kick counts?

1188 Views 16 Replies 12 Participants Last post by pianojazzgirl, Jun 24, 2007

SortaCrunchy

Discussion Starter · Jun 21, 2007

I don't *think* anyone has started on thread on this yet - forgive me if this is repetitive.

So at my check-up this week, they gave me the handout on kick counts. When I was pregnant with Dacey, I was an at-home wife with not much to do except be obsessed with being pregnant. I faithfully counted kicks every night - even if she was super active during the day. Just in case, you know.

But now with a handful of a toddler on my hands, I hardly ever think about counting kicks. This babe is every bit as active as D was in the womb, but what if I get too distracted to really notice how much she is moving?

What about ya'll - do you actually count kicks? How do you monitor movement?

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

sunshine's mama

· #2 · Jun 21, 2007

i did them with dd#1 bc she was very lazy movement wise....so i did them but never got the amt "recommended" in the time "recommended" and it drove me crazy...

this time, i know i will get the sheet this weekend when i go but this little girl is making up for her sister's lack of movement so i am not worried as much....

i may do them when i get time to do it but having just moved and such doubt i will have an hour to just lay down and wait for the kicks to come....now, if they slow down alot and such then i will MAKE the time....

leanbh

· #3 · Jun 21, 2007

my mw told me to start doing this this week, and the only reason for concern is if your baby hasn't gotten to 10 movements in two hours after not feeling movement all day and stuff like that.

i started to do mine right after dinner while dh and i are relaxin. that's when baby's most active as well. my mw said to just do them 3-4 times a week. she didn't really seem as though it was a huge deal.. just a little relief to momma and to see the way baby's moving at our prenatal visits.

this is our first though, so i'm not sure how 'important' it truly is or how i feel about it. i pretty much think that anything my midwife would give me to do is more for my baby and my benefits than anything else.

lactivist

· #4 · Jun 21, 2007

I don't do them unless I haven't felt baby move in a while and then I will drink some juice and sit down and pay attention for a while.
Wendi

IntuitiveJamie

· #5 · Jun 22, 2007

Gosh, this baby moves so much I don't feel like it's necessary. But maybe when she runs out of room and doesn't kick as much I will. But even with my son I never did them. He always moved at certain times of the day the entire pregnancy so I never worried unless he didn't move at those times. But it was pretty much like clockwork. I wouldn't worry about it personally unless you have some reason to.

alyrie

· #6 · Jun 22, 2007

Quote:

this baby moves so much I don't feel like it's necessary.

Same here.

sanguine_speed

· #7 · Jun 22, 2007

I have enough to do really! I trust that I would notice a decrease in movement without counting.

KarenMT

· #8 · Jun 22, 2007

I have to pull out my sheet on kick counts. Up until the past week or so I felt like this baby was super active but movements have slowed a bit. I'm not sure if that is due to lack of space or that I'm in the midst of moving- we move across country next week so I'm quite distracted. I definitely feel movement at set times of day. With DD, I think she was most active at night when I sat on the couch but this butt hasn't seen the couch in about 2 weeks due to all my activity.

mighty-mama

· #9 · Jun 22, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by lactivist

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I don't do them unless I haven't felt baby move in a while and then I will drink some juice and sit down and pay attention for a while.
Wendi

(With my first pg, I was really worried about this, but I also had a high risk pg, with a placenta that was aging prematurely..)

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gossamer

· #10 · Jun 22, 2007

I just want to jump in here to say that kick counts are very iportant, especially the later in your pregnancy you are. Kick counts can help diagnose, pre-eclampsia and cord issues. Both of which can result in fetal demise. I know it is a hassle and time consuming, but it is worth it.
Gossamer

KarenMT

· #11 · Jun 22, 2007

mighty-mama- how did you know your placent was aging prematurely?

pianojazzgirl

· #12 · Jun 22, 2007

I didn't do kick counts with dd, but she was very active... and I didn't have too much going on (no other kids to run around after), so I spent a lot of time relaxing and feeling her kicks. But then at 38wks I realized I hadn't felt her moving much that day so I did the old drink some juice and lie down trick and that didn't get her moving. I went to the hospital and her heartrate was seriously low and not coming back up so I ended up having an emergency c-section (we never found out the cause for her going into distress).

So now with this baby I feel a little extra concerned. I'm worried that the same thing could happen but I wouldn't notice in time because I was so busy chasing dd around. My dr hasn't mentioned kick counts yet (I was 25 wks at my last appointment), but I think I will start doing them now.

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IntuitiveJamie

· #13 · Jun 22, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by gossamer

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I just want to jump in here to say that kick counts are very iportant, especially the later in your pregnancy you are. Kick counts can help diagnose, pre-eclampsia and cord issues. Both of which can result in fetal demise. I know it is a hassle and time consuming, but it is worth it.
Gossamer

I tend to only do things if I'm showing signs of needing to be aware of a problem. I don't tend to do things to create worry, especially in pregnancy. That is why I don't do kick counts. Only if I noticed a huge decrease in movement and all the usual things didn't get the baby moving at all the usual times of day would I worry and poss. do kick counts.

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mercyrus

· #14 · Jun 22, 2007

I do suggest kick counts - and here's why. Last year...around April, I was pregnant and ready to go (due date April 17th). I remember those few days before I was scheduled to be induced - I was busy running around, trying to get the house ready for our newest family member, but not once did I do a kick test. I went to the hospital at midnight on the 18th - monitors were hooked up, they detected no heartbeat. One of the doctors from the practice came in and did an ultrasound and informed us that our child had not heartbeat. I won't go into everything else, but, I do remember saying to myself, if I had just done a kick count, perhaps I would have detected something, but, I'll never get that opportunity back.
And so, I say to all the mama's, I'm not trying to upset any of you or judge you - but, I beg you...take the time, do the kick counts. I had a somewhat normal pregnancy - my doctor wasn't alarmed at all. So, even if I can convince one of you, PLEASE do the kick counts - it's so little time in exchange for what could possibly be a lifetime of heartache.

Didn't want to end on a completely sad note - by the grace of God, I am pregnant again (Due on September 14th), I'm very happy about it and my pregnancy is going very well.

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sanguine_speed

· #15 · Jun 23, 2007

I think it's important to pay attention to fetal movement and to trust your instincts. I would do a kick count if I felt there was less movement than normal or if I hadn't felt anything in a while. I don't think sitting at any random 2-hour window to count is really the most accurate way to go. At this stage, the baby has sleep/wake cycles and isn't going to be active every random 2-hour segment.

PP, I am so sorry for your awful experience.

IntuitiveJamie

· #16 · Jun 23, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanguine_speed

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I think it's important to pay attention to fetal movement and to trust your instincts. I would do a kick count if I felt there was less movement than normal or if I hadn't felt anything in a while. I don't think sitting at any random 2-hour window to count is really the most accurate way to go. At this stage, the baby has sleep/wake cycles and isn't going to be active every random 2-hour segment.

PP, I am so sorry for your awful experience.

Agreed!

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pianojazzgirl

· #17 · Jun 24, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by mercyrus

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I do suggest kick counts - and here's why. Last year...around April, I was pregnant and ready to go (due date April 17th). I remember those few days before I was scheduled to be induced - I was busy running around, trying to get the house ready for our newest family member, but not once did I do a kick test. I went to the hospital at midnight on the 18th - monitors were hooked up, they detected no heartbeat. One of the doctors from the practice came in and did an ultrasound and informed us that our child had not heartbeat. I won't go into everything else, but, I do remember saying to myself, if I had just done a kick count, perhaps I would have detected something, but, I'll never get that opportunity back.
And so, I say to all the mama's, I'm not trying to upset any of you or judge you - but, I beg you...take the time, do the kick counts. I had a somewhat normal pregnancy - my doctor wasn't alarmed at all. So, even if I can convince one of you, PLEASE do the kick counts - it's so little time in exchange for what could possibly be a lifetime of heartache.

Didn't want to end on a completely sad note - by the grace of God, I am pregnant again (Due on September 14th), I'm very happy about it and my pregnancy is going very well.

I'm so so sorry for your loss.

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