Count the Kicks Program Launches in Washington, D.C.

Organizational Updates,  State Expansion

• Kimberly Isburg
• 07.17.25

DC Health and the District of Columbia Perinatal Quality Collaborative (DC PQC) are partnering with Count the Kicks to educate expectant parents in the district about the importance of paying attention to their baby’s movements in the third trimester of pregnancy. Research shows Nearly 30% of stillbirths can be prevented when expectant parents are educated on how to monitor their baby’s movements once a day starting at 28 weeks.

The health of a mom and the health of her baby are intrinsically connected. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) lists a change in a baby’s movements as one of its 15 urgent maternal warning signs, and research shows a change in a baby’s normal movement pattern is sometimes the first or only indication there may be an issue developing during the pregnancy.

Thanks to the partnership with DC PQC, maternal health providers, birthing hospitals, social service agencies, childbirth educators and other providers in Washington, D.C. can order FREE Count the Kicks educational materials to help them have a conversation about baby’s movement patterns with expectant parents. These materials are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, French, and German.

“Partnering with Count the Kicks allows us to put powerful, life-saving knowledge directly into the hands of expectant parents. By helping families recognize changes in their baby’s movements, we’re taking meaningful action to reduce preventable stillbirths and improve maternal and infant health outcomes across the District,” said Ayanna Bennett, Director of DC Health.

Approximately 70 Washington, D.C. families experience the tragedy of stillbirth each year. For expectant parents in D.C., one in every 123 pregnancies ends in stillbirth. Differences in stillbirth outcomes persist, and data shows that a disproportionate number of babies are born still to Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, Black, and American Indian or Alaska Native families. Expectant parents in some age groups, geographic locations, and those expecting multiples also face an increased risk of stillbirth.

“We know that unfortunately 109 stillbirths were reported in 2024 alone, and that each incident was a tragedy for a family,” said Councilmember Christina Henderson. “Stillbirth prevention programs are critical for maternal health, and Count the Kicks is an evidence-based intervention providing educational materials to families and trainings to providers. That’s why as the Chair of the Committee on Health I have prioritized investments in the Count the Kicks program within the DC Perinatal Quality Collaborative.”

Research published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology shows a more than 30% reduction in Iowa’s stillbirth rate in the first 10 years of the Count the Kicks program at a time when America’s stillbirth rate remained stagnant. The results have led researchers to call for urgent action to address the stillbirth crisis in the U.S. and to study Count the Kicks on a national level. Through this collaboration, DC PQC is hoping to bring the same success to the District of Columbia, which would save approximately 23 babies in the district each year.