Elara guides
Counting kicks: when and how
Your baby's movements are a daily wellbeing check.
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.
If your baby's movements slow down, stop, or change from their normal pattern, call your maternity unit straight away — at any hour, any day, and however many times it takes. They would always rather check.