Shawn Soumilas lives in Prescott, Arizona, with her oldest son, Ian. On July 3, 2010, Shawn’s life changed forever when her youngest son Zach was stillborn at full term due to an undiagnosed placental abruption. Two days before Zach’s death, Shawn noticed a decrease in his movements, but was reassured by her provider that it was “normal” and that he was simply “settling down for birth.” Shawn believes these dangerous myths contributed to her son’s death, as evidence shows that a baby’s movements should not slow down at the end of pregnancy, even during labor. Shawn is convinced that if she had been educated about Count the Kicks and the importance of daily monitoring of her son’s movement patterns, Zach would be alive today.
Driven by the heartbreaking loss of her son Zach, Shawn transformed her grief into a powerful mission to save lives and became the Arizona Ambassador for Count the Kicks in 2013. In this role she works tirelessly to raise awareness and prevent similar tragedies from happening to other families. Her dedication to maternal and infant health also extends to her role as an advisor at the Arizona Department of Health Services, where she helps shape policies that support perinatal, maternal, and infant health.
Shawn is deeply involved in broader advocacy efforts as well, serving as a member of the Arizona State University Maternal and Child Health Translational Research Team and the Stillbirth Advocacy Work Group for the International Stillbirth Alliance. Her commitment to change also fuels her advocacy for federal stillbirth legislation, ensuring that the voices of bereaved families are heard and that meaningful progress is achieved.
Shawn is dedicated to spending her life honoring Zach by sharing the message that Count the Kicks works and saves lives. Read more about Shawn in Huffington Post.
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