Do You Need to Count Kicks? Advice by Country

Sources

These are the sources behind the statements on this page. We opened each one and checked it on the date shown.

1. NHS, Your baby's movements, page last reviewed 8 July 2024

   The NHS says there is no set number of movements you should feel each day, that you do not need to count your baby's kicks, and that you should get to know your baby's usual pattern.

   Limits: NHS advice is written for the UK. Advice elsewhere differs, and your own midwife or doctor comes first.

   Checked October 9, 2026. Read directly from the source.

2. NHS, Your baby's movements, page last reviewed 8 July 2024

   The NHS says to call your midwife or maternity unit immediately if your baby moves less than usual, you cannot feel movement, or the usual pattern changes, and not to wait until the next day.

   Limits: NHS advice is written for the UK. Advice elsewhere differs, and your own midwife or doctor comes first.

   Checked October 9, 2026. Read directly from the source.

3. NHS inform (Public Health Scotland), Ready Steady Baby!, Getting to know your baby's movements, last updated 14 August 2025

   NHS inform in Scotland says to phone your midwife or maternity unit immediately if your baby has not moved as much as usual or the pattern has changed, that there is no set number of normal movements, and that babies do not move less towards the end of pregnancy.

   Limits: The page says it is adapted with permission from Tommy's, so it is not independent of the Tommy's page. It has no counting method. It says not to check your baby's heartbeat with hand-held monitors, dopplers or phone apps.

   Checked October 13, 2026. Read directly from the source.

4. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Your baby's movements in pregnancy (patient information based on Green-top Guideline No. 57, February 2011)

   The RCOG says there is no specific number of movements that is considered normal, and that there is not enough evidence to recommend the routine use of a movement chart.

   Limits: UK patient information published February 2019 and based on the 2011 guideline; the RCOG still had it online on 17 October 2026. The guideline's second edition (April 2026) says to report any decrease or stopping of movements and finds insufficient evidence for counting to set numbers. Advice elsewhere differs, and your own midwife or doctor comes first.

   Checked October 9, 2026. Read directly from the source.

5. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Your baby's movements in pregnancy (patient information based on Green-top Guideline No. 57, February 2011)

   The RCOG says that if your baby moves less than usual or the pattern changes, it is essential to contact your midwife or maternity unit immediately, and that over 28 weeks you must not wait until the next day.

   Limits: UK patient information published February 2019 and based on the 2011 guideline; the RCOG still had it online on 17 October 2026. The guideline's second edition (April 2026) says to report any decrease or stopping of movements and finds insufficient evidence for counting to set numbers. Advice elsewhere differs, and your own midwife or doctor comes first.

   Checked October 9, 2026. Read directly from the source.

6. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Reduced Fetal Movements, Green-top Guideline No. 57, first edition, February 2011

   The RCOG's 2011 guideline said there is insufficient evidence to recommend formal movement counting with specified alarm limits, and advised women to know their baby's usual pattern.

   Limits: The same section advised women who were unsure after 28+0 weeks to lie on their left side, focus on movements for 2 hours and contact their unit if they felt fewer than 10 discrete movements. The 2026 second edition keeps the finding on counting (worded as specified numbers, graded A) and does not include the 2-hour step.

   Checked October 13, 2026. Read directly from the source.

7. Whitworth M, Fisher M, Heazell A, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Reduced Fetal Movements, Green-top Guideline No. 57, second edition. BJOG 2026;133(8):e70-e92, first published 27 April 2026 (section 7)

   The RCOG's 2026 guideline says there is insufficient evidence to recommend formal counting of fetal movements using specified numbers, and that women should know their baby's own pattern.

   Limits: Graded A for counting and C for the pattern. It notes that the most widely used alarm limit was developed in women at high risk counting in hospital, so may not apply to a general population. The same section says women who experience reduced movements should be seen by their maternity service. The 2011 edition's step for women who were unsure (lie on the left side, focus for 2 hours, and call if fewer than 10 discrete movements) does not appear in the 2026 text.

   Checked October 17, 2026. Read directly from the source.

8. Whitworth M, Fisher M, Heazell A, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Reduced Fetal Movements, Green-top Guideline No. 57, second edition. BJOG 2026;133(8):e70-e92, first published 27 April 2026 (section 5)

   The RCOG's 2026 guideline tells clinicians to advise women to report any decrease or stopping of their baby's movements to the maternity unit, especially after a spell of sudden, vigorous movement.

   Limits: Graded B. The same section says to advise women to be aware of movements up to and including the start of labour. Section 10 says women should be encouraged to report any sudden change in their normal movements, whether an increase, a decrease or stopping. The RCOG's patient information (2019) and the NHS also ask you to call about a change in the usual pattern.

   Checked October 17, 2026. Read directly from the source.

9. Tommy's, Baby movements in pregnancy, last reviewed 30 January 2026

   Tommy's says there is no set number of normal movements, that you do not need to count a specific number of kicks, and that you should get to know your baby's usual movements from day to day.

   Limits: Tommy's is a UK charity. The page lists the clinicians who reviewed it for clinical accuracy and says it is certified under the PIF TICK for health information. It also says that with an anterior placenta you should still feel regular movement, and what is normal for your baby will just be different.

   Checked October 13, 2026. Read directly from the source.

10. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Special Tests for Monitoring Fetal Well-Being (FAQ098), last reviewed January 2026

    ACOG's patient page says your health care professional may ask you to track movements if you feel them less often than normal, that there are different ways to do kick counts, and that your professional will tell you how often to count and when to call.

    Limits: This page gives no number of movements and no time limit. Other ACOG documents may describe specific methods.

    Checked October 9, 2026. Read directly from the source.

11. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Clinical Consensus No. 8, Tailored Prenatal Care Delivery for Pregnant Individuals, Obstetrics & Gynecology 2025;145(5):565-577, May 2025

    ACOG's 2025 consensus says no routine antenatal measure of fetal well-being, formal kick counts included, has shown benefit for stillbirth prevention.

    Limits: The sentence is about the content of routine prenatal visits.

    Checked October 13, 2026. Read directly from the source.

12. Count the Kicks (Healthy Birth Day, Inc.), Frequently asked questions, no date shown on the page

    Count the Kicks says to count kicks, jabs, pokes, rolls or swishes until you reach 10 movements, not hiccups because they are involuntary, and to compare the time it takes with your own average.

    Limits: A US non-profit that asks every expectant parent to count daily. It says to call your provider right away if the strength of movements or the time to reach 10 changes, and to go to the nearest hospital if you cannot reach your provider. The page says to begin at 28 weeks, or 26 weeks if you are high-risk or pregnant with multiples, and credits ACOG, linking ACOG Committee Opinion 828. That document does not use the words kick counts or give those weeks, in the text we read on 13 October 2026.

    Checked October 13, 2026. Read directly from the source.

13. Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, Pregnancy Info, Fetal movement and kick counts, no date shown on the page

    The SOGC's Pregnancy Info says to count movements for 2 hours, to contact your provider as soon as possible if you do not feel 6, and, with risk factors, to count daily starting at 26 to 32 weeks.

    Limits: The page also says movement patterns vary but tend to be consistent for any one baby, that the best time for counting is often in the evening, that if you think your baby might be moving less you can do a kick count at any time, and that any concern about the movement pattern should be assessed as soon as possible. It names no source for the number 6.

    Checked October 13, 2026. Read directly from the source.

14. Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand and Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth, Clinical practice guideline for the care of women with decreased fetal movements with a singleton pregnancy from 28 weeks' gestation, version 2.4, March 2023 (recommendation 3)

    The Australian and New Zealand guideline on decreased fetal movements says women may choose to observe movements daily from 28 weeks, with or without counting, and that a woman who counts should contact her care provider if she has not counted 10 movements in 2 hours.

    Limits: Graded B. The same recommendation says a woman's concern about decreased movements overrides any definition based on numbers of movements. The counting option is to count each evening lying on your side, which usually takes around 20 minutes. The other option is 15 minutes on your side noting strength, frequency and character without counting.

    Checked October 13, 2026. Read directly from the source.

15. Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand and Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth, Clinical practice guideline for the care of women with decreased fetal movements with a singleton pregnancy from 28 weeks' gestation, version 2.4, March 2023 (section 6)

    The Australian and New Zealand guideline on decreased fetal movements says the Cochrane review found not enough evidence to recommend or not recommend formal counting, and that its largest trial was subject to some methodological bias.

    Limits: The guideline gives two reasons for the bias: clusters within hospitals, and counting by some women in the control group as part of standard care. It adds that the authors of the 1989 trial speculated that their definition of decreased movements, fewer than 10 a day for two consecutive days, may have been too strict. It says its recommendations are consensus-based because of the lack of high-quality evidence. It was due for review by October 2025, and we found no newer version.

    Checked October 13, 2026. Read directly from the source.

16. Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth (Australia), Safer Baby Bundle: Decreased Fetal Movements (DFM) #2, no date shown on the page

    The Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth tells parents to contact their midwife or doctor immediately about a change in movements, that there is no set number of normal movements, and that you will feel movement from weeks 16 to 24 wherever your placenta lies.

    Limits: The page does not mention counting. It says you are not wasting their time by contacting them.

    Checked October 13, 2026. Read directly from the source.

17. Health Service Executive (Ireland), Your baby's movements, page last reviewed 10/01/2023, next review due 10/01/2026

    The HSE says to contact your midwife, obstetrician or maternity hospital immediately, and not to wait until the next day, if movements slow down, increase or stop; there is no set number that is normal, and babies do not move less towards the end of pregnancy.

    Limits: The next review date printed on the page has passed. Under a heading about home dopplers, it says that using a home doppler (heartbeat monitor) or an app is not recommended.

    Checked October 13, 2026. Read directly from the source.

18. Health Service Executive, National Women and Infants Health Programme, Plain language summary: Reduced fetal movements (file in the RCPI website's 2024 folder, no date printed)

    The HSE's plain language summary of Ireland's national clinical guideline on reduced fetal movements lists among its key points that using kick-charts or kick counting to monitor a baby's movements is not recommended.

    Limits: A summary for patients, not the full guideline, which we have not read. The summary also says every baby is different, that there is no set number of movements in a specific period, that women with concerns should go to the maternity unit immediately, and not to delay getting checked by drinking cold water or eating something sugary. It says concentrating on movements for a period of time is not supported by research or evidence.

    Checked October 13, 2026. Read directly from the source.

19. Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, Pregnancy and your baby's movements, last updated 22 July 2026

    Health New Zealand says to call your midwife or doctor immediately, and never wait until the next day, if you are concerned about movements; it says an awake, healthy baby will usually move at least 10 times in 2 hours, and you do not need a written record.

    Limits: It lists when to call immediately: if the baby does not move all day, moves less and less during the day, or you are concerned. The 10 in 2 hours describes what a healthy awake baby usually does and is not given as a limit for action. The page says you may want to keep a record, and that from 28 weeks it is good to spend time getting to know your baby's usual pattern.

    Checked October 13, 2026. Read directly from the source.

20. Dodampahala SH, Marleen S, Banu AH, Gamage TGJN, on behalf of the Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Managing reduced fetal movements (SLCOG guideline). Sri Lanka Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, September 2023;45(3):153-158

    The Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists says kick-charts are not currently recommended as part of routine antenatal care, and that women concerned about reduced movements should contact their healthcare provider immediately.

    Limits: A clinician-facing guideline. It says assessment should happen as soon as possible, within 2 hours. It says kick-charts are helpful for high-risk pregnancies, especially where there is evidence of fetal growth restriction, and that women unsure about reduced movements after 28 weeks should lie on their left side and focus on movements for 2 hours, contacting their provider immediately if they do not feel 10 or more discrete movements.

    Checked October 13, 2026. Read directly from the source.

21. Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Are you aware of your baby's movements during pregnancy? (patient leaflet in English), no date printed

    The SLCOG's patient leaflet says there is no fixed number of movements that is normal, that there is insufficient evidence to support routine charting, and not to delay seeking help by sleeping or by checking the heartbeat with devices at home.

    Limits: The leaflet adds that maternity clinics give a fetal movement card at around 36 weeks, and it states a rule about 4 hours and 10 hours that is unclear in the English text, so this site does not repeat it.

    Checked October 13, 2026. Read directly from the source.

22. World Health Organization, WHO recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience, 2016, recommendation B.2.1 (context-specific recommendation)

    The WHO's 2016 antenatal care recommendations say daily fetal movement counting, such as with count-to-ten kick charts, is only recommended in the context of rigorous research.

    Limits: The remarks on this recommendation in the 2016 guideline (page 54) say healthy pregnant women should be made aware of the importance of fetal movements in the third trimester and of reporting reduced movements, and that women who perceive reduced movements need further monitoring, for example daily counting, and investigation if indicated.

    Checked October 13, 2026. Read directly from the source.

23. Cleveland Clinic, Kick Counts (Fetal Movement Counting): Purpose & How To, page last updated 05/08/2026

    Cleveland Clinic describes timing how long it takes to feel 10 movements, says providers differ on the number and time window, and says it may be time to tell your provider if 10 have not come after two hours.

    Limits: Cleveland Clinic credits the target of 10 movements within two hours to ACOG. ACOG's own patient page, listed on this site, does not state that number. Cleveland Clinic also says that if you do not feel 10 movements in two hours it is OK and you can try again later, which differs from the NHS and the RCOG, who say to contact your care team immediately about reduced movement.

    Checked October 9, 2026. Read directly from the source.

24. Cleveland Clinic, Kick Counts (Fetal Movement Counting): Purpose & How To, page last updated 05/08/2026

    Cleveland Clinic lists ways to prompt movement if you have not felt it, such as a walk, a sweet drink, a meal, lying on your left side or loud music, and says to contact your provider if you still cannot feel movement.

    Limits: The NHS and the RCOG, listed on this site, say to contact your care team immediately about reduced or changed movement and do not tell you to try other things first.

    Checked October 9, 2026. Read directly from the source.

25. Health Service Executive, National Women and Infants Health Programme, Plain language summary: Reduced fetal movements (file in the RCPI website's 2024 folder, no date printed)

    The HSE's summary of Ireland's guideline says not to delay getting checked by drinking cold water or eating something sugary, and not to follow advice on ways to stimulate a baby's movements.

    Limits: It says such practices, including concentrating on movements for a period of time, are not supported by research or evidence, and that checking the heartbeat at home with phone apps, a handheld monitor or a Doppler is not recommended. A summary for patients.

    Checked October 17, 2026. Read directly from the source.

26. Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand and Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth, Clinical practice guideline for the care of women with decreased fetal movements with a singleton pregnancy from 28 weeks' gestation, version 2.4, March 2023 (recommendation 2C and section 5)

    The Australian and New Zealand guideline says getting checked should not be delayed by trying to stimulate the baby with food or drink, and that there is no evidence for this advice.

    Limits: Graded B. Section 5 says women are often told a baby may move after something sweet or a cold or fizzy drink, but no evidence supports this, and movements were not shown to increase with intravenous glucose or a recent meal. A guideline for singleton pregnancies from 28 weeks, due for review by October 2025; we found no newer version.

    Checked October 17, 2026. Read directly from the source.

27. Tommy's, Baby movements in pregnancy, last reviewed 30 January 2026

    Tommy's says you should not try to make your baby move, and to contact your midwife or maternity unit immediately if you think your baby is moving less or movements are weaker.

    Limits: UK charity advice. The same page says not to use hand-held monitors, stethoscopes, Dopplers or phone apps to check your baby's heartbeat, because even if you hear a heartbeat this does not mean your baby is well.

    Checked October 17, 2026. Read directly from the source.

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