An initiative utilized by expectant mothers to monitor fetal activity played a crucial role in saving the life of a woman’s baby in Jackson.
The program, known as Count the Kicks, is designed to educate parents-to-be on a straightforward method to track their baby’s regular movement patterns. Healthcare professionals often recommend initiating this practice daily starting at 28 weeks of gestation. Upon learning about Count the Kicks during her second trimester, Kelsey Dryden promptly began observing her baby’s movements more attentively.
Any alterations in the intensity or duration required to reach 10 movements may indicate potential issues and serve as a signal to contact a healthcare provider. After diligently monitoring her baby’s activity for several weeks, Dryden grew concerned when she noticed a decrease in movement.
“At 26 weeks, I couldn’t ignore the persistent feeling anymore. I needed peace of mind. That’s when I reached out to the hospital for a check-up,” shared Dryden.
Subsequently, Dryden and her baby underwent close monitoring at the hospital. Despite initial reassurances, Dryden persisted in expressing her unease to the medical team, noting chest tightness as well.
“By 10 p.m., my doctor advised an emergency C-section as the best option for my baby’s survival, given the uncertainty surrounding the situation,” recounted Dryden.
The underlying cause of the altered fetal activity in baby Callum was identified as a blood clot located behind the placenta. Born at 26 weeks, weighing only 1 pound and 12 ounces, Callum spent nearly three months in the NICU. Dryden attributes the lifesaving intervention to the Count the Kicks program.
“If I hadn’t come across the Count the Kicks Instagram page, Callum wouldn’t be with us today,” acknowledged Dryden.
Recognizing a change in fetal movements as a critical maternal warning sign, the CDC underscores the significance of monitoring fetal activity. The Count the Kicks app offers a user-friendly approach for expectant parents to track the time taken for their baby to make 10 movements daily and assess the vigor of these movements. It enables parents to document and oversee prenatal activity, receive reminders, account for twin pregnancies, and more. With over 250,000 users across all 50 U.S. states and 140 other countries, the app has garnered significant popularity.
Through a collaboration with Count the Kicks and [ppp1], stakeholders in maternal health, birthing facilities, social service entities, childbirth educators, and other providers in Mississippi can access complimentary educational [ppp2]. These resources facilitate discussions between providers and parents regarding understanding their baby’s typical movement patterns in the final trimester of pregnancy.
Consistent utilization of the app has been proven to enhance birth outcomes for both mothers and infants. Furthermore, 77% of app users attest that daily usage alleviated their concerns about their baby’s well-being. The app is readily downloadable for free on both the [ppp3] and [ppp4] platforms.