Mass. new partnership teaches expectant parents to ‘count the kicks’

BOSTON — Getting to know your baby, in utero, one kick at a time. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has a new partnership teaching a simple way to potentially avoid a devastating loss.

“I’m a mom of four. Three who are with me and one who rests in paradise. And it is the one who’s not here who brought me the into this work, into the maternal health space,” said Hyde Park mom, Nneka Hall.

Nneka Hall was 39 weeks along when her daughter, Annaya Maria Edwards, was stillborn. It was August 27th, 2010.

“She was healthy, and I was not. I later found out that I had pre-eclampsia that was missed because I did not present in a normal manner.”

According to the Department of Public Health, Massachusetts loses 285 babies a year on average, to stillbirth. That’s a rate of 4.2 per 1,000 live births.

And there are racial disparities within the data. Nationally, black women have a stillbirth rate that’s more than double that at 10.53 deaths per 1,000 live births, according to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Here’s where a new state partnership aims to help. Count the Kicks educates expectant parents on a free tool to help them simply, count the kicks and track other movements.

Starting at 28 weeks, parents track, at the same time each day, how long it takes for their baby to reach 10 kicks. You get to know your baby and your body.

Sometimes we’re not heard because we’re considered moody and all of these other stereotypes that go along with being pregnant,” Hall said. “They cannot deny data.”

Hall is now the Massachusetts ambassador for Count the Kicks. Their data suggests this awareness campaign can save approximately 91 babies in the state each year.

“I’m hoping that will save the ones who are healthy and that will be alerted to the ones who are not,” Hall said.

“Had this been available to you 13 years ago, what do you think,” asked Boston 25 News anchor Kerry Kavanaugh.

“She would be here,” Hall said. “I would not have had to scream and yell and use my voice. And in the end, she still died. I would have had the data.”

Hall believes anyone who’s in contact with a pregnant person should have this information. Use the program on your phone, smartwatch, or computer, or just grab a pen and paper and stop watch.

``Through this partnership, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health aims to empower birthing parents with the knowledge, skills, and tools from Count the Kicks to help all families prevent stillbirth,’’ said Dr. Mahsa Yazdy, DPH Director of the Division for Surveillance, Research, and Promotion of Perinatal Health. “We look forward to working with healthcare providers and those who support birthing people across the Commonwealth on this collective and inclusive effort to support parents, reduce racial disparities, and save more babies from preventable stillbirth in Massachusetts. We encourage all those who work with expectant parents to order free Count the Kicks materials to share with their communities.’’

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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