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Checking your baby's well beingFetal Kick CountsThere are ways for pregnant women to monitor the activity level of their unborn baby just by becoming aware of their own bodily sensations. Fetal movements, or quickening, can generally be felt between 18-20 weeks for first-time mothers, and 16-18 weeks for those with previous pregnancies. Periodic monitoring can help mothers become aware of their baby’s activity level and provide a baseline for measuring future activity. Typical kick counts include feeling 5-10 movements per hour and at least 10 movements in a 12-hour period after 28 weeks gestation.As you approach the end of pregnancy, it is important that you continue to feel active periods of fetal movement. This is especially true if you’ve had any complication of pregnancy like hypertension or diabetes. Many clinicians have different formulas for what they consider a “normal” amount of movement. Certainly every baby will not be the same in terms of the amount or quality of movements, but most healthy babies will move frequently. To do a fetal movement count, choose the baby's most active time of day, and do it at the same time every day. Start the clock and see how long it takes you to record 10 movements – twists, pokes, kicks and turns. If the fetal activity is slower than normal, have something to eat or drink, walk around for 10 –15 minutes, and then lay down on your left side and see if the movement has picked up. Your baby should move a minimum of 10 times in four hours – your clinician may have even stricter guidelines. If you have any concerns regarding fetal movements, especially a decrease in the quantity or quality of fetal movements, consult your physician or midwife without delay.
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