How do you do a kick count?

I posted yesterday about going to the doctor.  I have been diagnosed with very low amniotic fluid levels at 34 weeks.  I have only scored a 7 and 9 on the AFI.  They told me I needed to be around 12-13.

The midwife and doctor want to induce at 37 weeks unless the baby were to come under undue stress.  To make sure she is okay, I have to do a kick count everyday.  I am not exactly sure how to do this.  The midwife told me to count ten kicks every day.  Do you know how far apart each kick should be?  Sometimes the baby gets really excited and kicks 4 or 5 times in a row.  The midwife only counts that as one kick though.  I was curious to see how long the time in between the next kick should be.  Are we talking wait an hour, 1/2 hour, etc?  I want to do it right as my baby is depending on me!

Thanks in advance.  You ladies are lifesavers!!!!  :-)

[have 2 kids]

I'm sorry. I thought I would be able to help you but when pregnant my Dr advised me to do kick counts but I was told to count each movement and I should feel 10 in an hr.   I did not have low amniotic fluid - mine was high so maybe that's the difference.

[2boysmomma]

If for some reason you rest and can't feel the baby, I also heard that drinking a glass of milk or juice then laying on my left side would help to get baby moving.

[tomel]

When I went to the hospital a few weeks back for dehydraton. I was given discharge instructions.

According to these
It says When to come back to the hospital-
If your baby is moving less than 4 time an hour while you are resting.

According to What to expect when your expecting
They suggest checking in morning and at night
Check the clock when you start counting
Count movements of any kind kicks, flutters, swishes, rolls
Stop counting when you reach 10 amd note time. Often you will feel 10 within 10 minutes. Sometimes will take longer

Different ways of doing it I am going with the hosptals instructions for myself.

I would think if your active during the day it would be really hard to count 10 times total you felt different movements. But mabye keep a notebook handy and note the times that you do.
I dont understand how 4 or 5 kicks in a row can be counted as one. But if that is what she is suggesting then mabye wait and see how long before the next set of kicks happen and note that as a second time.

Good luck. I'm sure it's a little stressful.

[Darkestlight]

From my knowledge they say if you don't feel 10kicks in 2hrs then you should go to the hospital.

[myproblem]

Typically, you should pick baby's most active time of day, ad feel 10 kicks in 1 hour. Do it about the same time every day. If you don't feel 10 kicks,have a sugary drink, and try again in a little while. If you are ever concerned, call your Dr. You may feel like a nusciance, but that's what they get paid so much for. I had to be induced early with both of mine, due to a lot of m/c, and my health issues. I did not like being induced, but I've got 2 healthy girls to show for it.