October is Infant Loss Awareness Month. While losing a baby isn’t something that happens often — far less than 1% — it is devastating for the 25,000 American families who experience the loss of their unborn baby every year.
The good news is that through a new campaign called Kicks Count!, pregnant women can learn how to proactively monitor their babies’ kicks in their third trimester to help ensure that their baby is healthy and strong. The campaign is a partnership between First Candle, the Heinz Family Philanthropies, and All Baby & Child, Inc. They have created flyers and brochures that walk you through exactly how to count your baby’s kicks during your last trimester which you can download right here. Here’s an example of what the chart looks like: Kicks Count
If you know someone who has experienced the loss of a baby during pregnancy or in the first months after birth, there are some excellent national and local resources they can contact for help, support and healing:
Sweet Child of Mine Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support – Meets the 4th Wednesday of the month. Contact Lindsay Wood at 239-225-3185 or email lwood1007@gmail.com
AMEND
Meets in South Tampa the first Thursday and third Wednesday
813-631-9519
ksmfrazier@aol.com
Florida SIDS Alliance
Lake Mary, Florida 32746
Phone: 800-743-7352
Email: sidsfla@yahoo.com
Florida Department of Health
Ms. Susan Potts
Phone: (850) 245-4465
Email: susan_potts@doh.state