56. Fetal Kick Counts and Understanding Your Baby's Movements

You may or may not have heard of fetal kick counts before… but let’s talk about your baby’s movements in your belly and how to best understand what they mean!

In this episode, we’ll dive into:

• What are fetal kick counts? When to start tracking these movements…
• How to know what your baby’s movements mean…
• The steps to do fetal kick counts and what is considered normal…
• Debunking the myth that baby’s movements decrease as they grow…
• …and much more!

General advice is to trust your instincts if you notice concerning changes in your baby's movements, such as prolonged periods without activity or abrupt shifts in movement types. Your healthcare provider is your ally in ensuring both your peace of mind and your baby's well-being.

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👋 WHO AM I?

Welcome, friends! I am Beth, a certified nurse midwife, doula, and childbirth educator. My philosophy is rooted in autonomy, informed decision making, and positive mindset to help expecting parents plan for a beautiful, stress-free hospital birth. I am here to provide value to YOU through tips and practical advice, either to guide you through pregnancy or to help you prepare for childbirth, postpartum and beyond. There’s no fluff here - only info that adds to your positive experience and saves you stress and uncertainty.

Transcript

Hello everyone and welcome back to episode 56 of Your Bestie Podcast. Today we are going to be talking about your baby’s movement in your belly, what is normal, why it matters, how to do kick counts if you’ve heard of that, and also encouraging moms to seek medical care if they are concerned or just need extra reassurance. As our babies grow and we get more familiar with their patterns of movement, it can really tell us a lot about how they are doing and I wanted to share more information about this today.

So let’s first talk about, what actually are fetal kick counts? Maybe you’ve heard of them before or your provider recommended this for you. Fetal kick counts are essentially a way for expectant parents to monitor their baby's movements while they are still inside your belly. 

These movements can be kicks, punches, rolls, jabs, all of those different movements are completely normal and every baby is a little different in their movement patterns. But these movements are actually really significant because they are actually indicators of how well your baby is doing. When your baby moves, it signals that they're active and healthy and monitoring these movements helps us understand baby's patterns of activity and then potentially detect any changes that might indicate that there is something concerning going on.

And it’s typically recommended to start monitoring or doing these “kick counts” at around 28 weeks pregnant because this is when babies tend to establish regular patterns of movement and makes it easier for you to track them and be sure they are doing well. But every baby is different, so you might notice movement patterns earlier or later and that could be completely normal for your baby and for your pregnancy.

The purpose of tracking these fetal kicks isn't to add another thing to your list of worries that you might have becoming a new mom or a mom again to another baby. It's really to empower you with knowledge about your baby's health by keeping tabs on these movements, because then you become more aware of your baby's habits and can then more quickly notice if anything seems off from what it usually is.

If you ever notice a significant decrease in your baby's movements or if something just doesn't feel right, like something has changed but you aren’t sure what or why, definitely don't hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider and voice your concerns. Your intuition as a parent is incredibly valuable, and there are people that will support you every step of the way in ensuring the health of both you and your baby. So that means too, if someone isn’t believing you or your gut says something is off, or if it’s the other way and you’re told to be concerned about something but you feel great and baby seems they are acting normally to you, getting a second opinion doesn’t at all hurt. It is about being sure you are heard and respected in your care, you and your baby are well cared for, and of course that you have the best possible outcome even if it’s just for reassurance. That piece of mind can absolutely make a huge difference in your experience. 

And to actually do fetal kick counts, you first want to find a comfy spot where you can actually focus on your baby’s movements. It could be in a chair, lying on the couch, or propped up with some pillows in bed, whatever works best for you. When it comes to timing, the best times to do kick counts are usually after eating a meal or when you're feeling relaxed and your baby tends to be more active. So, grab a snack, maybe something with a bit of natural sugar to give baby a little boost, and then find a comfortable spot. If you do daily kick counts, aiming for about the same time each day is good too in order to make the best comparison.

This is the time to start counting kicks and the goal here is at least 10 movements within about an hour, some guidelines are up to two hours they want you to have at least 10 movements. As you feel each movement, make a note of it by either using a pen and paper, a pregnancy app, or just keeping track in your head works too. This isn’t supposed to be complicated or stressful at all! There is an app you can download on your phone called Count The Kicks, so that is something I recommend as well if needed.

Every baby does have their own unique movement patterns and the important thing here is to get to know your baby's habits and what feels normal for them. If there are sudden changes in your baby’s movements, this could be a possible sign your baby isn’t getting enough oxygen or nutrients, or it might be an indication that they are in distress. There is a common misconception that babies slow down their movements as they get bigger and run out of space in the womb, but that isn’t good advice to go by. It is true that their movements might feel different as they grow, but they should still be just as active even if it feels less intense. If you ever have any concerns or notice a significant decrease in movement, definitely don’t hesitate to reach out to your doctor like I mentioned before.

And if you are looking for reassuring signs baby is doing well, there are also a few things you can do to increase fetal movements. Things like staying hydrated, eating a snack with a little bit of sugar like fruit, a yogurt or even a small glass of juice can get baby moving, or changing positions can also help. If you've been sitting for a while, try standing up and moving around. Or, if you've been on your feet all day, maybe lay down and focus on baby for a bit to be reassured all is well.

I also think it can be really special to relax and be mindful about your baby while you are pregnant and using it as time to bond before they are born. You can take some time to connect with your baby which can also promote more movement. Try practicing deep breathing exercises, gentle yoga, or simply just lying down and focusing on feeling your baby's movements. Being calm and relaxed can have a soothing effect on your baby, encouraging them to move more freely. I recently experienced this myself a few weeks ago where I signed up for a breathwork for birth workshop and it was an hour of practicing breathing techniques for pregnancy and birth and my baby has never moved that much I swear. I don’t know if it was all that oxygen I was breathing in from the nice deep breaths or the fact that I was super still and noticed literally every movement, but she was doing backflips in there and at times it was even uncomfortable how much she was turning around in there. So that was interesting, but it was also a good experience for me to take time for myself and for my baby and prepare mentally for breathwork in labor.

And then the last thing I wanted to mention is times that you might feel it is necessary to reach out to your healthcare provider if you have concerns about your baby’s movements. It's completely normal for babies to have periods of increased and decreased activity, but there are also certain red flags or warning signs that should prompt you to seek medical attention. This is not medical advice to you specifically because I don’t know your medical history and situation, but a general recommendation is if you notice a significant decrease in your baby's movements, such as not feeling any kicks or movements for several hours, trust your instincts and don't hesitate to reach out to your doctor right away.

Other warning signs might include a sudden change in the type of movements you're feeling - like going from strong kicks to barely any movement at all. I just really want to emphasize the importance of contacting your healthcare provider if you have any concerns about decreased fetal movements, even if you think a trip to the clinic may be a waste of time, if you’re concerned go get checked out or call your provider to see if what you are finding with your kick counts or what your specific situation would be a good idea to be seen. 

Your healthcare team is there to support you and your baby's health, and they want to hear from you if something doesn't feel right. Don't worry about feeling like you're bothering them or overreacting; your peace of mind and your baby's well-being are top priorities for sure.

Thank you so much for tuning in to Your Birth Bestie podcast today. I want to reassure all you amazing listeners that trusting your instincts and seeking help when needed is absolutely the right thing to do. Your intuition as a parent is incredibly powerful, and if something feels off, it's always better to lean into that and explore what it is you’re feeling. So, if you ever have any doubts or worries about your baby's movements, don't hesitate to pick up the phone and give your healthcare provider a call. They are there to support you on this journey of pregnancy and I would love to be another resource for you as well.

Please connect with me on Instagram @bethconnors_cnm if you haven’t already and I would love to get a message from you that you are a listener of this podcast and hear where you are in your own journey. Thank you again for listening and tune in next Tuesday for another episode! Bye everyone.