Fetal movement monitoring is helpful for keeping track of your baby’s activity and well-being. In the case of pregnancies affected by hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN), fetal movement monitoring can be a useful tool for diagnosing anemia.
What is fetal movement monitoring?
Fetal movement monitoring, also sometimes known as “kick counting,” is a safe and non-invasive method that involves observing your baby’s movement patterns. Some providers prefer counting how many times the fetus kicks within one hour, while others will measure how long it takes for the baby to kick 10 times. In most cases, fetal movement monitoring can begin during the third trimester, or 28 weeks of gestation.
While kick counting is the simplest way to track fetal movement, other types of fetal movement monitoring exist, too. External testing can be performed using techniques like nonstress tests, which use sensor-containing belts to measure how the baby’s heart rate changes with movement. Additionally, biophysical profiles combine nonstress tests with ultrasounds to gain even more detailed information on your baby’s overall health.
Read more about HDFN treatment and care
Why is fetal movement monitoring useful in HDFN?
Most of the major complications of HDFN stem from anemia, which can begin during pregnancy. Some of the potential complications of severe fetal anemia include:
- Cardiac failure.
- Hydrops fetalis.
- Neurological complications.
If you or your doctor notice decreased fetal movement, it could be a sign of fetal anemia. However, reduced movement alone doesn’t guarantee anemia. In most cases, a Doppler ultrasound is also needed to measure blood flow and confirm the diagnosis.
Can you perform fetal movement monitoring on your own?
Kick counting is easy to perform on your own. Just set up a timer, lie on your left side, place your hands over your abdomen and count each kick you feel. Normally, you should feel at least 10 kicks within the hour.
If you don’t feel a lot of kicks during your at-home test, you should try your best not to panic. Your baby may simply be resting or sleeping when you perform the test. It’s also important to keep in mind that this test may not be accurate before the third trimester, since it can be harder to feel movements.
If you don’t feel any movement after two hours, feel free to reach out to your health care provider, whether that be a physician, nurse or midwife. They’ll ask you some more questions to see if you need to come in for additional testing.
Sign up here to get the latest news, perspectives, and information about HDFN sent directly to your inbox. Registration is free and only takes a minute.
