What's the point in counting movements?

AshleyMF1983

Hello July Mommies,

I'm approaching week 27 and starting at week 28 my OB wants me to do the "kick counting."

I was talking to my DH about this and we feel that it's a little bit ridiculous.  Why does one *need* to feel 10 movements in 1 or 2 hours (depending on your OB's rule)?  Why isn't many random baby kicks throughout the whole day good enough?  I mean, surely 1 kick a day would be cause for concern, but I have a very OCD personality..and if I am told I must follow this "kick counting" rule, I am can tell you now I am going to end up driving myself insane with it.  Does anyone agree or have any opinions on this?

katie4253

If your OB wants you to do it, then you should ask them why.  If they give you a good reason, then do it.

My doctor just says, "are you feeling the baby move a lot?" and I say yes.  He doesn't subscribe to kick counts unless you need to do them for another reason.  

MilMom2B

I'm with you on thinking it's a little ridiculous. Unless there's a reason for concern that warrants keeping a formal count, I think regular movement is just fine. If I were still with my previous provider they would have me do them - their instructions were to choose the time of day when baby is most active and write down the time, then write down the time when I hit 10. Well, that would be like 3 am, so no thanks. My MW now just asks about movement in general at each appointment. I let her know baby's habits, and how some days are very quiet, and other days are crazy, when she's most active, what types of movement I'm feeling, etc. She seems happy and I'm happy, too.

caraleeb

Seems all doctors are different mine said i didnt have to do kick counts unless i was worried he wasnt moving enough, so more for self assurance. Told me i only have to do it after i eat try to feel 10 movements in 1/2hr.

COMomma81

I never did official kick counts/kept official track on a spreadsheet or anything, but it is very important to keep very close attention to baby's movements in the last trimester. It can be a signal that something is wrong if they are moving less than normal and by keeping track of what's typical, you are more accutely aware if something is "off". 

The day I went for my 38 week check, I just had a bad feeling. I did notice he wasn't as active and I tried to brush it off as paranoia but when I arrived at my appointment, it turns out something was up (his heartbeat was going wonky because of his cord) and I needed to be induced. It was by sheer luck I had an appointment that day. It scares me to think if I had just brushed it off like I was trying to.

mainemommy

Its to make sure things are still ok in there for baby.

Low fluid, cord compression, fetal distress, all of that can be noticed because of lack of fetal movement.

Id much rather count kicks once a day for an hour than to have my baby possibly die because I was too lazy.

MilMom2B

katie4253:

If your OB wants you to do it, then you should ask them why.  If they give you a good reason, then do it.  

PS - I agree with this, too. Ask them their reasons for wanting you to keep such close track of it. And I wouldn't be afraid to speak up and tell him/her why you feel the way you do about them. They might agree and tell you to only keep track if you haven't noticed much movement in a while. Or they may have a really valid reason, in which case, well, you should probably do it then. 

nbbride06

My doctor has actually never mentioned kick counts to me at all.  I guess we'll see if she does at my appt in 2 weeks.  I'd just talk to your doctor about it.

damabo80

mainemommy:

Its to make sure things are still ok in there for baby.

Low fluid, cord compression, fetal distress, all of that can be noticed because of lack of fetal movement.

Id much rather count kicks once a day for an hour than to have my baby possibly die because I was too lazy.

This.

Plus, it's all about trends. If you notice that baby normally kicks 10 times in 20 minutes after dinner, and then lowers this to 8 times then 4 times then 1 time, you may not notice the decrease if you weren't tracking it. This was how it was explained to me by my MFM doctor.

AshleyMF1983

mainemommy:

Its to make sure things are still ok in there for baby.

Low fluid, cord compression, fetal distress, all of that can be noticed because of lack of fetal movement.

Id much rather count kicks once a day for an hour than to have my baby possibly die because I was too lazy.

It's not about laziness, it's about the fact that I have serious anxiety/OCD tendencies and I'm probably going to end up calling my doctor 10 times a day when I have to follow a rule like this.  I mean yeah I'll do it..but it's going to make for a very stress-filled next 13 weeks or so.

dairygirl19

My dr. said I only had to do it when I was worried/haven't felt a "normal" amount of movement.

Mine doesn't suscribe to regular kick counts because he said every baby's movements are different so 10 in an hour maybe too much or too little depending on the baby.

He always tells me to be in tune with what my "normal" is and if it's off to try a count then call him.

MilMom2B

AshleyMF1983:

It's not about laziness, it's about the fact that I have serious anxiety/OCD tendencies and I'm probably going to end up calling my doctor 10 times a day when I have to follow a rule like this.  I mean yeah I'll do it..but it's going to make for a very stress-filled next 13 weeks or so.

Bring this up with your doc at your next appointment. 

MattnJax

I think kick counts are more for you to realize when there is a change in your baby's behavior.  Near the end of my pregnancy with DD #1, I noticed she was starting to not move as much.  It turns out my amniotic fluid ended up being low.  I was induced because of it.  You just have to make sure you are paying attention to your baby's routine, I don't think you need to actually sit there and count all the time.

mainemommy

AshleyMF1983:

mainemommy:

Its to make sure things are still ok in there for baby.

Low fluid, cord compression, fetal distress, all of that can be noticed because of lack of fetal movement.

Id much rather count kicks once a day for an hour than to have my baby possibly die because I was too lazy.

It's not about laziness, it's about the fact that I have serious anxiety/OCD tendencies and I'm probably going to end up calling my doctor 10 times a day when I have to follow a rule like this.  I mean yeah I'll do it..but it's going to make for a very stress-filled next 13 weeks or so.

Thats why they tell you to pick a time & do it once or twice a day. I was told that if I couldnt do it right after a meal to drink a glass of juice & do it whenever I get the chance.

tweller

mainemommy:

AshleyMF1983:

mainemommy:

Its to make sure things are still ok in there for baby.

Low fluid, cord compression, fetal distress, all of that can be noticed because of lack of fetal movement.

Id much rather count kicks once a day for an hour than to have my baby possibly die because I was too lazy.

It's not about laziness, it's about the fact that I have serious anxiety/OCD tendencies and I'm probably going to end up calling my doctor 10 times a day when I have to follow a rule like this.  I mean yeah I'll do it..but it's going to make for a very stress-filled next 13 weeks or so.

Thats why they tell you to pick a time & do it once or twice a day. I was told that if I couldnt do it right after a meal to drink a glass of juice & do it whenever I get the chance.

This.  My doctor told me to do them after I eat dinner and to lay on my left side since the baby will be getting the most blood flow.  Since you have just eaten and are probably full the movement might be more noticable since things are being compacted by digesting your food.  The rule at my office is 10 movements in 2 hours.  If I do not feel 10 movemens (of any type) within those 2 hours I am then to call.  At this point the on call doctor would give you his/her advice (drink a glass of juice, drink cold water, etc).  Their reasoning behind this is because as the baby grows there can be decreased blood flow to the placenta/cord compression which may cause the baby not to move as much and this is one way for the office to be aware of this situations and check them out to hopefully prevent any complications before they become serious. 

She also said (like PP have), if there's a point in the day where I feel the baby move 10 times (they are not just kicks, it's rolls, punches, hiccups, anything), then I got my 10 for the day and I am good.  I usually get 10 around mid morning and then after I eat dinner I can get another 10.  So as long as once a day I'm feeling those 10 movements, were in good shape.

MrsCase1

i have to do them because i take blood thinners. if the baby were in distress this would be the sole way i would know. but, mine is a special circumstance so i cant speak for why a normal pregnancy would require this.