Count the Kicks: A Simple Step to Prevent Stillbirths

Each year, more than 20,000 pregnancies in the United States end in stillbirth — about 1 in 175 births, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s nearly 60 babies lost every day. Stillbirth affects families of every background, but the CDC also reports that Black, Native Hawaiian, and American Indian/Alaska Native mothers experience stillbirth at nearly twice the rate of white mothers. These differences show the urgent need for greater awareness and education for expectant families.

The tragedy is that many of these deaths can be prevented. Count the Kicks — a nationally recognized stillbirth prevention program — notes that at least 25 percent of stillbirths are preventable when expectant parents are educated to monitor their baby’s movements during the third trimester.

A Proven Prevention Method

Beginning at 28 weeks of pregnancy (or 26 weeks for high-risk pregnancies or multiples), parents can “count the kicks” — tracking how long it takes to feel 10 movements at about the same time each day. Most babies develop a consistent pattern. If that pattern changes, parents should contact their healthcare provider right away. This simple, no-cost practice has been shown to save lives. Public health campaigns encouraging mothers to track daily fetal movement have lowered stillbirth rates by nearly 30 percent.

An easy way to track kicks is through the free Count the Kicks app. It’s available for iOS and Android devices, offered in 16 languages including Spanish and Haitian Creole, and has already been downloaded by more than 600,000 expectant parents nationwide.

Count the Kicks in Florida

Simply Healthcare Plans, through the Simply Healthcare Foundation, is proud to partner with Count the Kicks to expand stillbirth prevention education across Florida. Through this collaboration, we are helping ensure expectant mothers and providers have free access to educational materials and resources, including the Count the Kicks mobile app and even low-tech kick-counting wristbands for families without reliable internet access. This year, Simply is helping bring these resources to 23 counties across the state, giving thousands of expectant mothers the tools and knowledge they need to monitor their baby’s health.

A Broader Commitment

Our entire organization has made maternal and infant health a priority, investing millions of dollars in programs that expand stillbirth prevention, train providers, and support healthier pregnancies nationwide. These investments are expanding stillbirth prevention efforts, training providers, and ensuring underserved communities have access to education and resources that improve birth outcomes. By supporting Count the Kicks and other maternal health initiatives, Simply Healthcare and its foundation are helping ensure more mothers have healthy pregnancies and more babies celebrate their first birthdays.

A Call to Action

In recognition of National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day, we can all take steps to save lives:

• Expectant parents: Begin counting kicks daily in your third trimester. If you notice decreased movement, call your provider right away.
• Healthcare providers: Make fetal movement monitoring a routine part of prenatal care, and act quickly when a patient reports changes.
• Community leaders and policymakers: Support programs that expand access to maternal health education and resources.

Stillbirth is too often a hidden tragedy, but it does not have to remain one. By educating families, equipping providers, and ensuring resources reach those who need them most, we can prevent heartbreak and help more Florida babies arrive safely.