Pregnancy can be a time of excitement and joy, but it can also feel like a time of constant worry: is my baby going to be ok? Fortunately, there is a practice that you can adopt during your third trimester that is easy and fun, and most importantly, saves lives!

Sadly, thousands of families in the United States are affected each year by stillbirths, in which the baby dies before it is born. The tragedy of miscarriage and stillbirth can lead to profound grief for the child that has been lost, and for the family’s hopes and aspirations for that child. To add to the tragedy, there is a link between stillbirth and maternal morbidity, meaning that when a baby is stillborn it is more likely that the mother will also suffer from serious health complications. Not all stillbirths can be prevented or even explained, and this is an important point to keep in mind if you or someone you know is dealing with feelings of guilt following a pregnancy loss. Your loss is profound, it is not your fault, and you are not alone. These are important acknowledgements to repeat frequently.

However, there is some good news from the prevention standpoint. Medical research has shown that there is an association between fetal movement and stillbirths. If you are able to notice a change in your baby’s movements (usually a decrease, but also a sudden increase of frantic movement can be an indicator) this may be a sign that something is wrong and you need to get checked out by your provider right away. Your provider will be able to check for signs of fetal distress and determine if any action is needed. A public health program in Norway was able to reduce stillbirths by 30% simply by teaching pregnant women in the third trimester to monitor their baby’s movements. Now, a simple app exists to help you do the same thing!

The Count the Kicks app allows you to track your baby’s movements and quickly identify a change that may be an early warning that something is not right. It is simple to use: just download the app, then find a time of day when your baby is usually active, and use the app to record how long it takes you to count the baby move ten times. That’s it! Just do this every day, and the app will remind you when it is time to count, track changes in your baby’s movements, and notify you if there is a sudden change that you need to get checked out. You can even download and send the kick data directly to your provider (or to your mom, who is probably dying for any and all information about your pregnancy!).

In addition to saving lives, counting kicks is a fun way to bond with your baby and notice all the interesting things that your baby is starting to do in the third trimester. If you are in or approaching your third trimester of pregnancy, download the app now and start counting!

(image used with permission from Count the Kicks)