Kick Counting is recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to check on your baby's health.
Experts feel that counting your baby’s kicks may help prevent late term
stillbirth because your baby’s movement is an excellent indicator of
her well-being. Any significant increase or decrease in your baby’s
normal activity may be a warning sign that something is wrong and you
should alert your healthcare provider immediately. Designed by an
obstetrician, kickTrak™ makes keeping a reliable record of these important movements easy and convenient.
How do I perform a kick count?
There are different ways to do
the kick count. Be sure discuss kick counting with your provider. One
of the most common methods recommended by the American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is counting the time it takes
for your baby to make 10 movements which include kicks, turns, twists,
swishes, rolls and jabs.
Your baby should move 10 times in less than 2 hours.
Do the kick count once a day.
Select
a time of the day best suited for you when your baby is usually active.
For most women, fetal movement typically peaks after meals, after
activity, and in the evening.
Do the kick count roughly at the same time every day.
Get in a comfortable sitting or lying position. Relax and dedicate this time to feel your baby's precious movements.
You
may want to rest your or your partner's hands on your abdomen to feel
the movements better. Your ability to feel the baby depends on the
thickness of your abdominal wall, placental location, and your
sensitivity to the movements.
Jot down the time
of the baby's first kick (movement) and the time of the 10th kick. Most
of the babies will take much less than 30 minutes to complete 10 kicks.
Since
healthy babies have sleep cycles, your baby may not kick, or kick less
than usual, or have less than 10 kicks in 2 hours. If so, wake up the
baby by drinking fluid or by walking for 5 minutes. Repeat the kick count.
Contact your provider
or the labor and delivery room if the there is still decreased fetal
movement or if there is a significant change in the movements.
Some
providers may recommend that if there have not been 10 kicks in one
hour, you should contact your provider for further evaluation.
Discuss with your provider about kick counting instructions.
