Reducing Stillbirth: Count the Kicks Campaign

[CarGirl]

I just want to promote "Count The Kicks"

Please read this, if it helps one Mum not suffer the agony of stillbirth it's worth it

countthekicks.org.uk/

conversion didn't work!

countthekicks.org.uk/

I've never heard of Count the Kicks.

I sat around for ages wondering what was wrong until DH told me not to be such a twat and go to the hospital. Ds was born by emcs and survived . He has got a few probs but nothing major but I feel guilty because if I had gone in straight away he would probably not have any problems at all. If it hadn't been for DH he would've died during the night, I didn't want to 'bother anyone'.

It infuriates me when people start threads about reduced movements and get told to have some ice-cream.

Another bump.

Stillbirth has been in the news today and here is a website giving so much information about how to count the kicks.

Also the thing I didn't know is that a baby will still move around after death in the womb due to the fluid hence you have to count the kicks.

Please pregnant Mums to be read about it and promote the campaign.

I'm only 7 weeks and hadn't heard about this charity at all- thanks so much for sharing.

Thanks for posting. After hearing some of the stillbirth statistics on the news today, it's been playing on my mind - especially as I'm currently 28 weeks pg with DC2. I worry that I notice things like movement less with this pregnancy because I'm running around after my DS (2.10) but I do know there are certain times of the day I feel like a human punchbag!!

I've read some of the website and totally agree with the need for a public campaign to raise awareness. Thanks again

Please tell all the mums to be you get to know. Stillbirth is so much more common than most people realise.

Another shameless bump.

Some good tracking downloads on there too, thanks for the info!!

Thanks CarGirl.

I agree with everything hazelnut says except my daughter died because I didn't know about the kick counting and didn't want to bother anyone. Dp saved my life but too late for our girl.
Also v irritated by the blasé attitude when people come on here for advice re reduced movements and choose to follow the 'have a cold drink, lie down and mention it to your midwife next time' and ignore the people who know you cannot take the risk. Some posters seem so keen to see the medical professions as interfering and out to get them they prefer to hear have a drink or the myth that all babies slow down their movement to get ready for birth as a viable alternative to getting a proper medical opinion. I know all MNetters give their advice because they care but on this subject it can be dangerous and I wish a standard reply would flash up 'please call your delivery suite straightaway'.
Sorry for the rant.

Shameless bump

Substandard, I am sorry. ANd I agree.
The UK has had bad statistics for at least a decade. I think people should campaign for the NHS to offer a scan in the 3rd trimester, the one that checks that waters and umbilical flow are fine. This is the norm in the rest of Europe.

Thank you for this info, I was truly uninformed until I read this. I will be downloading the apps too.

bump

Oh and thank you cargirl for bringing this up

Do you think we ccould get MNHQ to put this somewhere visible??????

On the pregnancy useful information stuff?

Thank you CarGirl. Am amazed how little emphasis is put on this here in UK.
Report your thread and ask MNHQ to put it as a sticky??

Bump

Cargirl, that's a great link. I had reduced movements and I am convinced if I had gone home like a junior dr said, DS wouldn't be here. I only knew about counting the kicks because my sister was stillborn...

How can we spread the word? I've finished having children I don't mix with many pregnant Mums anymore?

Bump.
Could you folks at MNHQ make this a sticky? Thanks!

So sorry Substandard . I agree this isn't highlighted nearly enough, and I think in England we are particularly bad at not feeling we should be 'bothering' health professionals. Would be great if this is the opportunity to get the kick-counting message across.

For those worried about keeping track of this, especially with older dc's around, I recommend a kick-counting bracelet of some kind. I wore one with my second baby and this was the only reason I picked up that her kicks had slowed down at 38 weeks. I had an infection and slight fever but it was enough to cause her distress, her heart rate was very high and I needed to stay on the ward and be monitored regularly till they were happy it had settled down. Reduced kicks were the only sign and I would never have realised the pattern had changed without the evidence of the bracelet, I tend to be an 'oh it'll be all right' sort of person.

I've just used the report post function to draw HQ's attention to this thread and ask that they consider putting a message at the top of all Pregnancy threads - like there is in mental health for example. It could say that if you are posting because of reduced fetal movement then call your midwife and look at the countthekicks site.

Bump

as unpopular as it sounds, research doesnt support the use of kick charts in pregnancy and the national institute for clinical excellence dont recommend it.

Countthekicks is about awareness though - mothers need to know that babies can run in to trouble and reduced movements from normal is a sign of that. 'Current research' isn't exactly overflowing with ideas to reduce stillbirth in the UK so until something better comes up I think awareness raising is a good idea.