MSDH Encourages Moms to Count the Kicks for Stillbirth Prevention

Jackson, Miss. — October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month and the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) is partnering with Count the Kicks to accelerate progress on stillbirth prevention.

Data shows that an average of 300 families a year are affected by stillbirth/fetal deaths in Mississippi. The goal is to promote the sharing and download of the free Count the Kicks mobile app with every expectant parent you know.

The CDC lists a change in a baby’s movements as one of its 15 urgent maternal warning signs. The Count the Kicks program helps prevent stillbirths by teaching expectant parents a simple method for monitoring their baby’s movements in the third trimester of pregnancy. The free Count the Kicks app makes it easy for expectant parents to get to know their baby’s normal movement patterns and empowers them to speak up to their provider if their baby’s movements change. Research shows that a change in a baby’s movement patterns in the third trimester is often an early red flag in pregnancy that something might be going wrong.

“The MSDH is committed to improving maternal health and birth outcomes for families in our state,” said Dr. Dan Edney, MSDH Executive Director and State Health Officer. “We believe Count the Kicks is an excellent tool to help save babies now.”

The free Count the Kicks app is available in 20+ languages in the Google Play and iOS app stores, and has been downloaded 600,000 times and counting in all 50 U.S. states, and in more than 140 other countries

“Count the Kicks gives expectant parents and providers the tools and resources they need to have an ongoing conversation about fetal movement in the third trimester,” said Emily Price, CEO for Healthy Birth Day, Inc., the nonprofit organization that created the Count the Kicks program. “Count the Kicks is proven to improve birth outcomes for moms and babies, and we are grateful to be partnering with MSDH to make this life-saving education available to Mississippi families.”

For more information about maternal and infant health initiatives at MSDH, contact the Maternal and Infant Health Bureau at 601-576-7429, or visit the MSDH website at msdh.ms.gov/page/41.html.