Kick counts

[MacMacMoo]

How do you do them? Do you set a kick goal and see how long it takes baby to kick that many times? Or do you count how many you can get in a set amount of time? Do you keep a log (pen/ paper or perhaps iPhone)?

Do you count multiple times a day or just once or every few days? Do count at the same time each day? Or situationally same time? (the difference is if you do them before bed, but you go to bed at different times each night).

[veronica]

i drink a glass of OJ, then lay on my left side for 45 min. to an hour and count. The acceptable # of kick counts in that time will vary based on how far along you are. Your Dr. should be able to advise you how many. At the end of my pregnancy with DD , I remember it was 6 movements in that time.

[LadyPeter]

I never did. Seemed like a good way to get myself all freaked out for no reason. I just paid attention to my baby and trusted my instincts.

[JBaxter]

Originally Posted by LadyPeter

I never did. Seemed like a good way to get myself all freaked out for no reason. I just paid attention to my baby and trusted my instincts.

Me either with any of the 4. Once with DS3 he was REALLY REALLY active by far the most active of the 4 he as still all afternoon I actually notice I got no rib kicks bladder punches. I paid attention for 30 minutes more and called my ob. His nurse said to stop buy get a bottle of coke and a candy bar and eat them on the way in. they did a non stress test and did that buzzer thing on my belly to wake him up after 20 minutes he started to move Other than that one time no one ever mentioned counting kicks.

[carolinamama]

I actually have never done formal kick counts. I've always just paid attention to the baby's movement throughout the day and followed my instincts. I've also figured out this pregnancy anyway, that the evening is an active time and I try to be paying attention at that point.

I can understand wanting to do them though. I know my ob with DS1 gave me a handout on it around 28 weeks with detailed instructions. Maybe you could check with them and they can point you in the right direction.

[eh613c]

I haven't done kick counts nor has my OB recommended that I do them. I have seen kick count logs online with instructions.

[ahrimie]

My midwife suggested I do them. You just want to eat/drink something (same time of the day when you count the next time), sit/lay down, and count 10 kicks in 2 hours. If I eat/drink something, I seem to get 10 in less than 20 min! I don't do it everyday because I feel a lot of kicks and movement; but every now and then I try to be more intentional and check--usually around 8-830pm when dinner is eaten and DD is in bed.

[soon2b4]

Hmm... I was told to do them with DD1 beginning at a certain week - I don't remember when. I was to count until I got to a certain # of kicks. The idea was that they should occur within a certain amount of time. DD1 was super active, so it was only a concern the one night she wasn't so active. I just pushed on the belly a bit and she woke right up, though. This DD is really active already, too, so I am enjoying that .

[marymoo86]

I didn't do them and neither did the OB ask for me to do them. If things were a bit quiet and I noticed, I just drank some OJ or shook my belly to check.

[AnnieW625]

Originally Posted by LadyPeter

I never did. Seemed like a good way to get myself all freaked out for no reason. I just paid attention to my baby and trusted my instincts.

I didn't need anything else to worry about esp. with DD2.