how to do kick counts

I've been instructed to do kick counts and I have a couple questions:

1. Am I allowed to "prod" them? In the past when I haven't felt them move much, I just kind of press around on my stomach and that usually gets them moving.

2. Do I need to be able to count them for each baby? I tend to have a hard time figuring out who is who.

Thanks
Cary

 

I have only counted kicks for a NST, but I wouldn't prod them I would just see if they did it on their own and it didn't matter which baby kicked i just count kicks, I too have lost track of who is who the move so much and are so active and then Sometimes the babies move and we don't even feel them.

 

I would drink a glass of juice then lay down for about 20 minutes and usually they would enjoy the sugar high (like the one from the glucose test) and then try and count for each baby. They do move so much that at each ultrasound I would find myself saying, "that's why I havent felt a movement in that area...they arent there anymore."

Rachel

 

Thanks to you both. I had something sugary and did as you said and did feel some movement, but definitely not lots. I'll do it again later this evening.

Cary

 

Did your doctor tell you to do kick counts? DH told me I should be doing them, but the doctor hasn't said anything to me about it.

 

I would always try and do kick counts but I could never figure out who was who. I would just try to do the kick counts during an active time and just do your best to figure out who's who. You can always drink something sweet to try and get something going. There were a couple of occasions where I thought that one of the babies wasn't moving and went into L&D for and NST and sure enough the minute the monitors would go on they would start moving. So I would just do your best and if you ever feel like something isn't quite right call your ob.

 

I was told that for kick counts to do them 2 times a day...and to pick times that you know that they are usually active (after eating for example) and then try to do them everyday at those times. I was told that you need at least 10 kicks/movements...but not bh...and then when i got to that amount i was done. I usually count a few mor than 10 just for my own peice of mind

Hope that helped Cary...good luck with your counting

 

QUOTE(AimeeThomp @ Sep 13 2007, 05:53 PM) [snapback]406681[/snapback]
Did your doctor tell you to do kick counts? DH told me I should be doing them, but the doctor hasn't said anything to me about it.


Yes, when I was discharged from the hospital earlier this week, kick counts were part of my discharge instructions.

I only actually had trouble on Thursday when they were very still all day...until about 9pm that evening when they decided to throw a party. :a_smil09: They've been moving consistently since then..maybe they are still cleaning up from all the fun they had?

Thanks for everyone's advice!

Cary