Glossary: Terms Starting with "K"

Kick counts are a simple daily method of tracking how often your baby moves in the womb during the third trimester. You count how long it takes to feel 10 distinct movements, such as kicks, rolls, or jabs. Most healthy babies reach 10 movements within two hours. Fetal movement tends to peak between 28 and 32 weeks and remains fairly consistent after that. If you notice a significant decrease in movement or it takes much longer than usual to reach 10 counts, contact your doctor or midwife promptly. Reduced movement can sometimes signal that the baby needs medical attention.

Related: Fetal movement

Kangaroo care is a specific form of skin-to-skin contact developed for preterm or low-birth-weight babies in the NICU. The baby, wearing only a diaper, is held upright against a parent's bare chest for extended periods each day. This position mimics the warmth and closeness of the womb and has been shown to improve weight gain, stabilise breathing, reduce infection risk, and support brain development. It also helps mothers maintain milk supply and builds a strong emotional bond even when a baby cannot yet come home.

Related: Skin-to-skin, preterm

Kegel exercises involve contracting and relaxing the pelvic floor muscles to improve their strength, endurance, and coordination. They are commonly recommended during pregnancy and after birth to help prevent or reduce urinary leakage, support pelvic organ health, and speed recovery from a vaginal delivery. To perform them, squeeze the muscles you would use to stop the flow of urine, hold for a few seconds, then fully release. The release phase is just as important as the squeeze. Some people have a pelvic floor that is too tight rather than too weak, and for them, Kegels can actually worsen symptoms like pain or urgency.

Related: Pelvic floor, incontinence