Why kick counts matter
A noticeable change in fetal movement is one of the few signals you can reliably check at home between prenatal visits. Decreased movement can precede stillbirth by hours to days; counting establishes a personal baseline so changes are easier to notice. SOGC, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and Public Health Ontario all recommend kick counting from the third trimester.
What counts as a movement?
Kicks, rolls, jabs, swishes — anything you can clearly feel. Hiccups don’t count (they happen too rhythmically). One movement is one tap; if your baby kicks four times in quick succession that’s four taps. The point is consistency: count the same way every day.
If you don’t reach 6 in 2 hours
Don’t wait. Call your prenatal-care provider, midwife, or hospital triage line. They’ll typically have you come in for a non-stress test or biophysical profile. Most reduced-movement episodes turn out to be nothing — but the cost of being wrong is high enough that the system is set up for false alarms.
This is a counter, not a diagnostic tool
The calculator counts and times. It doesn’t interpret patterns, trigger alerts, or replace a medical assessment. If anything feels off — even if you reach 6 — call your provider.