One of the most amazing feelings during pregnancy is feeling your baby kick for the first time. This usually happens between 18 and 25 weeks of pregnancy. It may occur around 25 weeks for first time moms and may be as early as 18 weeks for second or third time moms.

It may be difficult to distinguish between gas and your baby kicking. However as time goes on, you will notice  a pattern. You may be able to learn when your baby is asleep or awake,  when he is most active and what conditions trigger these actitivties.

Kick counts are  a very essential way to monitor the  well being of your baby.

Essential facts about fetal movement

• fetal movement  becomes somewhat regular around gestation week 24
• a small percentage of women  cannot feel fetal movement and therefore kick counts cannot be used to check for baby’s well being. However you can look at the movement of the baby through an ultrasound scanning
• fetal movement is best perceived when lying down
• the best time for doing kick counts is in the evening when fetal movement is increased
• smoking reduces fetal movement temporarily by increasing carboxyhemoglobin levels and reducing fetal blood flow
• depressant drugs and narcotics may reduce fetal movements

If you do not feel your baby move for more than 2 hours , contact your doctor or midwife.

What are the benefits of kick counts ?

Setting some time aside each day to count your baby’s kicks will help you identify any significant changes. It will help you identify potential problems and could help prevent still birth.  It is  essential to start counting fetal movements at the beginning of pregnancy week 28 .

When is the best time to do kick counts ?

It is best to do kick counts when the baby is most active. Most women find their babies active after drinking something very cold or after exercising. Others find their babies most active after eating a meal or something sweet. Babies are usually active at night when blood sugar level is declining.

You should find a comfortable position during the time when your baby is most active to do the kick counts. Some moms prefer lying on their side while others prefer sitting in a well supported position with their hands holding their bellies.

How to count your baby’s movements ?

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends  that you record how long it takes to you to feel 10 kicks. swishes , rolls or flutters. You should feel at least 10 movements in 2 hours even though it is likely to feel 10 movements in less time than that.

You may want to chart your recodings in a notebook. This will help you observe a pattern and tell you how long it usually takes your baby to make 10 movements. The pattern will make it easier to detect any deviations from the pattern. Look out for deviations over the course of a few days.

Note

Call your health care provider if you detect the following :

• if you have not felt 10 kicks by the end of the second hour, wait a few minutes and try again. If you still don’t feel 10 counts in 2 hours, contact your health care provider right away
• if you notice significant change from the pattern over the course of 3 to 4 days.