THE GREENHOUSE
Pregnancy & Postpartum
Counting Baby Kicks, What Is Normal and When to Call
Movement is one of the clearest ways your baby tells you how they are doing. Here is how to listen well.
July 16, 20265 min read
When to start counting
Most providers suggest daily kick counting from around 28 weeks, earlier if you have been asked to monitor closely. Pick the time of day your baby is usually liveliest and keep it consistent.
How to count
Sit or lie on your left side somewhere quiet, hand on your bump.
- Note the time you start
- Count kicks, rolls, jabs, and flutters
- Stop when you reach ten movements
- Most people reach ten well within two hours
Patterns matter more than numbers
Babies have sleep cycles, so quiet stretches of twenty to forty minutes are normal. What matters is your baby's own usual pattern.
When to call
Call your provider straight away if movements slow, change noticeably, or you cannot reach ten in two hours. Do not wait until morning, do not drink cold juice and hope. You are never a bother for asking.
Plant this thought
Every flutter is a small hello. You are already listening well.
KEEP GROWING
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Count today's kicks
The Kick Counter times ten movements for you and keeps a record of your baby's pattern.
Open the Kick CounterFlè Lavi shares gentle education, not medical advice. Please speak with your own provider about anything that concerns you.
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