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/

The three women I know who had stillbirths all knew in advance - they went for a routine check-up at 38 weeks, 39 and 41 weeks and the midwife immediately went into action because she couldn't find a heartbeat. In all three cases the baby had already died. I don't know about the kicks but every case absolutely heart-rending. Not least for the children who were waiting for their new brother/sister to arrive. In a way, that's what frightens me most - having to explain to the children.

Have found the main facebook website

www.facebook.com/#!/ukcountthekicks

you can like it and add a little countthekicks to your profile picture

Just wanted to thank the OP for raising this. A good friend lost her baby at 40 weeks last year - as well as two other women at the London hospital she was at within a 12 hour period. I kept on thinking I would read about it in the local news but when I did a bit of research I realised how common it was (albeit unusual for one hospital to have 3 still births in 12 hours).

[busmile]

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Agree, very important especially when you go overdue. I was sure that I was two weeks overdue but midwife stuck to her calculation. I knew dd was not moving much anymore and had to fight for an induction through getting a letter from a private obstetrician who basically said this baby needs to be born today - he saved dd's life.

I went to labour ward at 38 weeks as I'd noticed no FM for 3 hours at a time of night when DS was usually very active. MWs were great, DS born by EMCS, all fine. I'd been monitored throughout 3rd trimester due to me being small, but my reduced fluid levels and small baby (5lb11) was never picked up. I think if they had been he would have been born earlier. Me noticing reduced FM probably saved his life. I recognised a change in his pattern of movement rather than the actual number.

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Just had a booking in app. and talked to the two midwives about this. They said they are shocked by the number of women they deal with for whom any of this kind of info 'just doesn't register'. I was told one woman had felt no kicks for 10 days before she came in - not a good outcome but the midwife couldn't believe the mum had left it so long. She said it's because it was Christmas and she was busy. !! The midwife I had feels we don't monitor enough and she books in more visits than the recommended number and puts PR for Patient Request so 'she doesn't get into trouble'. Good to know she has that attitude for me, but worrying she has to do that - as a systemic problem.

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Good to see you have an "on the ball" midwife

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I am in the US and the obn group I am with ask me to email them once a week with the time it takes for the baby to complete 15 kicks. So far no problems but I am shocked to hear that kick counts are not done in the UK.

It is a very basic test (count the number of kicks, I do mine after dinner) and the midwives/doctors should be talking about kick counts to everyone going into their 3rd trimester. I had never heard of kick counts before and it was my doctor who educated me about this test. I have been told that if I don't count 15 kicks within the hour that I should call my obn group to alert them and go straight to the hospital.

I am also surprised to hear that 34wk scans are not standard. The 34wk scan is very important as it shows up any potential problems before you go into labour, such as the cord being around the neck. It takes 5 mins and avoids the panic the mother must go through with an emcs.

The U.K. (and perhaps Eire ?) is/are clearly far behind the U.S. in this matter.

Thank you for that update want2be - something for us here to consider.

its atrocious that there is so little publicity of count the kicks or the why 17 campaign ran by sands....

i thought stillbirths were something that happened in the dark ages or in 3rd wold countries with no real medical care

Until it happened to us!!!!

my little boy had stopped growing but it wasnt picked up .. proper scans between 30 and 36 weeks would have picked this up and my eldest would be here now

I know it wouldnt erradicate all stillbirths but I do believe that 2 growth scans between 30 and 36 weeks would help reduce this number

My little boy stopped moving at 39weeks and 1 day. We went to the hospital and they picked up a heartbeat and delcared the baby was fine .. sent me home. The next day he still wasnt moving and the bump felt completly different. I went to the hospital again and he had died

I was induced 2 days later and our perfect formly but small son was still born with 3 days to term

Frasersmummy - sorry for your loss (( ))