Kick Counting—What is it and Why to do it

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What is kick counting?

During pregnancy, moms are accustomed to a variety of screening tests for conditions such as Down syndrome and diabetes. The rationale for these tests is not to make moms anxious about their pregnancy but to identify potential pregnancy problems to allow for timely intervention.

Moms have always known that movement is the best sign of their baby's well-being in utero. In fact, scientific studies indicate that kick counting, a daily record of moms' perception of their baby's movement during the third trimester, is a reliable, harmless, simple and effective screening for the baby's well-being.

Why keep track of kick counts?

Kick counting can document changes in the fetal movement pattern and can help moms-to-be alert their healthcare provider of potential problems. A timely evaluation can allow intervention and prevention of potential problems, including stillbirth.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends kick counting as one of the methods to monitor pregnancy health, particularly for mothers who are past their due date or have diabetes or hypertension.

An expectant mother can distinctly perceive her baby's specific movement pattern by 24 weeks. Some babies tend to be more active at night, others in the morning or afternoon. Kick counting can be started at 28 weeks in normal pregnancies and as early as 24 weeks for complicated pregnancies. All expectant mothers should discuss kick counting with their healthcare provider.

How is Kick Counting Done?

There are different methods of kick counting and ACOG recommends that expectant mothers note the time it takes for their baby to complete ten movements, at approximately the same time each day when the baby is usually most active. Movements include kicks, jabs, rolls, twists, and turns.

Each baby and every pregnancy is different. Understanding that babies have sleep cycles can alleviate mothers' anxiety toward kick counting. In general , healthy babies should complete ten movements within two hours and most babies achieve this in less than 15 minutes. The healthcare provider should be alerted immediately of changes in the baby's normal pattern or if the baby takes more than two hours to complete ten movements.

About decreased fetal movement

Decreased fetal movement occurs in five percent to ten percent of all pregnancies. Data from 5,000 stillbirths revealed that 50 percent of the women perceived gradual decreased fetal movement several days prior to fetal death.

Recent Harvard Medical School studies have found that decreased fetal movement is associated with increased risk for stillbirth and concluded that health care providers should be educating women about the importance of fetal movement in an effort to reduce delay in intervention.

Even though a stillbirth may not be avoidable, families often feel outraged to learn about kick counting after the fact, as this simple method may have altered their outcome.

About Stillbirth

While stillbirth is a significant public health issue, it remains a silent subject in the United States . Stillbirth is the unexpected death of a baby after 20 weeks of pregnancy. According to the National Institutes of Health, stillbirth claims the lives of 26,000 babies—70 per day—in the United States every year. One in 150 pregnancies or 6.5 in 1000 pregnancies end in stillbirth. More than half of all stillbirths happen after 28 weeks and most of those happen after 36 weeks in an otherwise normal pregnancy.

‘Unexplained' stillbirths happen when no obvious causes are found despite thorough investigation. They represent up to half of all deaths with risk increasing after 37 weeks of pregnancy. More than half of unexplained stillbirths have suboptimal growth. Perhaps unexplained stillbirths are not ‘sudden,' suggesting that there may be a time window for intervention and prevention.

About optimizing the chance of delivering a healthy baby

Kick counting is much more than just knowing that the baby moves. Kick counting can be a bonding time for mothers and their partners as they both proactively protect their baby. It is best to systematically record daily kick counting to learn about the baby's baseline movement rather than rely on memory recall. A mother's familiarity with her baby's movements helps identify changes that may indicate potential pregnancy problems, which can allow her provider to institute timely intervention. Kick counting is not to induce paranoia but to provide moms with a simple and effective screening for the baby's well-being. By being aware of the baby's movement baseline, moms are empowered by working together with their medical team ensuring a safe pregnancy and a healthy baby and reduce the risk of stillbirth. Protect your baby by discussing kick counting with your doctor.