Counting Kicks

[lauraloo09]

Hiya just wondering how many times should you feel the baby kick/move in a day...is it 10 kicks or 10 sets of kicks in a day

Did you just steal that question from me from the June thread?

Yes, I am wondering the same thing!!

yeah I did tee hope you dont mind, been thinking about it all night, very paranoid after what happened to anna (juicy)

Of course I don't mind! I was just teasing!

Personally I am getting kicked constantly over here! Could be because I am on the sofa today feeling poorly.

bump

These days the midwives do not advise counting kicks at all, as it varies so much from baby to baby and it can cause unnecessary worry. Only to be aware when your baby usually kicks you and any patterns, so that you notice if there's a change.

EG my lo seems to always have a bit of a wriggle round about 10pm, but apart from that is not really that noticeably active (I'm 25 weeks).

I think there's something on this on babycentre.

I had a routine appointment with the midwife this morning and she mentioned that less than 10 kicks again would be cause for concern. I took that to mean 10 kicks in total, not 10 sets. I had a can of full fat coke yesterday and the baby went ballistic. However, I do have days with very little movement but I've learned not to worry as baby is just having a lazy day (particularly if he or she has been very active the day before). I'm 38 weeks.

So 2 answers...both opposite...hmmmm

I was told to pick the baby's most active period (I do it first when I wake up & then again last thing a night) & count how long it takes to get 10 movements - it is usually about 15 minutes. If I haven't felt 10 in two hours then go in for monitoring. The most important thing is a change in your baby's normal pattern of activity - I would be really worried if I hadn't felt 10 movements in an hour at a time when the baby was usually very active.

Hi, it's 10 kicks in a 12 hr period however as someone has already said, it's any change in the pattern of movements that is more significant rather than the total number these days. Cx

So if I get 10 kicks in the first hour, and then none for the next 11 that's okay?

Doesn't make a lot of sense to me! Of course, I seem to get kicked about once an hour during the day! And not at all at night, at least not hard enough to wake me up!

They do want you to have an idea of your baby's activity, although of course everyone is different. The most helpful advice I have had (and this is if you are anxious-many people chose NOT to count and monitor because they just feel a bit more confident which is fine), is to count up to ten movements in a 12 hour period; preferably some in the morning and some at night.

In an anxious pregnancy after a stillbirth, I have factored in a bit of time lying in bed in the morning after a drink, and some time before I go to sleep. Feeling the baby this way has reassured me and controlled my anxiety. I hasten to add I think I am exceptionally anxious because of my previous experience.

So, in short-the advice I have been given is to be aware of around 10 movements a day,but of course variations on this are really usual, and for the most part, most people don't worry and have no need to worry. Kick counts and little routines are really helpful for very anxious people like me, but most people don't want or need to be so prescriptive at all.

Thanks princeonthemove that is very reassuring!

I am not a huge worrywart normally, but of course this is my first baby and have no idea what I should be feeling.

I do feel my baby a lot! But I guess I'm lucky with that!