Kick counter.
Tap the button each time you feel your baby move. The counter shows how many movements and how long it took. Use it the way your midwife or doctor has asked you to.
Moving less than usual? Call your midwife or maternity unit now. Do not wait for a count to finish and do not wait until tomorrow.
This tool is educational and does not replace your midwife or doctor. Nothing you enter leaves your device.
How to use a kick counter
Pick a time when your baby is usually active, sit or lie on your side, and tap for each movement: kicks, rolls, swishes and flutters all count. The bar fills at ten movements, a common counting target, and the timer shows how long it took.
There is no set number of movements you should feel each day. Every baby is different.
That line is from the NHS, which also says you do not need to count kicks every day: the important thing is to get to know your baby's usual pattern. A counter is a way of paying attention when you have been asked to, not a test with a pass mark.
When to call
- Your baby is moving less than usual.
- You cannot feel your baby moving any more.
- The usual pattern of movements has changed.
The NHS advice is to call your midwife or maternity unit immediately in any of these cases. Do not use a home doppler or phone app to reassure yourself.
Questions, answered
How many kicks should I feel?
The NHS says there is no set number of movements you should feel each day, because every baby is different. What matters is knowing your own baby's usual pattern and noticing a change from it.
When should I call my midwife about movements?
Contact your midwife or maternity unit immediately if your baby is moving less than usual, you cannot feel your baby moving any more, or the usual pattern has changed. Do not wait until the next day.
When will I first feel my baby move?
The NHS says you should start to feel your baby move between 16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy.
What are kick counts?
ACOG describes fetal movement counting, or kick counts, as a test you can do at home. There are different ways to do it, and your healthcare professional will tell you how often to count and when to call.
Do babies move less near the end of pregnancy?
No. The NHS says you should keep feeling your baby move right up to and during labour.
Sources
Sources last checked on 11 November 2026.