At week 29 of pregnancy, your baby is about the size of a butternut squash. By week 30, they are the size of a cabbage.
Your baby is developing more reflexes. For example, they’ve started coughing. Their hair and bones also continue to develop. Many babies are very active around these weeks. However, if your baby isn’t super active, that’s also normal - pregnancies will never be the same between different people, or even different babies.
Many providers ask their patients to start counting baby’s kicks on a daily basis around week 30 of pregnancy. Kick counts help you to understand your baby’s patterns and growth. Essentially, you should keep track of how long it takes your baby to kick or move 10 times. This can include kicks, flutters, rolls, or any other noticeable movements.
How to Do a Kick Count:
- Choose a Time: Pick a time when your baby is usually active (after eating, resting, or in the evening - you know when your baby is the most active).
- Get Comfortable: Sit or lie down, relax, and focus on feeling the movements.
- Count to 10: Count every kick or movement until you reach 10. Ideally, you should feel 10 movements within two hours (but for most, it takes much less time).