Guide
Kick Counts: How and When to Count Your Baby's Movements
Counting your baby's movements is a simple way to keep tabs on their wellbeing in the third trimester. This guide explains how to do kick counts and when a change means you should call. It is educational, not medical advice.
How to count
Pick a time your baby is usually active, often after a meal. Lie on your left side or sit comfortably, and count how long it takes to feel 10 movements (kicks, rolls, or flutters). Most babies reach 10 well within two hours.
When to do them
Most clinicians suggest starting daily kick counts around 28 weeks. Doing them around the same time each day helps you learn your baby's normal pattern.
When to call
If it takes much longer than usual to reach 10, or your baby is moving less than their normal pattern, eat or drink something cold and try again. If movement is still reduced, call your clinician or labor and delivery the same day. Decreased movement always deserves a check.
Materna provides maternal and women's health care and education. This page is general information, not medical advice. Decreased fetal movement should be checked promptly.
Frequently asked questions
- How many kicks are normal?
- A common method is counting until you feel 10 movements; most babies reach 10 within two hours. What matters most is your baby's own normal pattern.
- When should I start kick counts?
- Most clinicians suggest starting around 28 weeks, once daily, at a time your baby is usually active.
- What if my baby is not moving?
- Eat or drink something cold and try again. If movement is still reduced, call your clinician or go to labor and delivery the same day.