counting kicks

[MissTwister]

I'm 21 weeks and feeling baby kick every day. However there are long periods where I feel nothing and then I am not sure if i should worry. For instance I haven't felt much since I went to bed last night and also went several hours in the day yesterday without feeling anything - but other days they are more active and kick all day.

I am finding it really hard to work out when I should be monitoring this - online guidance seems to vary massively - some places say from 28 weeks but CTK says from 20 weeks you should start noticing patterns. But then most places say at 20-25 weeks its changeable and not to worry.

Am so confused!! Any help?

You can notice patterns and it still be too early to count. Such as "when I do feel them it's usually in an evening" for example. It is far too early to rely on kicks as they are still small enough to tuck away in a position where you cannot feel them. I was told 27/28 weeks onwards.

OK great thanks, so no need to check with hospital if they go quiet for a while at this point!

I'm 41 weeks and still haven't noticed a pattern!

You can expect them to go quiet at that point. They play hide and seek. No need to worry at 21 weeks.

I've asked this question of three midwives and one obstetric consultant. All of them told me not to worry, 10 kicks a day is what you should be looking out for. My little one has active days and quieter days, but as long as I get those 10 movements, I'm happy! There's so much conflicting advice out there, it's very easy to get stressed and confused. Others may disagree, but I'm choosing to go with what I've been told in person by experts.

I'm currently 27+3, and his patterns have changed so much over the past couple of months, it's really not worth agonising over. But always, always call triage if you're concerned, they're ace.

Thanks all!

have you done the ice trick? If you get worried about babys movement make a cold jug of squash or water with loads of ice cubes, gulp as much down as you can then lie down on your back for half an hour/40mins with your hands resting on your tummy. You should feel some movement within that time, i've done it a couple of times recently on advice of labour ward when i've had days with not much activity and it's done the trick every time you can try eating something sweet as well if not then ring labour ward for advice/check up x

Visit the count the kicks website for upto date information.

Cold drinks etc isn't great advice (it's very out of date), it might make your baby move and confirm it's still alive but it doesn't tell you if it is in distress.

10 movements a day is also the old advice, if you are used to feeling 40 kicks but only get ten then that is a sign that something could be wrong, counting to 10 would mean you miss potential signs that there could be a problem. It's about your baby's own pattern/ amount of movements, they no longer use (or no longer should use) a 'one size fits all approach. It is always best to check with your midwife and ask to be monitored if you notice a change in your babies movements.

My midwives and consultant seem upto date with the latest info regarding movement, the team I had with my first child weren't (cold drink/ sugary snack etc) weren't and their lack of current information very nearly lead to me not bringing my baby home alive.

Not meant to scare you but again I recommend count the kicks for the best advice on RFM.

I agree with Trunkis (not about Trunkis though as I quite like them).

The cold drinks think can be useful in some specific situations (like needing a period of monitoring in hospital and the baby's asleep- they gave me ice cubes to crunch when in labour because ds was asleep and they needed a good, active trace) but it should not be used for reassurance or determining whether everything's satisfactory in utero.

There is no 'normal'. You can't pigeon hole kicks into ten a day and you're fine. There's what's normal for that pregnant woman. Same as anything with pregnancy, there's no knowing for sure what's happening and if in doubt, the midwives and the hospital should be checking what's actually happening. Things like cold drinks and home dopplers give very limited information about what's actually occurring.

Regardless, at 21 weeks, the op does not need to be concerned about changeable patterns of movement unless there are other indicators or concerns.

My original question was that my baby is moving every day but not in a regular pattern and has long quiet periods of hours at a time - I wasn't sure if this was an issue so early on. I think the consensus was that at 21 weeks this is normal and not to worry.

Trunkisareshite I'm not sure if you're answering me or poster above but I don't think I need to see anyone at this point? Also the count the kicks site is the one that confused me - very unclear as to when you should monitor from!

sorry if it's outdated it's what a labour ward midwife got me to do last weekend - just trying to help!

Lego it isn't your fault - that's bad practice and outdated advice from your local unit. The current advice from CtK and the Royal College is to find a pattern (usually evident around or after 24w), and to report any change from it.

Cold drinks and the like are good to wake a dozy baby but the movement pattern should return to normal after that 'prompt'.

Long periods of rest/unfelt movements are normal at 21w, but if at any stage of your pregnancy you are worried, it's not unreasonable to call and talk it through with your local unit.

At 21 weeks my baby's movement wasn't really that recognisable. Some days she was really active just after food, and then i would get a very quiet day and really worry, but then just before bed she would start to wiggle. Since about 26/27 weeks she has been very active, literally getting a wiggle or kick every minute. So i am now aware that she is just a very active baby and i will always keep a look out incase movement decreases. But i remember worrying at around 21/22 weeks that she would have long movements of being quiet! But, as always, give triage a call if you are worried!