Kick counts, etc - do you? - Page 3

[NatureMama3]

you got me interested Rajahkat, so I'm studying this. Here are some that I've preliminarily found.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medi...p?newsid=61744
http://www.nature.com/jp/journal/v22.../7210692a.html
(I think the above is absolutely tragic in that despite intervention and emergency c-section, the baby still died. )

[Marlet]

Metromidwife you pain a lovely scene on doing kick counts (the dim lighting, meditation etc.). However, if a mama feels inclined to do a kick count I'm betting it's safe to say she's doing it out panic/worry. She's not about to get calm and relaxed. With D I had a quiet moment and was told to do a kick count. I was worried...what if? this and what if? that. It was not a peaceful moment. The picture you create is more in tune with a mama who wants a quiet moment to herself, who has a chance to relax and just take it all in. What does a kick count "diagnose"/ A lack of fetal movement. Heck call in and they'll tell you to do a kick count, then drink some juice/eat fruit, do ANOTHER kick count and then they'll talk about you coming in. They can't tell anything off of it. DD, even in her active moments, never qualified as anything in a kick count.

[georgia]

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[Midwife Kris]

Originally Posted by OtherMother'n'Madre

Metromidwife you pain a lovely scene on doing kick counts (the dim lighting, meditation etc.). However, if a mama feels inclined to do a kick count I'm betting it's safe to say she's doing it out panic/worry. She's not about to get calm and relaxed. With D I had a quiet moment and was told to do a kick count. I was worried...what if? this and what if? that. It was not a peaceful moment. The picture you create is more in tune with a mama who wants a quiet moment to herself, who has a chance to relax and just take it all in. What does a kick count "diagnose"/ A lack of fetal movement. Heck call in and they'll tell you to do a kick count, then drink some juice/eat fruit, do ANOTHER kick count and then they'll talk about you coming in. They can't tell anything off of it. DD, even in her active moments, never qualified as anything in a kick count.

Okay so here is my deal... thingy... (vocab is limited lol): As a pregnant woman I didn't appreciate the alarmist point of view when it came to ways I was supposed to be responsible for myself and baby. So as a midwife I do unto others as it were. I always present "it" and the "it" being getting to know the baby inside and the changing body of mom as normal, not something to take note of when something is seemingly wrong. So I think when the women I work with come to their appointment saying, "You know, my baby has started to change its movement patterns..." or "I noticed the movements my baby has have stopped being so pokey and more rolling, I think it's gaining weight and growing!" So while this can fall into the "kick count" category it's not a calculated kick count. I think since I present as part of overall wellness it's part of normal and I've never heard, "I was worried! I didn't feel it move so I sat and did a kick count!" Instead I might hear, "Over the last week I was really busy and realized I hadn't taken the time out to be with my baby or noticed it moving all that much. I sat down alone and what do you know? He let me know he was glad I sat down by moving and poking me in the ribs to show his enjoyment."

Of course once a woman gets to know the movements of her baby and how they change when they are absent for a length of time uncomfortable to her one could move and do a "kick count" and trying to stimulate her baby by external massage, juice, or some other recommendation as you mentioned.

As far as what does it diagnose? It's not a diagnostic tool but it could be symptomatic of any number of maternal or fetal problems (from high blood pressure to placental insufficiency for example). The point I have been trying to make and feeling I've been failing miserably at is I believe it's something that can just provide positive reassurance for the mother. It's not some sneaky way at testing compliancy or the suseptibility to the practitioner's whim (but hey, that's me , not the rest of the world).

[cottonwood]

I've never done kick counts, nor was it suggested to me by either of my midwives. I agree with those who regard it as a clinical activity, and clinical things don't have a place in my pregnancies unless I sense there is a problem or have a specific concern.

I also didn't consciously note when the baby was normally active or asleep or whatever and don't regard doing so routinely as beneficial. On a subconscious level of course I was fully aware of what my baby was doing just as I'm aware, without having to think about it, when something is "off" in my body, or what movements and sounds are normal coming from my children during the night, etc.

I'm also skeptical as to how useful it is in indicating problems. Maybe in a very controlled clinical setting, but I can easily see it being unnecessarily anxiety-producing if just done casually and randomly, especially given that all babies and uterine environments are different.

of course i don't do this. barf barf barf. and yes, i do intend to sound indignant.

I'm sorry, this just made me laugh. Fondly.