Fetal kick charts-realistic?

[strawberrykate]

Am I a bad person? Does anyone else find the kick chart impossible to fit in?

My midwife has given me a chart to reccord movement on. It just feels impossible. I'm a teacher and I'm on the go so much in the day I barely register movement, let alone have time to get a chart out and mark it down. An average day is normally 8-6 in school and it's not exactly a sit down job. Between dealng with 30 kids and constantly moving even if I notice movement I certainly don't remember to record it, I already feel like I'm struggling to keep up with work (I'm 30 weeks and pretty tired) without extra to remember! I haven't manged a single day yet. It just doesn't seem to fit with full time active work.

On the other hand I know my baby's movements quite well now, first thing, after meals, bedtime, when I'm quiet, if I rest my hand on mybump, lean forward or squeeze my pelvic floor. I'd notice very quickly if the baby stopped moving as he normally does, and part the reason I often don't notice is he's suchan active baby I'm used to constant wiggles and pokes. Is this enough? I just don't know how to remember it. I have a difficult class and taking my attention elsewhere quickly results in them losing focus and by the time I have a break I've forgotten. I feel like I'm madly on the go getting so much done, I just can't do anymore with my tried brain. My class are getting ready for SATs, I plan for more children and other adults than normal, I'm running a huge art project and sorting out piles before I go on leave. I really am at the edge of coping and beyong extras.

How many weeks are you? I got given a chart like this when I was pregnant with dd1 at about 36 weeks but have never had this chart with any of my others....on no.5 now.
Personally I wouldn't worry too much if you know your body and your baby and you are happy with how your baby is moving then that is all that counts....most babies have more sleeping time past 35weeks due to having less space to move anyhow.

I have never heard of these, and certainly was never aksed to fill one in. My MW's advice was to drink cold water if I hadn't felt DS kick for a while (to make him wiggle) and give her a ring if I was concenrned. Sounds a lot like a "nice to do" rather than a "need to do".

And don't forget to sit down, take a deep breath and relax once in a while .

I'm 30 weeks

no no no no

I really wish people would stop saying this.

Babies should not be moving less because they have less room. It just isn't true.

ANY change in movement whether baby is moving less or more, should be checked out.

You need to find a system that works for you as your midwife has given you the chart for a reason.

It's been 10min since I've started this thread and I've counted 5 kicks, so not concerned. Just feel a chart that runs 9am to 10pm is not realistic for a working woman. Feel a bit like I get it from both sides, work expecting me to be normal and midwifes who thing it's the only thing going on in my life and treat me like a I sit at home in between appointments that are given all over the place at any hour of the day and give constant advice that is impossible to do. I asked if I could have an appointment at a different time once as it was really difficult to have time off that particular morning, get told no because it's my legal right to have time off. Made to feel like world's worst potential mother and uncaring, despite it being the only bad day there was (had expensive course some distance away that day)

I am 30 weeks pregnant with DC3, and I have never had a kick chart with any of them!

Never been mentioned!

Actually, after my first, DS1 born 10 years ago, on a Friday struggled on my own in hospital establishing breatfeeding without any support and was finally asked on the Sunday for my
'feedingchart'....................never had one of those either!

I'm feeling more reassured after responses. My gut feeling was I know my body and baby, it feels quite natural to know his activities-he's in me all the time and I feel quite atuned to what he's up to.

kick charts?

27weeks with my 2nd and have never heard of these. is it a regional thing?

my MW says that i should feel 10 movements in every 12 hours but with DS constantly on go sometimes you just don't register them.

this one seems to be like DS was in the fact she'll seem to be practising boxing almost solid for couple of days then has a good rest the next and i only feel slight kicks rarely.
agree you know your own body/baby

There is research0 (see here for example) that shows that kick counting is a good way to reduce stillbirth by identifying decreased fetal movement. It sounds like you weren't given very good advice on how to do it though.
If you know a rough time when your baby is usually active, just pick that time and count up to 10 movements each day. If you get 10 movements in a 2hr span, then it's fine. If not, drink something cold, walk around and keep counting for another 2 hrs. If you're counting at a time when you usually feel movements, and you don't feel them, call your midwife.
The thing about kickcharts is that once you've been doing it for a while you've got great evidence if you think something is up - they have to take you seriously. In fact, NICE guidelines mean any report of decreased fetal movements need to be assessed properly, but gathering your own information helps you to be sure of what you're suspecting.