Meet Lilah

• Baby Saves

• 07.22.25

“I was preparing for the third trimester and had heard of Count the Kicks through social media and decided to download the app. I began tracking movements and first noticed reduced movements around 29 weeks. I scheduled an appointment where they did an ultrasound and confirmed that although she was on the smaller end, she seemed healthy. I was reassured that since I had a ‘healthy pregnancy’ and no risk factors like gestational diabetes or preeclampsia, that it was possible she was just a ‘lazy baby.’

Following that appointment I started to track her movements more seriously. I would lay down each evening and monitor her movements in the app, tracking how long it took her to reach her kick count. I also started looking more into reduced fetal movement, reading up on the information provided in the FAQ page on the app. Something about her movement still just felt off.

We continued with the pregnancy and had a scheduled ultrasound around 34 or 35 weeks. At that ultrasound it was confirmed that she was small and was diagnosed with Intrauterine Growth Restriction or IUGR. We began doing twice weekly non-stress tests (NSTs) to track her movements more closely, and once again, she was looking great.

At 37 weeks I woke up and realized I hadn’t felt her move all morning. I reassured myself that I had JUST been at the doctor for an NST the day before and she looked perfect. I had an appointment the following morning for another NST and told myself again that she looked great yesterday; we can wait to see what our OB-GYN says tomorrow. 

I sat around for a bit and then returned to my Count the Kicks app. I scrolled through the FAQ and clicked on ‘What should I do if I can’t feel my baby move.’ There it was right on my phone. Emergency? I know emergencies — I’m a paramedic firefighter. I deal with emergencies weekly. ‘Do not wait if there are noticeable changes in your baby’s movements, or no movement at all.’ ‘If you feel concerned, don’t put off getting checked until the next day.’

I called my husband and let him know what was going on and what I had read. He instantly came home, opened the door, and said ‘get in the car, we’re going.’ Off to the hospital we went.

We arrived at the hospital and into Labor &  Delivery we went. I sat on the bed still doubting the decision to come for a checkup. They hooked me up to the monitors and the next thing I know the nurse came in and said, ‘your baby is not doing well, you’re going to have an emergency C-section.’ They told us she wasn’t doing well and they weren’t sure what to expect.

She was delivered and off she went to be cared for by the pediatrician and nurses at our local hospital. Initially she was doing OK, but her blood sugar dropped, and she went unresponsive. She had trouble breathing, was septic, and we later found out she had a stroke sometime near birth. She was sent via ambulance to a larger hospital for their NICU.

They could not determine the exact cause for her reduced fetal movement. Was it sepsis? The stroke? An issue with my placenta? The IUGR? The silence in the womb was her cry for help outside.

Today, at nine months old, Lilah is doing well. She has some challenges for her to overcome, but she is so full of love and joy. It has been nothing short of amazing.It all could have ended differently, and we are so thankful for the decision we made to go to the hospital. The education and awareness we received from Count the Kicks truly made a difference in saving her life that day and getting her here safely.” -Brooklyn B., Lilah’s Mom