The kicks and why they count
The first time baby kicks is a wonderful moment. Here’s how to spot when it happens, and why these kicks are more important than you might think, writes Melany Bendix
“IT FELT A bit like a feather tickling me, but from the inside. At first I wasn’t sure it was baby, but a few days later there was another flutter, and then another, and another, and I just knew,” Kuhle Mthembu, 32, recalls of her son’s first movements inside her belly at just 17 weeks. He was right on schedule, according to Dr Deon van Zyl, an obstetrician/ gynaecologist practicing from Mediclinic Panorama in Cape Town: “Most women start feeling flutters – or ‘butterflies’ – from around 16 weeks.” Dr Van Zyl says it’s not necessarily a cause for concern if you’re beyond 16 weeks and you haven’t felt movement yet, as “proper movements are only really felt from about 21 weeks”. Like Leanne Farish, 31, who didn’t feel any movement until she was 20 weeks. “Those early movement were like a very gentle, single throb. Now, at 26 weeks, his movements are stronger and more noticeable – like being poked from the inside. I can also see the movement now.” Deon adds that some women may only feel movement after 21 weeks: “Sometimes, if the placenta lies anteriorly (on the front wall of the uterus, towards mommy’s tummy) it can be even more difficult to feel movements, thus they could be experienced even later.” However, a lack of movement can indicate foetal distress or complications, so if you haven’t felt any movement by around 22 weeks, it is advisable to go for a check-up.
WHY KICKING COUNTS
While pregnancy experts stress that women should not get too obsessed with noting every tiny movement, counting the kicks is an important way to monitor your baby in-between check-ups. “Most women only see their gynaes or midwives every four weeks until about 32 weeks, and thereafter every two weeks, with only the last four weeks being weekly. That’s a lot of time that
baby goes ‘unmonitored’,” notes Dr Van Zyl. “If a pregnant woman pays attention to her foetal movements she can notice subtle changes, especially baby moving less than usual. This could be normal, but needs to be checked out as it could be a sign that baby’s getting less blood – and thereby oxygen and nutrients – and could potentially require closer monitoring or additional testing.” While there’s no ideal number of movements, Heather Pieterse of Pretoria-based Midwives Exclusive says it’s crucial to know your baby’s typical movement patterns after the 25-week mark, and to be aware of any irregularities. “The usual rule is that babies should have more than four movements in an hour, but it depends on your baby’s regular rhythm and pattern of movement,” she explains. “Some babies are quieter and calmer while others are very busy.” Aaniyah Omardien, 39, can attest to that. Her first two sons were not big kickers, but her third son (now in the third trimester) is turning out to be a real Lionel Messi: “This baby is kicking and my back is feeling it – I’ve even had to wear a lower back brace recently.”
WHEN TO WORRY
It doesn’t much matter if your baby is a gentle tickler or a soccer player, though, Heather says what’s important is that “your baby should keep to her usual pattern of movement”. If baby’s moving less than usual always go check it out, urges Deon. “If your doctor or midwife is not available, go to the labour ward at your hospital – they can also do a test (cardiotocogram) to look at baby.” “More often than not, baby is absolutely fine,” he emphasises. “Often, most (super) women are extremely busy during the day – running around at the office or after a busy toddler at home – and they just don’t notice the movements as much.” Lastly, Heather says it’s important to know that in the weeks leading up to delivery (36 weeks and onwards) babies will often sleep longer and move differently, shuffling side to side rather than outright kicks and shoves. There’s no need to panic; just count those kicks.