182. How to Count the Kicks and WHY it could save your baby's life
Labor and Delivery nurse shares the importance of kick counts during pregnancies and why it can save your baby’s life
Counting your baby’s movement starting at the 26th week for high-risk pregnancy and (twins, triplets) and at 28 weeks for all other pregnancies is important because it helps parents to bond with their baby and learn their baby’s specific movement patterns. Baby’s movement communicates their wellbeing. If their movement becomes less or weaker than normal, this can be your baby communicating that they may not be getting the nutrients or oxygen that they need and it is a sign to notify your provider for further evaluation. Monitoring your baby’s movement at the same time every day can help to determine what their normal is so that you can learn more about your baby and be able to be empowered to speak up to your provider if you notice a change in their normal movement patterns.
3 Key takeaways from the podcast that listeners will learn today:
Count the Kicks is an organization that provides technology for parents to track their baby’s movements and the strength of their movements - you can track twins, it is in 16 languages, there is an app, web-based and printable tracker as well.
A study Count the Kicks was a part of showed a decrease in stillbirth by 32% through the use of this app in Iowa alone and a survey of 809 moms who used Count the Kicks reported 77% of moms stated that counting their baby’s movements using the app decreased their anxiety about counting kicks and 84% felt more bonded to their baby.
Common Myths about Kick Counting:
“My baby is always active, so I don’t need to count kicks.”
A baby’s movement is the way they communicate their wellbeing with their parents, so it is important to know the normal movement patterns of the baby so that if there is a change, the parents can quickly notice it. Plus, counting kicks is a way to learn about your baby and bond with them as you learn when they are most active during the day.
“Only those experiencing a high-risk pregnancy should pay attention to their baby’s movement.”
During pregnancy, we cannot physically see a baby to know they are doing well, so we must pay attention to their movement. Every baby is different from pregnancy to pregnancy. Babies communicate their wellbeing by their movement, so even if a person doesn’t have a high-risk pregnancy, it is still important to learn their baby’s movement so they can notify a provider if that movement pattern changes.
“My baby should get 10 kicks in two hours.”
Research has shown that knowing a baby’s normal movement pattern will be a better gage to notify the provider if there has been a change. If a baby normally takes two hours to make 10 movements, then that is the baby’s normal. However, if a baby usually takes less time than two hours to make ten movements and it is taking them much longer to make ten movements, this is a sign to notify the provider since we know baby’s move less and may have weaker movements when they are not feeling their best and need evaluation.
“I can just use a doppler device to monitor my baby’s wellbeing.”
Every doppler device is different, and a change in heart rate can be one of the last signs that a baby’s wellbeing needs evaluation. A change in movement is one of the earliest signs, so that is why it is important to count a baby’s movements and know what the baby’s normal movement pattern is.
“If my baby isn’t moving, I should drink something cold or eat something sugary to get my baby moving.”
A change in a baby’s movement is one of the first signs that the baby’s wellbeing needs evaluation. A baby’s movement pattern should be the same with or without something cold to drink or something sugary to eat. Therefore, it is best to have the baby evaluated if the parent needs to do something to get the baby moving.
“Baby’s kick less near the end of pregnancy.”
Baby’s move throughout the pregnancy, even throughout labor. The way the baby’s movement feels may change near the end of pregnancy as the baby has grown, but the time it takes for a baby to make 10 movements should be the same throughout the pregnancy, even towards the end.
3 Keywords that people would want to search when looking for content that you would provide in this episode:
Kick Counts
Reduce stillbirth
Pregnancy App
Summary of guest experience
Roxane McAllister. I have been a labor and delivery nurse for five years and currently I am a traveling nurse in California. I am an ambassador for Count the Kicks because I am passionate about maternal and infant health such as reducing stillbirth and promoting parental bonding with their babies before their babies are even born.
Website: www.countthekicks.org
Instagram: @countthekicksus
TikTok: @countthekicks
Facebook Group: @countthekicks
YouTube Channel: @countthekicks
Twitter: @countthekicksUS
Other: my email: nurse.ambassador@countthekicks.org
RESEARCH
BJOG (Research published showing 32% reduction in stillbirth in Iowa by using Cout the Kicks app)
https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1471-0528.17426
AJOG (Research published showing how tracking fetal movement by mothers helps improve outcomes medically and emotionally)
https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(21)01971-2/fulltext
Fetal Movement (Research about importance about fetal movement)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470566/
XOXO -Heids
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I’m Heidi, a Certified Birth Doula, and I’ve supported the deliveries of over one thousand babies in my career. On the Birth Story Podcast, I’ll take you on a journey through your pregnancy by providing you education through storytelling. I provide high-level childbirth education broken down to make it super digestible for you because I know you are a busy parent on the go. Plus, because I am so passionate about birth outcomes, you will hear from many of the top experts in labor and delivery.
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