Count the Kicks Launches in Michigan

State Expansion

• Kimberly Isburg
• 05.16.22

We are excited to announce that we have partnered with Covenant HealthCare and THRIVE (Transforming Health Regionally in a Vibrant Economy), an effort of the Michigan Health Improvement Alliance, Inc. (MiHIA), to launch the Count the Kicks campaign in 14 counties in Michigan. Through this partnership we will work together to educate and empower expectant parents in the Great Lakes Bay Region about the importance of tracking movement daily in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Through this partnership, maternal healthcare providers across the state will have access to order free Count the Kicks educational materials. These materials include brochures, posters and app reminder cards in English and Spanish. Count the Kicks materials are an effective tool to help healthcare professionals have a kick counting conversation with expectant parents.

Why Count

It an especially important time for expectant parents to track their baby’s movements. Recent research shows the effect of COVID-19 on pregnancies and an increase in poorer birth outcomes. By doing daily kick counts, expectant parents will have the peace of mind to know when something has possibly changed with their baby’s health.

“We are proud to lend support to this important initiative,” said Beth Charlton, president and CEO of Covenant HealthCare. “As a regional medical destination for high-risk pregnancies and neonatal intensive care, we know the impact early prenatal care and interventions have on health outcomes. We believe that every expectant mother should have access to health information that can help them and their baby.” 

The Great Lakes Bay region is the first area in Michigan to offer the Count the Kicks campaign. Our innovative approach to preventing stillbirths will equip local OB/Gyns, family practice doctors, nurse practitioners and midwives, social service agencies and related community organizations in the region with educational materials and training.  

Impact of Stillbirth in Michigan

Nationally, 23,500 babies are born still each year. Michigan’s average is 622 stillbirths annually. Count the Kicks focuses on stillbirth prevention by giving expectant parents an early warning system to monitor their babies’ movement.

In Iowa, where Count the Kicks began, the state’s stillbirth rate went down nearly 32% in the first 10 years of the campaign (2008-2018) while rates in the rest of the country remained relatively stagnant. Our goal is to reduce the state’s stillbirth rate by 32 percent as we have done in Iowa, which would save 199 Michigan babies each year.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Covenant HealthCare in this important effort and for the opportunity to help families reach healthy births through a data-driven, evidence-based and easy-to-use platform. These are innovative tools that will help support prenatal and maternal health in our region,” said Jameca Patrick-Singleton, MSW, executive director of Community Impact and Strategic Partnerships for the Michigan Health Improvement Alliance. “This work enhances our efforts to advance infant, child and maternal health in the region and will have a lasting impact for families for generations to come.” 

About Count the Kicks

The free Count the Kicks app is available in 14 languages in the iOS and Google Play app stores. It provides expectant parents a simple, non-invasive way to monitor their baby’s well-being every day in the third trimester. The app provides expectant parents with the confidence and information to seek medical intervention if they notice or feel that something is not right with their pregnancy.

In addition to reducing stillbirths, 84% of Count the Kicks app users who count daily report that this method helped with bonding during pregnancy. Seventy-seven percent of app users reported that this method helps reduce anxiety. 

State Partners

With the addition of Michigan, we currently have partnerships in 16 states! If you would like more information on launching Count the Kicks in your state, please visit the Stillbirth in the U.S. page.