How to kick count, without feeling kicks/movements?

[dg93]

I know it's a strange question, I'll be 25 weeks on Tuesday and I've been told to start counting babies kicks as I'm high risk, but I have an anterior placenta and feel maybe 1 kick every 3/4 days.

I have an appointment with my midwife on Tuesday so I will ask her, but does anyone have experience with a similar situation?

I know my baby is fine as we had an ultrasound a couple of days ago, but the last time I felt any movement was Tuesday, so I have no idea how im expected to count kicks? 😭

It's a bit early for counting kicks, even being high risk. I've always been told to start at 28 weeks and this is my 3rd high risk baby. My placenta is anterior this time too but midwife said it shouldn't be too different as baby gets bigger/stronger, they will have their own pattern as usual. You can download the count the kicks app, set aside half an hour or so a day to sit with your feet up or lie on your side and count each movement on the app, it records how long it takes to get to 10 kicks. Then after a few days you should notice your babies pattern. But I would say it's too early to start yet, I'd leave it until you've spoken with your midwife.

Hopefully you're not too worried! I've askari got an anterior placenta and hardly felt anything until recently (34 weeks). I've been in for fortnightly scans and have seen the baby wriggling around when I'm not feeling a thing - so I don't think what you've been told is particularly helpful! I've just been told to try and figure out what's "normal", which for me isn't very much.

One thing I've found is because the movements are so slight, if I'm busy at work or something I think I just don't notice them at all (and then get all worried), whereas at the weekends I "feel" a lot more. I'm not convinced the baby yet knows the day of the week and is actually more active at weekends

It's so difficult with an anterior placenta. My first was and honestly some days I'd feel a lot then nothing for couple of days - even late on in pregnancy. I went to hospital for reduced movements so many times. Like you I could see the baby moving on scans but just couldn't feel her and there was no normal.
This pregnancy the placenta is posterior and its crazy the difference in the amount and force of the movements I feel. She still has quieter days/times but not to the extent that I can't feel her like last pregnancy. Hopefully the midwife has some advice for you because all I was told was to keep going in if movements reduced so I did. It was so frustrating but midwives were always really helpful and said I'd done the right thing in going in. In the end was induced at 38+3 with reduced movements being just one reason why. I was actually relieved as was fed up of the constant worry of not feeling her, second guessing myself etc.

i'm 27, nearly 28, weeks with an anterior placenta and i find she has a pattern of a couple of really active days and then can go quiet for a few days on end. Panicked at first but it depends where she is laying. if she's lower down behind the placenta then i can barely feel anything even if watching it on a scan or can hear it on the doppler. If she's above my belly button she's a little dancer.

I've been diagnosed with GD though so now having weekly check ups anyway so that's quite reassuring.

Would have thought 25 weeks would be way too early to kick count. I didn't even feel mine for the first time til 25 weeks!

Are you in the UK? I didn’t think the advice was to count kicks anymore but to notice what’s “normal” for your baby (and that can be from around 28 weeks)?

My MW said it’s movements. Mine hasn’t kicked more than 5 times and I’m 33 weeks, also AP. I was told you want at least 8-10 episodes of movement a day.

Thanks for the replies ladies, this is really helpful and definitely calmed me down as I was really starting to panic!

I'm going to ask advice on the counting from 25 weeks, I have 2 midwifes so I'll ask the other to confirm when I should start counting, I also thought it was a bit early.

I also have an appointment at 27 weeks with my consultant so I'll confirm it then too.

Ive been having nightmares about going in for reduced movements, as I can already tell that's going to be me, but pleased to hear you've had good experiences with the midwifes xx