October-Stillborn Awareness Month
October is Stillborn Awareness Month and Barton County Health Department wants to help families save babies through an expectant parent initiative “Count the Kicks”, https://www.countthekicks.org/ .
Having actual numbers of counted kicks gives moms really great information to pass on to their doctors if they’re having concerns. “My baby isn’t moving as much as normal,” might not have the same impact as, “I track my fetal movements, and my baby usually moves 10 times from 6-8 pm. He has only moved twice in that time frame today, and I’m worried.”
Expectant parents should know about the importance of tracking baby movements during the third trimester of pregnancy.
1. Count your baby’s kicks with the free Count the Kicks app.
2. Pick a time when your baby is active and time how long it takes to get 10 movements.
3. Call your provider right away if you notice a change in what’s normal for your baby.
Founded in Iowa, the Count the Kicks organization teaches counting fetal movements during the third trimester. After launching in 2009, Iowa saw a 26% drop in stillbirths. Kansas has an average of 232 stillbirths a year and with a similar 26% decline 60 babies may be saved per year.
For a video on how to count kicks see https://youtu.be/wscPXaxZw9o .
See the Count the Kicks website above for information about an app to help expectant mothers keep track of infant kicks.