County partners with Count the Kicks to launch stillbirth prevention effort

Smiling pregnant woman with hands on belly alongside Count the Kicks, San Bernardino County Public Health, and First 5 logos. — *San Bernardino County partners with Count the Kicks and First 5 San Bernardino to promote stillbirth prevention through daily baby movement tracking.*

The San Bernardino County Department of Public Health is partnering with Count the Kicks, an evidence-based stillbirth prevention program, to educate expectant parents about the importance of paying attention to their baby’s movements in the third trimester of pregnancy. Research shows nearly 3 in 10 stillbirths can be prevented when parents are educated on how to monitor their baby’s movements daily starting at 28 weeks.

The health of a mom and the health of her baby are closely connected. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists changes in a baby’s movements as one of its urgent maternal warning signs. Research shows a change in a baby’s normal movement pattern is sometimes the first or only indication there may be an issue developing during the pregnancy.

After a few days using the FREE Count the Kicks mobile app (available in more than 20 languages), an online tracker, or counting on a paper chart, expectant parents can see how long it usually takes their baby to make 10 movements. If that pattern changes in the last three months of pregnancy, it could be a warning sign. Parents should call their healthcare provider right away.

The partnership between Public Health and First 5 San Bernardino will boost awareness about the Count the Kicks program with providers in San Bernardino County by providing continuing education, billboards and toolkits. Maternal healthcare professionals and organizations in San Bernardino County can order FREE Count the Kicks educational materials (available at CountTheKicks.org) to help them have a conversation about movement patterns with expectant parents.

“Data from our Fetal and Infant Mortality Review program showed that 51% of fetal losses in 2024 involved decreased fetal movement,” said Monique Amis, division chief with the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health. “Based on recommendations from the Community Action Team, we are excited to partner with Healthy Birthday Inc. and First 5 San Bernardino to bring the Count the Kicks program to our community and help reduce stillbirths.”

Stillbirth is the loss of a baby at 20 weeks of pregnancy or later. It is a national public health crisis that impacts more than 21,000 families in the United States every year, according to the CDC. In San Bernardino County, 540 families experience the tragedy of stillbirth each year. Across California, one in every 149 pregnancies ends in stillbirth.

Disparities in stillbirth outcomes continue, as data shows higher rates among Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, Black, and American Indian or Alaska Native families. Expectant parents in some age groups, geographic locations, and those expecting multiples also face an increased risk of stillbirth.

Research published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology showed a 30% drop in Iowa’s stillbirth rate in the first 10 years of Count the Kicks, while the U.S. rate stayed the same. The results have led researchers to call for urgent action to address the stillbirth crisis in the U.S. and to study this program. Through this partnership, Public Health hopes to bring the same success and save approximately 173 babies each year in California.

To learn more, visit CountTheKicks.org. For more information about the Department of Public Health, visit dph.sbcounty.gov.

Additional County Update News – September 11, 2025