Kick Counts Made Simple: FAQs, Expert Tips, and Why It Can Save Babies’ Lives - 259

In this episode of The Pulling Curls Podcast, Hilary Erickson, RN, is joined by Kimberly Iceberg from Count the Kicks to answer common questions about tracking your baby's movements during pregnancy. They discuss why kick counts matter, how to use the Count the Kicks app, what to do if you notice changes in your baby’s movement, and how kick counting can give you peace of mind while supporting stillbirth prevention. The episode also covers tips for handling complications like an anterior placenta and offers advice for communicating concerns with your healthcare provider.

Big thanks to our sponsor The Count the Kicks App -- It is free and available in 20+ languages. Start using daily at 28 weeks or 26 weeks if high-risk or pregnant with multiples. It makes doing a daily kick count easy. 77% of app users report that using the app helped decrease their anxiety about the well-being of their baby. 84% said it helped to increase their feelings of bonding. The app can be a great way to involve your partner or your baby's older siblings.

Download the app here: https://countthekicks.org/download-app/

Today's guest is Kimberly Isburg. She is the Communications Director for Healthy Birth Day, Inc., the nonprofit that created the Count the Kicks stillbirth prevention program. She is a mom of two boys and a firm believer in the power of Count the Kicks. She's on a mission to make sure all expectant parents know about kick counting in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Links for you:

When to start kick counts: https://www.pullingcurls.com/when-start-kick-counts/

The importance of kick counts: https://www.pullingcurls.com/podcast-bonus-kick-counts/

Timestamps:

00:00 "Pregnancy & Parenting Insights Podcast"

05:38 Pregnancy App Tracks Baby Movement

09:24 Mindful Baby Movement Tracking

10:14 Importance of Monitoring Fetal Movement

14:01 Pregnancy Health Concerns

18:50 Assessing Fetal Movement with Anterior Placenta

20:30 Baby Movement Tracking Eases Anxiety

23:16 Monitor Fetal Movement with Anterior Placenta

25:59 Kick Counts Start at 27 Weeks

31:01 Labor Nurses' Challenges and Solutions

33:03 Third Trimester: Key Time for Testing

35:48 "Daily Kit Counts Benefit Health"

Keypoints:

• The episode features Hilary Erickson, RN, and guest Kimberly from Count the Kicks, diving into frequently asked questions about fetal kick counts during pregnancy.
• The Count the Kicks app is highlighted as a free, easy-to-use tool available in over 20 languages, designed to help expectant moms track their baby's movement and identify normal patterns.
• Kick counting involves tracking any fetal movement (kicks, rolls, pokes, jabs, swishes) except hiccups, focusing on pattern consistency over time rather than comparing to a fixed standard like "10 kicks in 2 hours."
• It’s recommended to begin daily kick counts at the start of the third trimester (around 26–28 weeks), which is when babies typically establish a recognizable movement pattern.
• Every baby—and pregnancy—is different; the key is to learn what’s normal for your individual baby instead of comparing to others or strict timeframes.
• Count the Kicks app allows for note-taking, monitoring movement strength, and creating a graph for clear visualization of your baby’s movement history—helpful for discussing with healthcare providers.
• Changes in a baby's movement pattern (either slower or faster) should always be reported to a healthcare provider, as they can indicate potential problems with either baby or mom's health.
• Kick counts are proven to help reduce stillbirth rates, with research cited showing a 32% drop in Iowa after the practice was widely encouraged with Count the Kicks.
• Hilary and Kimberly address common concerns such as anxiety related to kick counts, babies described as "lazy," and complications like an anterior placenta, encouraging open communication with providers.
• Both emphasize kick counting as an empowering, bonding daily ritual—useful not only for peace of mind but as a practical safeguard for mom and baby, and encourage listeners to download the app and make daily tracking part of their routine.

Producer: Drew Erickson

Keywords:

kick counts, fetal movement, Count the Kicks app, anterior placenta, pregnancy monitoring, stillbirth prevention, third trimester, baby movement patterns, contraction timer, prenatal care, high risk pregnancy, labor and delivery, amniotic f