Chattanooga mom Meghan Hughes Petty is helping turn the heartache of losing her baby boy into a global movement to save babies. As quick as taking a photo and posting it to Instagram, and as easy as surfing Facebook for status updates, the new “Count the Kicks!” app encourages pregnant moms to track their baby’s movement in the third trimester.
In September 2012, Petty knew something was wrong when the movements of her unborn son, Miles, became less and less frequent. “On his due date, at a regularly scheduled appointment, we found out that our baby, Miles Fergusson Petty, had died. After delivery, it was confirmed that a recent umbilical cord accident caused his death,” Petty says of that devastating day.
Scientific studies indicate kick counting, a daily record of a baby’s movements (kicks, rolls, punches, jabs) during the third trimester is an easy, free, and reliable way to monitor a baby’s well-being in addition to regular prenatal visits. Petty wishes she had known this.
“Kick charts were not recommended to me until after our baby’s death. I was not sent for additional testing when I reported decreased fetal movement and concern. Though I do not blame my providers for my son’s death, it is my wholehearted belief that what happened to our son was preventable,” Petty said.
Available on the Android and Apple online stores, the “Count the Kicks!” app helps pregnant women track their baby’s movements. Moms can use the app each day, while the app logs their kick-counting history. Moms can then see what’s normal for their baby and will know if their baby’s movement pattern is changing.
In 2009, five Iowa moms who all lost baby girls within months of each other, launched Count the Kicks, a public awareness campaign dedicated to saving babies. They’ve created a network of supportive hospitals, doctors, and advocates who are spreading their message, have ambassadors in eight states, and helped get Iowa’s Stillbirth Registry law enacted. Petty is now one of seven ambassadors for the organization.
Count the Kicks urges expectant moms to contact their health care provider immediately if they see significant changes in their baby’s movement patterns. The app comes with a helpful daily reminder that expectant moms can set to their convenience.