Almost in third trimester? Know your baby!
You’re nearing the third trimester, the last stretch of your pregnancy.
It’s a great time to start a daily practice of getting to know your baby and their movements.
Movement is a vital cue that your little one is doing well!
There is no set number of movements you should feel in a day. Some babies are more active than others. It’s important to know what is normal for your baby.
Have you heard of Count the Kicks?
Count the Kicks is an evidence-backed stillbirth prevention program based on public health research from Norway. This research demonstrated a 30% reduction in the stillbirth rate by teaching pregnant people how to monitor fetal movement in the third trimester by doing daily kick counts.
In the first 10 years of the Count the Kicks campaign, the stillbirth rate in Iowa reduced by 32%, while the rest of the country remained relatively stagnant. That’s incredible!
Read more on the evidence HERE
The app is FREE and available in 20+ languages. There’s also a printable/downloadable paper tracker.
Image courtesy of Count The Kicks
How to Track Your Baby’s Movements:
When to Start: As of 2023, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) published a guideline recommending that all pregnant individuals be advised to regularly monitor fetal movements starting at 26 weeks of gestation (source).
(If you are considered high-risk or pregnant with multiples, consult with your healthcare provider on when to start)
Steps:
Monitor your baby’s movements (with the Count the Kicks app or downloadable/printable paper tracker)
Count baby’s movements daily and preferably at the same time. Try to pick a time each day when baby is normally active
Time how long it takes your baby to get to 10 movements. Rate the strength of baby’s movements
After a few days of tracking, you will begin to see the average length of time it takes for baby to reach 10 movements
Call your healthcare provider if you notice a change in the strength of movements or the length of time it takes for baby to get to 10 movements.
What counts as a baby movement? Kicks, jabs, rolls, swishes, pushes – any baby movements EXCEPT hiccups (which are involuntary movements)
Image courtesy of Count The Kicks
Make this daily ritual an opportunity to carve out some downtime in your day.
Sit down, put your feet up, hydrate, and tune in to your baby.
Disclaimer: Please note, this information is intended for educational purposes only and is not meant for diagnosis or treatment. This information is NOT meant to replace the advice of your healthcare provider. Please consult with your healthcare provider to determine whether or not this information is appropriate for you.