Elara guides
Counting kicks: when and how
Your baby's movements are a daily wellbeing check.
Updated · Sources
Your baby's movements are one of the best everyday signs of their wellbeing — a little check-in only you can do. You don't need to hit a magic number; what matters is getting to know your baby's own normal, and noticing if it changes.
When movements start
First flutters (“quickening”) usually arrive somewhere around 18–22 weeks — earlier in later pregnancies, later if your placenta sits at the front. As weeks pass, flutters become kicks, rolls and jabs, and by the third trimester your baby settles into a pattern of active and quiet times, often livelier in the evening.
Get to know their normal
- There's no set number of kicks to count to — focus on your baby's usual pattern.
- Notice when they're typically active (often after meals or when you rest).
- If you want to feel movements, sit or lie down on your side somewhere quiet.
- From the third trimester, you should feel movements right up to and during labour.
The thing that matters most
A reduction or change in movements can sometimes be the first sign your baby needs checking, so it's the one thing never to wait on. Don't rely on home dopplers or sugary drinks to “wake” the baby — they can falsely reassure.
Why pattern matters more than a number
Older advice often set a target, such as ten kicks in a set time. Current NHS and RCOG guidance focuses instead on your baby’s individual pattern, because healthy babies move in very different ways. What matters is noticing what is normal for your baby and acting quickly if it changes.
Movements are not only kicks. From the second trimester you may feel flutters, swishes, rolls and jabs. As your baby grows, the type of movement can change — there may be more rolling and pushing than sharp kicks — but you should keep feeling your baby move right up to and during labour. Babies do not move less towards the end of pregnancy.
A simple way to check in
- Pick a time when your baby is usually active, often in the evening or after a meal.
- Lie on your left side or sit comfortably with your feet up, somewhere quiet, and put your phone on silent.
- Focus on your bump and notice the movements you feel and how long it takes to feel your baby’s usual amount of activity.
- Do this regularly so you know what normal looks like; a note of the time and how it felt can help when you speak to your midwife.
- If you are unsure whether you have felt enough movement, that uncertainty itself is a reason to call.
Myths worth dropping
Drinking something cold or sugary, eating, or prodding your bump to “wake” the baby is not a reliable test. Neither is a home doppler or heartbeat app: hearing a heartbeat does not mean your baby is well, and it can falsely reassure you and delay care. Only your maternity team can check properly.
It is also not true that you should wait until the morning or until your next appointment. Maternity units want to hear from you as soon as you notice reduced or changed movements, however often that happens.
What happens when you call
You will usually be asked to come in so the team can listen to your baby’s heartbeat and, depending on how many weeks pregnant you are, monitor the heart rate for a while. Sometimes further checks such as an ultrasound scan are offered. Most of the time everything is fine and you go home reassured — and nobody will think you were wasting their time.
If you use the Elara app, the kick counter lets you time a movement session and keeps a private history on your iPhone, with a Live Activity on the Lock Screen while a session runs. It is a way to get to know your baby’s pattern, not a medical test: if something feels different, call your maternity unit rather than relying on any app.
Common questions
When will I start to feel my baby move?
Most people first feel movements between about 16 and 24 weeks. It is often later in a first pregnancy and can be harder to notice if your placenta is at the front of your womb.
How many kicks should I feel each day?
There is no set number. The NHS and RCOG advise getting to know your own baby’s pattern and contacting your maternity unit straight away if it slows down, stops or changes.
Do babies move less at the end of pregnancy?
No. The type of movement may change as space gets tighter, but you should keep feeling your baby move regularly right up to and during labour.
Can I use a home doppler to check on my baby?
It is not recommended. Hearing a heartbeat at home does not show that your baby is well and can delay you getting checked. If you are worried about movements, contact your maternity unit.
Sources & editorial process
- NHS — Your baby's movements
- RCOG — Your baby's movements in pregnancy (patient information)
- Count the Kicks (Healthy Birth Day, Inc.)
Written by the Elara editorial team from the sources above. This page has not been reviewed by an independent clinician. Read how we write and update health pages. Last updated .
Medical disclaimer: this page is general education, not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are worried about yourself or your baby, contact your midwife, doctor or maternity unit straight away. In an emergency call your local emergency number.