Stillbirth Prevention: Pregnant Moms in their 3rd Trimester Urged to 'Count the Kicks' to Monitor Baby

Mothers of stillborn babies are urging pregnant moms in their third trimester to learn to "count the kicks" so they will be aware of their baby's status inside the womb and actively have a stillborn prevention method.

Kari Davis from Ohio has been speaking for the Count the Kicks campaign, which recently launched its free phone app for moms. Davis believes the app will significantly help monitor pregnancy since every experience differs.

In 2013, Davis learned that her daughter, Harper, no longer had a heartbeat three days before her due date. She and her husband, Marc, were devastated and angry, and she could not stop blaming herself for the baby's loss.

However, after Harper's funeral, Davis researched stillborn babies and learned that it's more common than she thought. Her reading up on the matter led her to Count the Kicks, founded by five Iowa women who had stillborn babies.

When she got pregnant again, Davis used the app for both her pregnancies. She told News 5 Cleveland that having a way to monitor the baby's kicks eased her anxiety and worries.

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How to use Count the Kicks

Dr. Heather Florescue told Today that there is no standard way to count the kicks as different babies move five to 100 times within an hour. However, by counting, the moms may notice an emerging pattern, thus allowing the mother to determine what's normal or not for the baby in her womb.

Dr. Joanne Stone, who works in the Rainbow Clinic, said that counting also provides moms with a solid sense of their baby's movements. She said moms should pay attention to these patterns with an evidence-based tracker like the new app.

Davis said that she uses the app during the same time every day when her baby is most active. She ensures she's comfortable and then focuses on counting the movement, including twists, jabs, and rolls, aside from the kicks. The app will then record everything; thus, it's easier to see the pattern after a few days.

"If the mom notices a significant change from what is normal, we want them to contact their doctor right away for further evaluation," Davis advised.

Don't believe the myths about babies' movements in the last trimester

Florescue said there is no truth to the myth that babies in the womb will move less in the last few months of the pregnancy or that they are likely resting or sleeping, hence the lack of movement. The OBGYN said that since there's not a lot of room in the womb anymore, the movements are not as pronounced as before.

She also warned moms to call their doctor if they think the baby is "resting" or "sleeping" more than the usual pattern. This lack of movement is a risk factor; thus, they must be more attentive and concerned and speak to their doctors immediately.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stillbirth affects 1 in 160 births every year. This fatality is ten times more than the deaths in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) cases.

The risks of stillbirth increase for families with multiple pregnancies or ethnic backgrounds. Older moms, moms with medical conditions, and mothers who smoked during pregnancy are also more prone to having a stillborn child.

Related Article: Stillborn Baby Shows Signs of Life, Stuns Undertaker Who Was Preparing Him for Burial