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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Reducing Stillbirth: Count the Kicks Campaign

508 replies

CarGirl · 14/04/2011 19:50

I just want to promote "Count The Kicks"

Please read this, if it helps one Mum not suffer the agony of stillbirth it's worth it

countthekicks.org.uk/

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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wolfhound · 13/05/2011 10:24

Have just booked a private 34 week scan after reading this! And bought a 'count the kicks' bracelet. Like one of the posters further up here though, I'm not clear whether you count 'bouts of kicking' or 'individual kicks' (there are usually several per bout). The Count the Kicks website doesn't really make it clear either. If anyone who uses one of these bracelets can talk it through that would be helpful. Also, with this pg, it's hard to tell the difference between a 'kick' (which you should count) and a 'movement' (which you shouldn't) Oh dear...

Northernlurker · 13/05/2011 19:27

Wolfhound - probably the best thing to do is chat to your midwife about this and see what she suggests. FWIW my understanding is a minimum of about 10 kicks in two hours. The bracelet will be helpful though because as I understand it, it will help you identify your baby's usual pattern. If your baby bounces around a lot over a short time then goes quiet for a bit then bounces again that's fine - that's his or her pattern. Changes in that could alert you to a potential problem. Babies sleep in utero but just like babies on the outside Smile they don't sleep for all that long at a time. There is no natural 'going quiet' phase before labour either - that's one myth you hear quoted a lot.

Original poster
CarGirl · 13/05/2011 19:57

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wolfhound · 14/05/2011 07:34

Thanks northernlurker. Will speak to MW at next appointment. Didn't worry about this at all with first two pregnancies, but somehow worrying more with this one, perhaps because I know it's my last. With DS2, when I was 39+5, I realised I hadn't felt him move for 24 hrs. Went to hospital and the MW (who was lovely) monitored - all was fine, he immediately started kicking. She said the thing about quiet before labour, and in my case it was 'true' - he was born a few hours later. But perhaps coincidence rather than a 'getting ready'.

Original poster
CarGirl · 14/05/2011 12:17

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Overreactionoftheweek · 14/05/2011 13:45

I'm another one who had no idea about this until reading the thread - thanks so much for highlighting it and my heart goes out to those of you who have had to go through this.

I have an anterior plancenta (and am only 17 weeks at the mo) but will definitely be counting the kicks when the time comes.

Original poster
CarGirl · 14/05/2011 18:20

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Original poster
CarGirl · 14/05/2011 21:15

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caramelwaffle · 14/05/2011 23:13

bump

ballstoit · 15/05/2011 08:17

DD2 was induced on due date after the second bout of reduced movements in 2 days. When she arrived (delivered with forceps as her heart rate dropped as I started to push) her cord was wrapped around her neck 3 times.

It's only luck that the the pregnancy book I had told me to contact MW immediately. I've added Count the Kicks and Why 17 to my Facebook page.

Thanks Car Girl

brandnewme · 15/05/2011 08:35

well done for highlighting this.......I'm always amazed at the laid back attitude many mums seem to have when pg.......or perhaps I'm just a paranoid nervous wreck....but also know of too many families (including ourselves) that have lost babies through a variety of reasons Sad

NEVER feel like your wasting a MW or hospitals time - your health and well-being and that of the baby is what's important. I couldn't care less if they thought i was an over-anxious mother if it kept my baby safe.

Northernlurker · 15/05/2011 15:42

Bump and I have again asked HQ to consider some sort of message about fetal movements at the top of the pregnancy section.

Original poster
CarGirl · 15/05/2011 19:11

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louisesh · 15/05/2011 19:48

Bump

moregranny · 16/05/2011 08:56

bump

caramelwaffle · 16/05/2011 10:53

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frasersmummy · 16/05/2011 11:01

given the the thread in activ convos just now from someone worried about lack of movement there should be something at the top of the pregnancy board and its a real shame this thread isnt getting more attention

caramelwaffle · 16/05/2011 11:02

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norwegianwood · 16/05/2011 11:20

bump

buttonmoon78 · 16/05/2011 12:34

I agree - there should be a banner across all pg threads.

I'm v blase (whilst remaining sensible) about most things in pg - food, alcohol etc. But I have never been blase about fetal movement.

TBH I rarely have to stop and count as this one (#4, 29+3) is mega active and breech, so every kick I know about it! But I still have a good quiet time with it every evening. I call it my monitoring time, but I think it's a lovely way of getting to know baby too. We play bump games and push eachother.

I've never worried about cot death - I do what I can to comply with all the recommendations. But stillbirth scares the living daylights out of me. It seems so random, like lightening. To think of getting all that way (pg is not my ideal state so 40wks is like the end of a marathon) and then losing your baby is horrific. I've experienced an early mc (8-10wks) which was pretty awful but nothing like I imagine stillbirth to be.

The thought of having to explain to my older dcs if it happened makes me feel a bit cold and sick.

Keep bumping this thread - as you say, if it helps only one then it's worth it.

moregranny · 16/05/2011 19:25

Bump

Northernlurker · 16/05/2011 19:53

Bump

moregranny · 16/05/2011 22:10

bump

caramelwaffle · 17/05/2011 08:59

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moregranny · 17/05/2011 16:09

bump

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