Home > Expectant Parents > Reducing the Risk of Infant Death

For some of the more than four million American families delivering a baby this year, the information they receive on reducing the risk of sudden infant deaths may mean the difference between life and death for their babies.   

While there is still much to learn about sudden infant deaths, advances in medical research have allowed experts to develop recommendations for reducing the risk of infant death.  For the first time ever, we now have proactive steps that parents, grandparents and other caregivers can use in the hope of providing every baby with the best possible chance to survive and thrive.

Count your baby's kicks during your last trimester

Your baby moves many times a day. Your baby�s kicks are the best sign of its health. Many experts agree that monitoring your baby's kicks and noting any changes may help reduce the risk of a stillbirth death. The most important thing to note (and immediately report) is any significant and sustained change in the way your baby normally kicks. If you would like to incorporate "kick counting" into your daily routine, following are some guidelines to consider:

• Pick one quiet time in your day, preferably when the baby is usually most active, and count how many times the baby moves.

• You may want to sit with your feet up or lie on your side.

• Count all baby movements until you reach 10. DO NOT count for more than 2 hours.

• Write down the time it took for the baby to move 10 times. Example: SUNDAY = 45 min.

• In addition to any significant and sustained change, consider calling your obstetric provider if the baby does not move at least 10 times in this two-hour timeframe.