Meet Hunter

• Baby Saves

• 09.20.24

“I learned about Count the Kicks from my Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialist, who I saw starting at 15 weeks pregnant due to hyperemesis gravidarum, high blood pressure, hEDS, and surgery I had during pregnancy (before I knew I was pregnant). My MFM was very concerned as I’d had a total of five early miscarriages and a late loss, as well as all my medical issues. 

When I started counting at 24 weeks, Hunter was moving like crazy. I could get 10 kicks in five minutes. Hunter did somersaults, rolls, punches, and kicks so frequently I would ask him, ‘What’re you doing in there?’ He was even kicking during contractions when I went into early labor at 26 weeks (two steroid shots for his lungs, anyone?). 

It was always so reassuring to feel him move. I was so scared I would lose him, too, that I did kick counts constantly, just to know he was OK. I knew when he’d sleep and I knew when he’d be awake.

I liked how easy Count the Kicks was to use. It was intuitive and I enjoyed not having to think about anything but my baby. If I had not had the app I might not have counted as often as I was supposed to, which could have easily ended badly.

When I was 34 weeks pregnant, on the dot, I noticed Hunter was not moving as much when I woke up at midnight with contractions. He was still moving, but 10 kicks took closer to 20 minutes, not 10. As the morning progressed, I saw those movements decrease even further and I called my doctor. 

My doctor first thought I would be OK to wait until my scheduled non-stress test the following day. When I told my provider something didn’t feel right and Hunter was not moving as much as I was used to, they allowed me to come in immediately to labor and delivery and be monitored. I told my partner, ‘Grab the go bag. I don’t think we’re leaving without a baby this time.’

From the time we got to the hospital, it was noted that while he looked fine on ultrasound, his heart was having ‘nonreassuring fetal tones.’ In other words, his heart rate was dropping randomly. I was immediately admitted and monitored overnight. I had only just reached 34 weeks, so they wanted to keep me pregnant if possible. 

Hunter’s heart got worse over the night and I was rushed to an emergency cesarean section at 9 a.m. I will never forget hearing ‘baby’s heart rate is under 60’ just a few minutes before he was born. He was delivered at 9:05 a.m. on June 15, 2021. 

We immediately found the cause of his distress — he had two true knots in his cord and a double nuchal cord (the cord around his neck, twice). He was 3 pounds, 8.1 ounces. That 0.1 ounce saved him from having to go to a bigger NICU. He was just barely big enough to stay in the same hospital as me. 

Hunter was born almost pulseless and received seven minutes of resuscitation, but he did not need help breathing after that and only stayed in the NICU for 15 days. He is now a feisty, 28-pound peanut of a 3-year-old. He still has medical concerns, but he is doing phenomenal. If I had not gone in when I did, if I hadn’t insisted on it, I would have lost him.

The only advice I have for other moms is to trust yourself. If something doesn’t feel right, trust that feeling. I was an anxious wreck knowing he wasn’t moving as much. I was having contractions and I just felt off. If I had waited another day he would have been stillborn.” -Chelsea H., Hunter’s mom