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Movement
A healthy baby will move 50 times an hour or more in many cases. Monitoring his or her movements can be an easy way to check in on your baby's health as the pregnancy progresses.
These kicks, punches and shifts were once thought to be random movements, but doctors and psychologists are now finding that fetuses behave much like infants. Heidelise Als, a Harvard University psychologist, has discovered that fetuses often engage in tactile stimulation, touching their hands to their face, to each other, clasping their feet, or handling their umbilical cords.
Doctors have also observed fetuses licking the uterine wall and walking around the womb by pushing off with their feet.
Unborn babies also react to their mother's actions. Doctors have observed fetuses bounce up and down in the womb when their mothers laugh. When the moms laugh harder, the fetuses bounce more rapidly.
Monitoring your baby's movements (kick counts) can be an easy and important way to make sure all is well. A fetus that suddenly stops moving might not be getting enough oxygen. In most cases, however, it is just sleeping.
How to Do a Kick Count
To do a kick count, lie down on your side with your hand on your abdomen. Focus only on fetal movements and see how long it takes your baby to reach 10 movements. Your baby should be moving at least three times per hour. Any sudden changes in kick counts mean you should call your doctor.
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