Meet Vittoria

• Baby Saves

• 01.10.24

“I was using the Count the Kicks app as recommended by my gynecologist. Everything had been going well until exactly week 37 when I went for my routine check-up in the morning. Everything was normal at my appointment with the high-risk team, and they did a nonstress test with two different color bands on my belly.

The rest of the day she was perfect on movements. I counted the kicks at night. My baby was very responsive to the clarinet music that my husband played, and she moved a lot when he did. That night, I felt tired, so I rested for a bit around 7 p.m. 

When it was time to Count the Kicks, I approached where my husband was. I spoke to Vittoria as I usually had done, and she didn’t react. I touched my belly to make her move, but she didn’t. I ate something sweet, and still, there was no movement. Finally, I told my husband to play the clarinet, and there was still no reaction. 

We went to the emergency room around 10 p.m., and when we arrived, the doctor informed us that her heartbeat was there, she was breathing on her own, but she didn’t pass the movement test within the estimated time. The doctor indicated that Vittoria was probably not comfortable there, and they needed to perform an emergency C-section for her well-being. 

Vittoria was born the next day at 2:26 a.m., and we just celebrated her first birthday. She has been a blessing for us, and especially using the app helped me save her life.” -Alexa D., Vittoria’s mom

Editor’s Note: Research shows that fetal movement is best monitored without interventions like juice, candy, or drinking ice water.