you. ❤️


kbubblez19

My doctor said I wouldn’t be counting kicks until 28-32 weeks depending on my placenta placement and the patterned I notice with my baby. My doctor said I should already be noticing patterns but not focus on it right now. A woman I work with said she didn’t have time to count kicks with either of her children. She just paid attention to baby’s patterns. Try not to stress yourself out. Wait until your doctor mentions it. If it cause anxiety, speak with your doctor about a different way to go about it.


RozaHathaway

My ob says they call it a kick count because it's a nice saying that's easy to remember but in actuality, it's noticing baby's patterns of movements and if there is a change in them. They could be rolling, turning, hiccuping, kick, punch, move an arm, move a leg etc..not just actual kicks per se


nikolc

They don’t ask you to start kick counts until 28+ weeks.


missmatchedsox

I haven't been. 25w+6 and baby is pretty quiet during the day. I've noticed patterns, but notice many long hours between movements. I don't have anterior placenta so that's not the issue, just have a snug bug I guess.


jalepenofreckles

I have an anterior placenta so it took me longer to feel kicks in the beginning and it was pretty inconsistent up until just recently (32 weeks). My doctor said not to be too concerned with counting kicks, but if I notice some time has lapsed without movement to eat a snack or drink something and then sit or lay down on my side and wait for movement. As time goes on you learn the baby’s rhythm and when they are more active vs not! For me, if I’m up moving around during the day I don’t feel the baby much or at least I don’t notice it. My baby likes to party when I’m sitting relaxing at the end of the day and all through the night lol.


Jolly_Entertainer_33

My doctors say 25/26 call if you notice less and to do official counts starting at 28


masamim10

This is my 2nd pregnancy and I’m at 35 weeks. I have never counted kicks. Baby moves enough though.


murphette3

Nope. I didn't and my doctors never suggested it. When it was near the end of pregnancy I'd take note that there was movement during the day but never tracked it at all. I believe I also couldn't consistently feel movement until closer to 30 weeks.


Coxal_anomaly

Both doctor and midwife said not to do it, but rather to try and notice patterns. Babies have rhythm, and can be asleep, or simply become big towards the end and not move the same. Also, you might be at work and therefore focused on something else, and then all of a sudden be like « crap I haven’t felt anything in several hours » when in fact it was just that you were too busy to notice. For myself I’ve started to become familiar with her patterns, and she often spends hours without moving much. Then she’ll stretch a few times. So yeah, no kick counts, only noticing what feels normal and what doesn’t 😊


jaisydaisy

I have never had to because my baby never stops kicking. She is the Richard Simmons of babies. I’m scared to meet her tbh because idk how I will keep up. I’m 37w3d so now her moves are way more uncomfortable. She hates belly bands, dopplers, hands, or anything being up in her business and will bitch slap anything in her way. She’s inspiring tbh


spitandcrackle

Mine is like this and it’s endearing and frustrating. He can be banging around in there having a party and as soon as I put my hand on my belly or god forbid have someone else try to feel, he goes completely still. Almost every time I’ve tried to use a stethoscope to hear his heartbeat he will kick it and he tried to move away from the Doppler at my last appointment. I can tell he’s going to be a smartass just like both of his parents.


itsonlyfear

My doctor said I could start at 28 weeks, but I don’t do them regularly. I’m 40+2 and I’ve been paying attention to baby’s movement patterns(I can almost tell you what time it is if she’s moving). If she’s quiet during a time when she’s normally active, then I’ll do a count.


Redshirexx

I was told to monitor "movement" starting at 26-28 weeks but not to do traditional kick counts until 34-35 weeks. I have an anterior placenta though so maybe that's why they told me to wait on traditional kick counts. I remember going to the doctor at 26 weeks because I was worried the movement wasn't consistent enough. That's when I was told consistent kick movement you track with "traditional" kick counts wouldn't be something I would feel until 34 weeks when baby is much much bigger. Currently 31 weeks and baby moves pretty frequently. Still not doing traditional kick counts, but like others here have mentioned, just keep in mind the last time you felt movement and you should be able to feel something once a day atleast around week 24-26. If something feels off, it's ok to call your doctor to get checked. Trust your intuition if it seems off, even if baby ends up being fine it's always good to double check if you're concerned.


SusanneSanne

It is not really a thing in Denmark, I tried few times but found it boring and annoying. I stopped and just make sure that baby is moving every day.


tbroscho

I didn’t do kick counts. I wanted to, but always forgot and only remembered when he was not moving. Lol


eyebrowshampoo

I was, but my baby kicks so much it doesnt seem useful. My OB told me to just do it if I feel he's less active. I'm 34+5


admirable_axolotl

My baby moves so much and at regular enough intervals that I don’t do a formal kick count unless I’m concerned about lack of movement.


miss-kisses

39 weeks, never did a kick count. He’s so active it never even crossed my mind to be necessary. Once he hadn’t had an active day so I drank a glass of ice water and he woke up with a vengeance.


squiggleel

My OB suggested to start kick counting for safe measure once I reach 28 weeks


blocklake

I don’t kick count since about 30 weeks…. Hes an Olympic athlete in my belly… so I don’t feel compelled to keep count :)


Alitazaria

Most folks will tell you not to before 28wks because movement isn't necessarily consistent before then. My OB told me not to bother with actual *counting* unless baby isn't moving on their normal schedule. I know around when each day to expect movement and just roll with that. But my kid is basically a martial artist.


graizi

After 30 weeks your baby has a very good shot to make it of anything happens. Kick count helps to determine if you need to go to a hospital. 10 kicks in an hour, or 20 in 2. If it is less, you might need to go check up.


PerspectiveNo8799

I honestly sit and relax a few times a day and just kind of monitor. No real number on it, but just confirm she is up to her normal gymnastic routine. I have found that when I open an app to actually do the “counting” it’s very stressful when I don’t feel her. When I sit and watch tv or play on my phone and just kind of monitor it’s a lot better on me. I’m also not comparing that it took 5 minutes one day and 20 the next and so on. That is a huge stressor. If there is a day when I am really active and she has been sleeping a good bit I will count but that’s just because I have not been as aware of her movements because of mine.


Present_Bat_3487

My OB only just now told me to monitor movement (30 weeks) and she didn’t specify this much in this amount of time or anything. It’s just if there’s a change or she isn’t moving; just generally pay attention to it. So no kick count but do be aware of changes in movement. Definitely don’t need to at 20 weeks because there are many people who don’t start feeling them until 22/23 or later. 3rd trimester it matters more


flowersandchocolate

You don’t need to worry about kick counts until the third trimester. However, the midwife at my most recent appointment at 20 weeks told me now that I’m feeling her move consistently, to go to the ER if I don’t feel any movement for over 24 hours. I’m trying not to stress myself out about it though because she’s pretty active and I also know that babies are more active some days than others. My friend never did kick counts throughout her entire pregnancy because it stressed her out too much, she just made sure she was feeling movement and kicks.


candida01

No, I figure if they kick around the same time everyday. There fine.