Bibliographic Info
GuidelineWHO recommendations on maternal health: guidelines approved by the WHO Guidelines Review Committee, second edition. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2025
Year of Publication2023
Issuing InstitutionWorld Health Organization
Recommendation
Status
Updated
Recommendation in research context
Only in research contexts
Daily fetal movement counting, such as with “count-to-ten” kick charts, is only recommended in the context of rigorous research
Notes and Remarks
- 1.Fetal movement counting is when a pregnant woman counts and records her baby’s movements in order to monitor the baby’s health. Various methods have been described, with further monitoring variously indicated depending on the method used, for example, if fewer than six distinct movements are felt within 2 hours or fewer than 10 distinct movements are felt within 12 hours (the Cardiff “count to ten” method) .
- 2.While daily fetal movement counting is not recommended, healthy pregnant women should be made aware of the importance of fetal movements in the third trimester and of reporting reduced fetal movements.
- 3.Clinical enquiry by ANC providers at each ANC visit about maternal perception of fetal movements is recommended as part of good clinical practice. Women who perceive poor or reduced fetal movements require further monitoring (e.g. with daily fetal movement counting) and investigation, if indicated.
- 4.The GDG agreed that more research is needed on the effects of daily fetal movement counting in the third trimester of pregnancy, particularly in LMIC settings with a high prevalence of unexplained stillbirths