Count the Kicks Academy for Parents

A suite of videos, guides, and resources to help expectant parents get their baby here safely.

An expectant mom uses the Count the Kicks app to track her baby's movement.

Learn How

Count the Kicks is a simple way to monitor your baby’s well-being. Expectant parents should begin counting every day in the third trimester.

Want to learn more about Count the Kicks? Visit our video page for more resources, education and baby save stories.

START COUNTING

Count the Kicks is a simple way to monitor your baby’s well-being. Expectant parents should begin counting daily at the start of the third trimester.

  • Start a timer to track baby's movements

    Time

    Start a timer and record the time it takes for you to feel 10 movements.

  • Count baby's kicks every day around the same time

    Count

    Pick a time when baby is active to start counting, preferably the same time every day.

  • Compare kick session to previous times

    Pattern

    After each day's counting session, compare that time with your past sessions.

  • Contact

    Go to the hospital right away if you notice a change in your baby's movement patterns.

Download the App

Use our free pregnancy app daily in the third trimester! It helps you record how long it takes your baby to get to 10 movements, tracks changes over time, and reminds you to count every day.

Get the App
A woman's hand holds a smartphone with the Count the Kicks app on screen.

How to Use Count the Kicks Paper Charts

Learn how to count your baby’s movements using our paper charts! It’s a great option if you don’t have access to strong internet, broadband or a smartphone and can’t access our free app.

Printable Kick Counting Charts

Count the Kicks Evidence

A study published in the BJOG: British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in February of 2023 proves the effectiveness of Count the Kicks as a method for helping your baby arrive safely. Watch this video to learn more.

Paying attention to your baby’s movements is a great way to monitor your baby’s health in the 3rd trimester. Download the FREE Count the Kicks app and get counting today.

Download the App

Why Count?

Tracking fetal movements is an easy and effective way to monitor the wellbeing of your baby.

  • 21K

    More than 21,000 babies are lost to stillbirth in the U.S. each year.

  • 1 in 3

    One out of every three stillbirths could be prevented with fetal movement monitoring.

  • 32%

    Count the Kicks helped reduce Iowa’s stillbirth rate by 32% in 10 years.

Learn more about stillbirth in the U.S. and how Count the Kicks can help.

Stillbirth in the U.S.

TESTIMONIALS

Dana and her daughter Nahla

"Definitely pay attention to Count the Kicks. Had I not, Nahla wouldn’t be here. Don’t second guess yourself. Don’t feel bad or stupid, don’t worry about insurance or the emergency room bill, go check on your baby because your baby might not be here."

-Dana M.

Speak Up

Go to the hospital right away if you notice a change in the strength of your baby’s movements or how long it takes your baby to get to 10 movements. It’s important to SPEAK UP if you notice a change!

We encourage all expectant parents to listen to their gut and seek evaluation if their baby’s movements change. 

How to Count Kicks

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about kick counting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Be Heard

It’s important to remember that your baby’s health should always be the top priority for both you and your healthcare provider. Here are some tips to help you share any concerns with your doctor. 

  1. Speak Up: Contact your provider right away if you notice a change in the strength of your baby’s movements or how long it takes your baby to get to 10 movements. 
  2. Trust Your Instincts: Your baby’s movements are an important vital sign, and YOU know your baby best! Trust your gut. 
  3. Don’t Delay: There is no bad time to call or go in. If your provider’s office is closed, hospitals are open 24/7, ready to serve YOU. 
  4. Speak Louder: Your provider is there to listen to YOU. If your provider isn’t listening, speak louder until they do. YOU have a choice in who cares for you and your baby.
  5. Hours and Minutes Matter: Don’t hesitate. A change in movement is often the first or only indication a baby is in distress. Don’t let fear of COVID stop you from going in. The risks of not speaking up outweigh the risk of going in.

If you need to speak up, try this: 

  • “I am counting my kicks and I noticed reduced fetal movement.”
  • “I am counting my kicks and I noticed a change in my baby’s movement.”
  • “I am counting my kicks and my baby is not moving like normal.”

TESTIMONIALS

Dr. Alexandra Hubbell is a member of the Medical Advisory Board

“It’s too important to ignore. If your baby’s movements change, speak up!”

-Dr. Alexandra Hubbell, Family Medicine Physician, UnityPoint Health

Planning Ahead

Plan with Your Doctor
During your prenatal appointments, be sure to ask your provider how to contact them if you have concerns and when you should go directly to the hospital.

 

Tell Your Doctor About Count the Kicks
Tracking your baby’s movement is important whether you heard about it from your provider or not. It’s OK to bring up Count the Kicks with your provider and ask to show them your kick counting data.

 

Know Who to Contact
If you contact your provider and don’t hear back quickly, you should contact the triage nurse at your birthing hospital or go directly to your nearest OB/emergency department for evaluation.

 

Trust Your Instincts
Hospitals are open 24/7 and are ready to help expectant moms who are concerned about their baby’s movement. A change in movement is too important to ignore.

 

Take Distance into Account
If you have a long drive to your chosen birthing hospital, you may want to locate a closer location to have as a backup if needed.

Telehealth and Virtual Doctor Visits

By paying attention to your baby’s movements every day in the third trimester, you will have the peace of mind to know when things are OK and when things have changed. It’s like having a data download for your motherly intuition!

 

With the Count the Kicks app, you can download your kick counting data via text or email and send it directly to your healthcare provider. This data can serve as a helpful tool for discussing your baby’s movement with your healthcare provider, especially during telehealth appointments. 

Baby Saves

Through years of outreach and education, the babies we have helped still inspire us the most.

Meet our baby saves and learn how Count the Kicks helped save their lives.

Baby Saves

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Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and is not meant for diagnosis or treatment. Use of this information should be done in accordance with your healthcare provider.