Monitoring your baby’s movements from 28 weeks is one of the most important things you can do in the third trimester. Changes in fetal movement are often the first detectable sign of fetal distress — and acting on them promptly saves lives. The Kicks Count charity estimates that better awareness of fetal movement patterns could prevent thousands of stillbirths annually.
👶 Kick Counter
Count 10 movements within 2 hours. Tap every time your baby kicks, rolls, or moves.
The Count-to-10 Method
From 28 weeks, count your baby’s movements daily until you reach 10. Record the time it takes. A normal, healthy baby reaches 10 movements in under 2 hours — most active babies reach 10 in 20–40 minutes. What counts as a movement: kicks, rolls, swishes, pokes, flutters, and jabs. Count during a period when your baby is usually active — typically after meals, after a cold drink, or in the evening when you’re resting. If you reach 10 quickly, you’re done for the day.
What to Do If Movement Reduces
This is the critical message and it cannot be overstated: if your baby is moving less than usual, or it’s taking significantly longer than normal to reach 10 movements — contact your midwife or maternity unit the same day. Not tomorrow. Not at your next scheduled appointment. Today. The RCOG and Tommy’s both emphasise that reduced fetal movement should always be reported promptly. A CTG assessment takes 30 minutes and either provides immediate reassurance or identifies a problem at a point when intervention is still possible. There is no such thing as calling too often about reduced movement.
The Myth That Must Be Corrected
‘Babies slow down near the end of pregnancy’ — this is a dangerous myth that persists despite being wrong. Fetal movement does not decrease in the final weeks of pregnancy. The baby is larger but still moves the same amount. If a healthcare provider or family member tells you that slowing down near the end is normal, they are incorrect. Movement should remain consistent right up to labour. Report any reduction — at any stage from 28 weeks onwards — to your maternity unit.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start kick counting?
Most guidelines recommend from 28 weeks, when movement patterns are well-established and consistent. Some women feel movements earlier (16–25 weeks for first-time mothers, earlier in subsequent pregnancies), but routine daily counting before 28 weeks isn’t the standard recommendation because early movement isn’t yet regular enough to provide a reliable reference baseline.
My baby is very active then goes quiet — is that normal?
Yes — babies have sleep-wake cycles in the womb, typically 20–40 minute sleep periods followed by active phases. A quiet period that ends with normal activity is expected. The concern is when the pattern changes from your personal baseline — if your baby is usually active at a particular time and today they’re not, count carefully and contact your unit if you can’t reach 10 in 2 hours.
I have an anterior placenta — will I feel fewer movements?
An anterior placenta (positioned at the front of the uterus) acts as a cushion and many women with one feel movements later and less intensely than expected. By 28 weeks most women with anterior placentas can feel movements well. If you have an anterior placenta, establish your own personal movement baseline from early on — a change from your norm is what matters, not a comparison with what others feel.
Medical disclaimer: This tool is for informational purposes only. If you notice reduced or absent fetal movement, contact your OB or maternity unit immediately — do not use this tool as a substitute for professional assessment.
Related Reading
- 28 weeks pregnant: kick counts and why they matter
- Decreased baby movement: when to call your midwife
- 18 weeks pregnant: feeling the first kicks
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