Kick Counts

[Atia_Julii]

I am now in my 3rd trimester (holy crap!) and at my OB appointment last week, I was instructed to start doing the kick counts.  According to the infomation sheet I was given, I should feel my baby kick at least 10 times every hour.

Well, then I'm concerned, because I don't.  My baby seems to have a couple active periods in the day.  One in the morning, and one in the evening, where she kicks and moves constantly, and I can feel at least 10 kicks in 10 minutes.  But the rest of the day she is fairly quiet. And when I sleep, if she does kick and move around, the movements are never enough to wake me, so for 8 hours straight, I don't feel the baby at all.  

I have a home doppler, and everytime I check her heartbeat, it sounds good and is anywhere from 145-155 on a consistent basis.  And when I haven't felt her much, if I poke my belly, the baby almost always gives me a poke back.

But still, I'm concerned.  My OB said 10 movements EVERY hour, and that is NOT the case with me.  I've read about the non stress test, but I don't know if I should even be concerned.  

What are the reasons some babies move more than others?  Any insight would be so appreciated.  I just want to know that things are okay, and I don't want to make an uneccessary all to the OB if what I'm experiencing sounds normal to all of you.

[Victoria01]

My OB told me to do a kick count twice a day. Once you start feeling baby move, start counting. As long as there is 10 movements within an hour's time, everything is fine and you can stop counting. Always make sure you wait for your baby to wake up and start moving on his/her own before you start counting or you will just worry yourself to death. =) If, for some reason, your baby doesn't move 10 times in an hour, eat or drink something (preferably something with sugar) and start counting again when baby moves. If you don't get 10 within an hour on the second time, call you doctor. Also make sure you are not trying to do a count when baby is sleeping. Pick his/her active time.

[feather2e]

Every baby is different and some are more active than others. what it comes down to is what is normal for your baby. If you feel there is a change in her behaviour (meaning her kicks /movement etc..) Then you should let your doctor know but otherwise I wouldnt stress out.

[Atia_Julii]

Thanks guys! You've all made me feel so much better.  I was kind of surprised by what my OB said also, and have been thinking about every bad scenario that could happen.  I've also heard people who have multiple children say that some of their babies kicked more than others in the womb, so maybe I just have a chill girl.  Don't get me wrong, she kicks, but every hour?  Not so much.

[ammanda]

My OB just told me when i m feeling worried to do Kick counts, not every hour, thats crazy.. Hes making you think too much into and worry yourself for nothing. My doctor said on a regular basis(not that i should count them, but if im worried to) that the baby should kick 6 times every two hours, but the case with me is my baby dont kick anymore lol. So i have to count feet and hands in my sides lol... You will be fine, and make sure at your next appointment you ask your doct to explain that to you alil more

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I wouldnt' worry, I think its ridiculous that your Ob said 10 movements EVERY hour. First of all like msteri said, it's not logical...babies dont' move 24 hours a day.  Second, you would get NOTHING else accomplished doing kick counts EVERY hour.  I've had 2 pregnancies where I was told to do kick counts and 3 where I wasn't.  Just keep doing what you're doing and everything should be fine.  As for your baby's movements, it sounds to me like s/he is moving like s/he is supposed to be.  Now if you notice a change in what you have come to see as a routine for your baby then you really should insist your doc check to make sure all is ok.  

[Atia_Julii]

Thanks so much for your responses!  It definitely makes me feel better.  My baby only seems to be highly active in the early mornings right after breakfast, and then at about 7pm when I'm winding down for the night.  It's weird, because I've had a few ultrasounds, and the baby is always moving around during the ultrasound, but I'm definitely not feeling every movement, even though I'm almost 28 weeks.

[msteri]

Ten movements every hour doesn't seem logical.  At some times during the day the baby will be sleeping.  If you google kick counts, you'll see that most instructions tell you to do them when the baby is most active, which is usually in the evening after a meal.  It's not the same time of day for everyone, but the point is that after food or drinks high in sugar, the baby should definitely be moving.  If you are having a problem getting the baby to move after eating or drinking, then there may be a problem.  If you think the baby will be moving every hour, you'll just cause yourself a lot of unnecessary worry when s/he doesn't give you 10 movements in an hour every hour.

Also, my OB told me 10 movements in an hour but not every hour.  My baby is active early morning, right before bed, and in the middle of the night.  If I tried kick counts in the afternoon, she'd fail the test every time because she's just not active at that time.

[Atia_Julii]

My doc said that everyone in their 3rd trimester is instructed to do kick counts.  At least that's how my clinic does it.

My clinic also only does the non-stress test if there is reason to be concerned.  Everytime I mention my babies activities, the OB does not seem concerned.  But then she goes and tells me I should feel my baby 10 times every hour, which is not happening.

I of course goo.gled why some babies don't move as much, and wish I hadn't.  Sometimes it is lack of oxygen, which kind of freaked me out.  And I hate to call the OB's office for no reason, as I've already done that a couple times during this pregnancy when I worried unecessarily.  

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I don' tknow WHY doctors say that, babies sleep too.  When I had to do them I was told to do it twice to three times per day during the baby's active periods.  Sometimes if you are concerned you can drink something like orange juice and eat a little something, a lot of times that will get baby moving.  As long as you are getting the 10 movements when you do them and you don't notice any difference in yoru baby's pattern of active periods and you are definately picking up the heartbeat on the dopplar (and it's not too low) then I wouldn't worry.  

You mentioned the non stress test, have they started you on those?  It's raelly nothing to be worried about, just something to keep an eye on baby.  I had them twice a week towards the end with 2 of my pregnancies.  They also did an AFI (amniotic fluid index) once a week.  I found it nice that I was able to continually get reassurance that all was ok.  

What you have described sounds good, I would try not to worry.  What are the reasons the doc asked you to start doing the kick counts to begin with?