Kick Counts: When and How to Track Your Baby’s Movements

When you feel your baby kicking, the connection between you and the growing life inside of you becomes even deeper. Feeling those little flutters isn’t just a great way to get excited for your baby’s arrival; it’s also an important way to gauge her health and well-being.

Read on to learn the importance of kick counts, when to start doing them, and how to accurately perform them to ensure your baby is safe in your womb.

Kick counts, also known as fetal movement counts, are when you track the number of movements you feel from your baby within a specific period of time.

Despite the name, these aren’t limited to kicks. They also include taps, rolls, swishes, and any other distinct movement you feel your baby do while she’s inside your tummy.

When do you start feeling your baby kicking?

You may feel subtle and irregular fetal movements, known as “quickening,” as early as week 16 of pregnancy. 1

Many moms begin feeling their babies kicking when they’re between 18 weeks and 22 weeks pregnant. However, you might only start to feel your baby’s movements as late as week 26 of your pregnancy. 2

You’ll probably feel more significant movements when you’re around 30 weeks to 32 weeks pregnant. These will start to feel smaller around week 40 of your pregnancy and beyond as your baby grows, as she has less space to move around. 2

Why are kick counts important?

Tracking your baby’s kick counts gives you a baseline of what’s normal for your baby. You’ll be able to quickly identify any significant changes in her activity level, making it a good indicator of fetal health.

If your baby changes her typical movement pattern (especially if you feel a drop in her activity level), it could be a sign she’s stressed and requires medical attention. With kick counts, you can catch any potential issues early.

Your doctor will probably recommend starting to count your baby’s kicks around the beginning of your third trimester, typically at week 28 of your pregnancy. Before then, your baby won’t have an established and consistent movement pattern. 3

Starting at 28 weeks gives you a reliable baseline, with your baby’s movements becoming stronger and more predictable.

The general rule of thumb with kick counts is to look for 10 or more movements within 1 hour, which is considered a normal amount of fetal movement. 4 That being said, many women also feel 10 movements within a shorter time period, often within 30 minutes.

Here’s what else to keep in mind when counting your baby’s kicks:

• Count them at the same time each day: Choose a time of day when your baby is typically active. Many experts recommend doing kick counts after your biggest meal of the day, as that’s often when your baby will be the most active. 5
• Do it in a quiet place: Create a relaxing environment by finding a quiet and comfortable area where you can focus. Remove any distractions—turn off the TV, put your phone on silent, and settle into a relaxed position.
• Get comfortable: Position yourself comfortably, lying on your side (preferably your left, to maximize blood flow to the uterus) or sit in a comfortable chair with your hands resting on your abdomen.

Track the time by noting when you begin counting and when you reach 10 distinct movements, which you can do manually or by using a pregnancy tracker app (the best pregnancy trackers also let you export the data to share with your doctor if necessary). 6 7

What if you don’t feel 10 movements within 1 hour?

There are conflicting views among experts about how many kicks you should be looking for within a given timeframe. For instance, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) states that you should be able to feel at least 10 movements within 2 hours (meaning 10 within 1 hour isn’t a cause for major concern). 5

You’re best off getting tailored advice from your doctor. They’ll let you know how many kicks you should be looking out for. If you don’t reach that number within the set time, get medical attention right away.

Do babies move less as they get closer to labor?

No. Your baby’s movements should be consistent throughout your pregnancy. While you may find that your baby kicks less by the time she’s full-term (week 39 of pregnancy), she’ll still be rolling and moving as much as before, though the sensation will feel different. 4

Can you encourage your baby to move?

As mentioned, it’s better to establish the times of day when your baby is most active before starting kick counts. Even then, your baby may not be so willing to cooperate at that time.

Fortunately, there are ways you can give your baby a proverbial nudge to get moving, such as: 4

• Going for a walk or moving
• Drinking juice or another sweet drink
• Playing loud music
• Eating a snack

Again, the most important thing is that your baby’s activity is consistent overall. If her activity is noticeably lower than normal, contact your doctor immediately, even if you still counted 10 kicks within 1 or 2 hours.

Even if you can’t identify a specific problem, trust your gut. If you feel like something is wrong, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Can you use a home Doppler device instead of manually doing a kick count?

Many parents claim that you can forgo the kick counts and use a home Doppler device to monitor your baby’s heartbeat instead.

However, these devices are by no means a reliable way of assessing your baby’s well-being. In fact, experts recommend against the use of home Doppler devices. 8 9

It’s easy to use an at-home Doppler incorrectly. You may be unable to detect a heartbeat, which could cause you to worry that something is wrong even if your baby is fine.

Conversely, you might skip essential care for your baby if you erroneously think you hear her heartbeat and assume that everything is OK. There is more to fetal monitoring than just the presence of a fetal heartbeat; although it’s good to have one, it does not mean the baby is completely well.

The bottom line is that all you need to do to be a responsible mom-to-be is to perform kick counts regularly and as your doctor directs. It’s best to leave actual medical testing to the professionals.

Kick counts are a simple but effective way to check in on your baby’s well-being. Consult with your doctor to get guidance on how many kicks you should watch for, and remember that if you’re at all concerned or aren’t sure of what’s normal, they’re just a phone call away.