Kick Counts With an Anterior Placenta: What to Expect
Reviewed by Safi Allah Khan
Medically reviewed by: Safi Allah Khan · Written by the Momi team · Last updated 20 October 2026
Quick answer: You can do kick counts with an anterior placenta. Because the placenta sits at the front of the womb, it cushions kicks, so movements may feel softer or be noticed a little later. It shouldn't change how much your baby moves. Never assume the placenta explains fewer movements: if they slow down or change, call your maternity unit.
An anterior placenta is common and normal. This guide explains what it means for feeling and counting movements. For the counting method itself, see kick counts: how and when, or start a session with the kick counter.
What is an anterior placenta?
The placenta grows wherever the fertilised egg implanted. Tommy's explains the positions:
| Position | Where it is |
|---|---|
| Anterior | Front wall of the womb (towards your tummy) |
| Posterior | Back wall (towards your spine) |
| Fundal | Top of the womb |
| Lateral | One side |
| Low-lying (placenta praevia) | Low down, near or over the cervix |
An anterior placenta is not the same as a low-lying placenta. Most people find out where their placenta is at the 18 to 21 week anatomy scan.
How it affects feeling movements
Tommy's describes the placenta as a cushion between your baby's kicks and the front of your bump. That can mean:
- Later first movements. Most people feel their baby between 18 and 24 weeks wherever the placenta is; with an anterior placenta, it may be later in that window.
- Softer kicks at the front. Movements may feel more like pressure, rolls or swishes than sharp kicks.
- Kicks felt in different places. Often at the sides, low down or high up, away from the placenta.
It should not affect how much your baby moves. Tommy's says that no matter where your placenta is, feeling your baby move is a sign they are well.
Tips for kick counts with an anterior placenta
- Count every kind of movement. Rolls, swishes, stretches and nudges count as well as kicks.
- Feel the sides of your bump. Rest your hands on the sides and lower bump, not just the front.
- Lie on your side. Many people notice movements more easily lying on their left or right side, with the bump supported.
- Count when your baby is usually active and use the same time each day.
- Give it time. As your baby grows stronger, kicks usually get easier to feel, even through the placenta.
- Compare with your own baby's pattern, not with friends or a number online.
When not to blame the placenta
This is the most important point. Tommy's says: never assume that your anterior placenta is the reason you cannot feel your baby move.
Contact your maternity unit straight away if:
- your baby is moving less than usual
- movements are weaker than usual
- the pattern has changed
- movements have stopped
- you've not felt any movement by 24 weeks (tell your midwife)
Tommy's adds that you should do this even if you've already been seen the same day, or were recently told your baby was well. The NHS says not to wait until the next day. Don't try to make your baby move first and don't use a home doppler: Wirral NHS guidance advises against both.
Common myths
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| "With an anterior placenta you won't feel much, so fewer movements are normal." | It can soften kicks, but it shouldn't change how much your baby moves. A change needs checking. |
| "An anterior placenta is a complication." | It's a normal position and unlikely to cause problems, according to Tommy's. |
| "Anterior means low-lying." | No. Low-lying (placenta praevia) is a separate finding about how close the placenta is to the cervix. |
| "A home doppler can reassure me if kicks feel faint." | NHS hospitals advise against home dopplers. Call your maternity unit instead. |
Other things an anterior placenta can mean
According to Tommy's:
- Some tests can be a little harder, because the placenta is in the way at the front.
- Back-to-back position (occiput posterior) is a bit more likely. This may be linked with lower back pain. Most babies turn during labor.
- Complications are unlikely. The front wall is a normal place for the placenta.
Your midwife or doctor can tell you if anything about your placenta's position affects your care.
Kick counts with an anterior placenta: the method
The method is the same as for any pregnancy. If your provider recommends count-to-10:
- Start at your baby's usual active time.
- Note the time, then count each movement.
- Stop at 10 and note how long it took.
- Compare with your usual time over the coming days.
ACOG says kick counts are done as instructed by your provider. The NHS says there's no set number of movements and you don't have to count; what matters is knowing your baby's pattern and acting on a change. Read how to get baby to move for kick counts and how to track fetal movement.
How Momi helps
With Momi, tap once for each movement you feel. The kick counter aims for 10, saves every session and helps you see your baby's usual pattern, which is especially helpful when an anterior placenta makes movements softer. Note any questions in your diary to ask at your next appointment.
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Related: 20 weeks pregnant · second trimester honeymoon period
Sources
- Tommy's, Anterior placenta
- Tommy's, Baby's movements in pregnancy
- NHS, Your baby's movements
- NHS, 20-week scan
- Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS, Your baby's movements
- ACOG, Special Tests for Monitoring Fetal Well-Being
Medical disclaimer: Momi and this website provide general information, not medical advice. Always talk to your doctor or midwife; in an emergency call your local emergency number.
FAQ
Can you do kick counts with an anterior placenta?
Yes. You'll still feel your baby move, though kicks at the front may feel softer. Count all movements, including rolls and swishes, and get to know your baby's pattern. Tommy's says an anterior placenta should not change how much your baby moves.
When will I feel kicks with an anterior placenta?
Most people feel movements between 18 and 24 weeks wherever the placenta is, according to Tommy's. With an anterior placenta it may be towards the later end. Tell your midwife if you haven't felt your baby move by 24 weeks.
Where will I feel kicks with an anterior placenta?
Often more at the sides of your bump, low down near your pubic bone or high up under your ribs, where the placenta isn't cushioning them. Your baby's position also changes where you feel movements. Many people feel kicks more clearly as the baby grows.
Is an anterior placenta bad?
No. Tommy's says the front wall of the womb is a normal place for the placenta and it's unlikely to cause complications. It can make some tests a little harder, and there's a slightly higher chance of your baby lying back-to-back. It's not the same as a low-lying placenta.
My baby feels quieter. Could it be my anterior placenta?
Don't assume so. Tommy's says never assume your anterior placenta is the reason you can't feel your baby move. If movements have slowed down, weakened, changed or stopped, contact your maternity unit straight away, even if you were checked the same day.
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