I’ve been lurking and posting on this forum for over a decade now, and while I’ve seen endless threads on the “standard” pregnancy milestones, I’m starting to question the one-size-fits-all approach to the third trimester kickoff at 26 weeks. Why are we still pushing daily kick counts as the gold standard for monitoring fetal well-being when studies (like that 2022 meta-analysis in The Lancet) suggest they’re no better than a mother’s gut instinct for detecting issues? I’ve had three pregnancies, and every time, the apps and charts felt like busywork that stressed me out more than helped. At 26 weeks with this one, my OB is already handing out those fetal movement trackers like candy, but I’m wondering if we’re ignoring the real value of holistic signs-like changes in my energy levels or even intuitive dreams-that midwives in other cultures swear by. Has anyone else ditched the rigid protocols in favor of something more personalized? Or am I just being a contrarian here?