Count the Kicks
Program Contacts
Krystal Franklin
Program Manager
216.201.2000 ext 1531
kfranklin@ccbh.net
Erin Dodds
Program Manager
216.201.2000 ext 1534
edodds@ccbh.net
Count the Kicks is an evidence-based approach for fetal mortality/stillbirth prevention.
Our program provides educational resources to community organizations, healthcare providers, and expectant parents. We work with community and healthcare partners to:
- Understand current fetal movement tracking/education practices
- Increase provider capacity to respond to fetal movement concerns
- Increase fetal movement awareness among pregnant women
- Institutionalize Count the Kicks (CTK) in community and clinical systems to reduce fetal mortality
Background
CTK is an evidence-based approach started by Healthy Birth Day in Iowa for fetal mortality/stillbirth prevention. The program was successful in reducing stillbirth rates, leading to a 32% decrease in stillbirths over the first decade of its campaign.
CTK is endorsed by the Association of Maternal Child Health Programs (AMCHP) and the International Childbirth Educators Association (ICEA) (Heazell et al., 2023). It empowers local clinicians, public health professionals, and community advocates to serve as champions for fetal movement awareness. This approach strengthens the maternal health workforce, reduces knowledge gaps, and fosters consistent, evidence-based messaging across clinical and community settings.
Interested in learning more about Count the Kicks? Please visit their official website at Count the Kicks.
The Issue
Our agency’s Fetal Infant Mortality Review Committee (FIMR) Community Action Team identified lack of fetal movement as a top risk factor for fetal/infant deaths.
Cuyahoga County’s fetal mortality rate was 7.0 in 2022, 6.9 in 2023, and 6.1 in 2024, producing a higher average rate (6.6) than the Healthy People 2030 goal of 5.7. The goal is to reduce the fetal mortality rate to a 3-year rolling average.
The App Solution
A baby’s movements are an important sign of well-being in the third trimester.
Count the Kicks runs a free pregnancy app used to help users track and rate movements, send reminders to count, and record contractions. It has a built-in “Ask Ana” AI assistant that provides medically tailored responses to movement-based questions. After a few sessions on the app, users will start to notice the average amount of time it takes for their baby to get to 10 movements.
To aid in the implementation of this app and education, we have recruited and trained Count the Kicks Champions, both in clinical and community-based settings, to actively reach our community members. Champions raise awareness of fetal movement monitoring in their hospital, clinic, or community, reinforce consistent education for both patients and providers, and integrate Count the Kicks education into their setting of care.
Download the Count the Kicks app today!