JACKSON, Miss. ( WJTV ) – 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 an average of 300 families a year are affected by stillbirth/fetal deaths in Mississippi.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (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.

Officials said 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 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.

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