I’m Julia Johnson, a mother to three beautiful children — my firstborn Juliana, my second-born Jaden, and my rainbow baby, Jeremiah. My journey as a mother took a heart-wrenching turn on Dec. 9, 2013, when I lost my son Jaden. He was stillborn at 39 weeks.
On Dec. 5, 2013 (just days before Jaden’s passing), I attended a Non-Stress Test (NST) appointment. I had been noticing that Jaden’s movements were less frequent and not his typical pattern. The nurse attributed this to high amniotic fluid -polyhydramnios, and my nearing due date. I was reassured that everything was fine and my scheduled cesarean section would proceed on Dec. 10, 2013.
On Dec. 7, Jaden’s movements picked up later that night and were very strong and frequent. But on Dec. 8, they were almost nonexistent. When I went in for my appointment on Dec. 9, there was no heartbeat. My world, in that moment, completely fell apart.
In the aftermath of Jaden’s passing, I found a renewed sense of purpose: to raise awareness about stillbirth and reduced fetal movement. I will continue to work toward ending preventable stillbirths and ensuring that all mothers receive the support they need to safeguard the lives of their babies. Jaden will forever be my baby, and his memory fuels my dedication to this cause.
I am honored to serve as an ambassador for Count the Kicks in the state of Missouri. Through this role, I use my platform as a mother, a credentialed Community Health Worker, and a passionate advocate to spread awareness about the importance of counting kicks. Every mother deserves to feel empowered in her pregnancy, and no family should endure the agony of losing a child when it could be prevented.
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