In this post we will learn what decreased fetal movement is and how you can use kick counts to be aware of your baby’s movements as well as when to go to L&D for kick counts taking longer.  Did you know that tracking baby’s movements help your baby arrive safe and sound — something so simple!

I am seeing so many monitors, devices, and gadgets coming out to make your pregnancy safer.  The cost a lot of money.  And you know what most of them are doing — counting fetal movement or baby’s kicks.  And the beautiful money-saving thing that God gave you is an ability to count your baby’s own movements.

Problem is, we all get so busy and people don’t know how to do it or expectant parents worry they’re doing it wrong.

People, you’re just feeling the baby move.  

This isn’t rocket science, and yet — it’s truly the best way to know how your baby is doing!  Plus, you can bond with your sweet babe and even have a good time getting to know them before you can see/hold them. 🙂

Before we get any further,  let me introduce myself.  

First off, hello! I’m Hilary — many people know me as The Pregnancy Nurse 👩‍⚕️. I have been a nurse since 1997 and I have 20 years of OB nursing experience, I am also the curly head behind this website Pulling Curls and The Online Prenatal Class for Couples. 🩺​

I am so passionate about knowing your baby’s habits, I actually did a podcast about kick counts where I explained how it all works, and why you should do them. It’s not long — take a listen:

Be sure to grab my hospital packing list while you’re here:

Decreased Fetal Movement

We have plenty of people come to our hospital for “decreased fetal movement” — which basically means you feel the baby less frequently than you did before.

It strikes fear into our hearts, as many women who come in with a stillborn often start with this and a feeling like things aren’t quite right.

For the majority of the women, the baby is fine.  Things are fine and for some reason the baby had less activity.  I feel a lot of gratitude when I find the baby’s heart rate.

Reasons for Decreased Fetal Movement

• You haven’t drunk much water lately.  Your baby needs buckets and buckets of water.  You’re drinking for two.  Drink up (I have a whole post on if Gatorade is safe in pregnancy too)
• You haven’t eaten much.  We frequently get patients who haven’t eaten for much of the day and yet – -their baby isn’t moving.  Well, GOSH — no wonder – -you’re starving them!  EAT!
• Further along in your pregnancy.  Around 30 weeks you’ll have a karate ninja warrior in your belly, and then little by little the movements will get smaller and less ferocious.  Your mom alarms might go off, just because things are different.  BUT, less movement (or less intense movements) are normal at this time.  BUT it should just be little by little (due to there being less room), not a drastic change.

Clearly, less fetal movement can happen if something is wrong — which is WHY you pay close attention to fetal movement.

I also have a whole post on if you’re having increased fetal movement, if it means labor is near.

Baby Kick counts taking longer

1.  Drink a giant glass of ice water.  When the cold water is next to your baby’s home it transfers to the baby and they often give a WTH and move around a bit to get warm. 🙂
2. Eat something.  Preferably something with a little sugar as that will raise your blood sugar the fastest.  Some fruit is a great option (if you’re not diabetic)
3. Feel.  We get so busy with o ur day and our other kids that we often really haven’t taken the time to notice.  So, lay down (on your side or sit up — pregnant women shouldn’t lay flat on their backs), drink your water, eat your fruit and just feel.
4. If you’re still not feeling anything, call your doctor.

Keep in mind that babies routine sleep cycles.  So, your baby moving less for a half hour to an hour is totally normal.  Heck, I know you’ll want them to sleep once they’re out!

Fetal Movement Count

Kick counts are a way to daily assess your baby’s fetal movement.  The process is very similar to what I outlined above.  It is good to start with those first 3 steps.  But, then you’re waiting to feel the number of kicks (you want to see how long it takes to get to 10).  You can either count baby’s kicks on your fingers (that’s the simple way!), use an app or use a paper to track them.  If it takes more than a 2-hour period to get 10 kicks you need to call your doctor.  Or, if you’ve done it for a while and the movement has REALLY changed (normally, you get them in 10 minutes, but this time it was an hour) call your healthcare provider.

So, here is your VERY simple guide to kick counts:

• Make a note of the time you start.
• See how long it takes to get 10 movements — jot that # down.

That’s mostly it. Many think they’re counting the number of times they kick, but you’re counting the TIME PERIOD instead. You’ll notice that there is a usual amount of time it takes (and that number will fluctuate the further along you get in your pregnancy). You’ll have a daily record of how baby is doing.

BTW, if you love simple instructions like this, you’ll love my prenatal class. Check it out here!

Fetal Kick Counts

A few tips:

Kick counts should be started in your third trimester (so, around 28 weeks – if you sign up for my weekly pregnancy newsletter, I’ll remind you!). Of course, even if you’re second trimester you can feel and get an idea of what’s normal (but you won’t get the consistancy you’ll need til’ closer to 28 weeks gestation). During that last trimester of your pregnancy, these matter and are most easily done.

Any movement counts for a kick count.  Feel a flutter, shift, turn or a tiny jab.  That counts.  You don’t have to SEE the movement to count it.  Hiccups don’t count (those are like rhythmic “bounces” from your baby).  It is true that how much fetal movement you feel is dependent on your abdominal wall (larger girls tend to feel less than skinny girls), your placenta location (an anterior placenta can “muffle” the kicks a bit) and baby positioning. But ANY of baby’s kicks count (big or small).

I liked to do mine after dinner (in the evening hours) and, sadly, that left my husband to clean up the dinner (and I laid on the couch).  It was a time I could be without kids and responsibilities (and I often needed a little break at this point).  Poor husband.… 🙁 Doing it at a similar time of day really helps.

Get in a comfortable position. Most women find that laying on their left side helps (but every mom & baby is different).

By doing them daily, at the same time of the day — you really get a good gauge of what’s normal with your baby.  You’ll be able to tell more when something is off.

Kaiser was OBSESSED with Kick counts (I had my last 2 kids at a Kaiser hospital), which I thought was weird, until I started to read up on them.  They truly are the best way to tell the baby’s well-being.  And so cheap.  Natural and awesome. In fact, since you have 10 fingers, the most common way is to use those!

While the amount of time REALLY varies (due to a variety of reasons), the amount of time most people find doing their fetal movement counting it will take 15-30 minutes to get those 10 movements.

And, first time moms might find these a little bit harder in the beginning than moms who’ve done them before.

When to go to L&D for Decreased Fetal Movement

I would call your health care provider for SURE if the kick count is taking longer than 2 hours.

The beauty of kick counts, is you start to notice patterns, or a baseline number it usually takes.  Sure, baby might be asleep for 30 minutes, but then they wake-up and you get your 10 movements fairly quickly.

Movements within the womb will change over time. Knowing your baby’s movement patterns will serve you well.

When your baby is small they will like little karate experts, jabbing you all over the place.

As they grow larger, and their living space is more compact, they don’t make as sharp/quick movements.  That all happens gradually over days.

If you notice a significant changes in movements, that’s the most important thing — I’d call your doctor and see what they recommend. It could be a sign of a problem (or, it could just be baby sleeping, etc).

As I mentioned before, make sure you’re eating and drinking (water) regularly — as that can really affect the baby’s movements patterns as well (and keep your unborn baby happy).

And yes, in chapter two of The Online Prenatal Class for Couples we go through most of the reasons you might need to either call your doctor or head into L&D — so don’t miss out on that too!

Benefits of Kick Counts

There are many benefits to kick counts — beyond just baby safety

It gives you a gauge of if you’re taking care of yourself — so many women come to L&D after not eating or drinking.  Those are easy problems YOU can solve, and when you do kick counts it gives you a bit of time to assess how you’re doing at taking care of yourself. 🙂

You can bond with a baby you can’t see.  As you spend this time with your baby, you’ll notice more things.  You’ll really get to knowbaby’s movement patterns and you’ll have time to think and dream about motherhood and how much you love something you’ve never really seen.  It’s really such a special time. 🙂

It gives you the latest information. It’s always handy to have specific #’s that you can give to your providers when you are feeling like there could be an issue.

It assures your baby’s safety.  Kick counting — as we’ve said, are a great way to make sure baby is doing well.  I know you want nothing more than a healthy baby — and kick counts are something YOU can do to stay on that path!

There is a movement in the US to really bring attention to kick counts that I am really passionate about.

Since the 2009 launch of Count the Kicks in Iowa, the stillbirth rate in Iowa has been reduced by 26 percent!  TWENTY SIX PERCENT.  I couldn’t believe that.  That’s one in four stillbirths that we’d be able to save!!!

I want to state categorically that I’m not being paid by then to write this post, but because I am REALLY passionate about saving babies lives.  I want to challenge everyone reading this article to please share it with your pregnant friends.

Who knows what baby YOU could save!

My manager actually shared this movement with me after meeting with the author of this amazing article.  I feel so warm and fuzzy when people pivot their grief into something really positive.  I’m really excited you’re reading this!

So, normally at this point I’d tell you to join my newsletter (which you still should) but I really want you to go on your favorite social media channel and SHARE the importance of kick counts.  I know a lot of OB’s don’t share them in their office.  I am not sure why.  I guess they might sound old-fashionedand that they don’t really work.  But they do.  Please share this.

If you want to learn more about ultrasound testing I have a podcast all about it with a high risk stonographer:

Ok, if you’ve gotten this far, you are clearly READY to have your confident birth — check out this Online Prenatal Class for Couples. Remember, it comes in 3 price points, and can be done in just 3 hours…. it’s pretty great!

Or, if you’re not quite ready for the full class, check out my free prenatal class — It’s your first step towards being your own birth boss.