It was Wednesday 18th May 2011 and I had reached my 36th week of pregnancy, this was my “Rainbow Baby” after loosing Chloe in November 2009.

I had yet another un-eventful, happy, healthy pregnancy. Well when I say uneventful, I mean in terms of the pregnancy, however me being me things are never “un-eventful”!

After loosing Chloe I was determined to  stop other parents and families going through such an ordeal, within a few months I had launched COUNT THE KICKS which by now had really picked up momentum. I was  being interviewed and photographed for magazines and newspapers, attending lcountless meetings with the Royal Colleges and even the department of health, speaking at MSLC Group meetings, going to colleges and presenting to sometimes hundreds of Midwives and students also attending big Baby Shows, working flat out to promote the charity.

The best thing was, almost everyday I read messages of thanks and support for the work COUNT THE KICKS were doing. We have an amazing team helping me and we were helping to save little lives,  this made all my pain, heartache and hard work so worth while.

Throughout my pregnancy I made an effort to attend as many of my local SANDS meetings as I could, it gave me a chance to vent my fears and frustrations and spend some time thinking about Chloe. I soon realised I had been given such a gift, COUNT THE KICKS was giving me so much strength and positivity, evrything I had learned about risks in pregnancy, and the symptoms to look for, all the hints and tips I had picked up. I was oozing with confidence – This time I was bringing my baby home!

I recieved the most amazing care, The Royal Surrey County Hospital antenatal team were fantastic, always on hand if I had any worries, luckily I had become good friends with Claire the Senior Midwife who delivered Chloe, she was thrilled about our imminent arrival and was there every step of the way for me. I was concerned at the beginning that I didn’t want to have the same Community Midwife as before, not because of anything she’d done, but just because I would have had to re-live every visit in the same room going through the same things as I did with Chloe. Claire recommended her friend Annie and arranged with the head of Midwifery for Annie to take over my Community care, I was so lucky, Annie was amazing! Literally every week she would pop round my house to quickly listen to “Berts” heartbeat. It was so reasuring.

We had agreed a plan with our consultant very early on in the pregnancy, we saw the same Consultant as we had with Chloe, I felt this was important as he knew our history and seemed to understand my concerns. He was also very supportive of COUNT THE KICKS, which meaned a lot to me!

We were due to have a planned C-Section at 37 weeks, we were booked in and today I was due to visit the hosptital antenatal clinic for my second shot of Steroids, to ensure “Berts” lungs were mature enough.

I woke up early as usual, Dan went off to work and I went about my usual morning duties of opening the post and checking emails. It was when I sat at my desk “Bert” would always have a wriggle, but today nothing.

I remember sitting back and rubbing my bump…… nothing.

My heart started racing, I stood up and walked around, I started running a bath and poured a cold drink….. panic was starting to set in, please God not again!

I tried really hard to stay calm, stopped the bath. “What do I say to everyone… Call your Midwife – Call your Midwife!” I told myself.

“Annie” I burst into tears. “Annie the baby wont’ move!”

As always she was amazing. It was her day off and she was in London with her daughter, but she calmly said “Soph, you know what to do, call Dan and go straight to the ward. Come on love you know what you have to do”.

Dan must have been on a shout as his voicemail came on “Dan the baby won’t move – I’m going to the hospital. Call me”. By this time I was shaking from head to toe. Please God not again.

I called the ward and my friend came straight round and drove me straight there. I found myself taking the same walk as before, slow motion, taking forever, trying not to scream. This couldn’t be happening again, please. I had done everything right this time. Please not again.

When I got to the ward they whisked me straight into a cubicle, sat me on the bed and the Midwife got the doppler, she knew who I was, they all did. They all knew I knew the drill “Sophia stay calm, it may take a few moments for me to find the heartbeat, ok”.   ”Please try to stay calm”.  But literally as soon as she touched my skin there it was, my baby was alive!

I sobbed, massive loud uncontrolable sobs, I couldn’t breath through the tears. My baby was alive!

It was about 11am by this time, I was strapped to the monitor watching “Berts” pulse, but I still wasn’t happy. He still hadn’t moved all morning, and I was getting this pain in the top of my Right hand side, each time I felt this pain “Berts” Pulse dipped. I was watching, my Mum was with me – she was watching and I know the Midwives were too.

The ward was filling up and a couple of times I was asked if I’d like to go home, and then pop back if I’m concerned, but no way was I taking this monitor off, not until my baby started moving. But still nothing.

My consultant came on duty that evening and luckily so did Claire. They both sat with me and Dan and went through my notes, I explained about the pulse dipping with each pain, I could see the consultants mind working. Claire was so supportive and stayed with us as much as she could.

Throughout the eveinging the pains started increasing and with each pain “Berts” pulse dipped even more.

It was 10:30 and Dan was getting ready to go home, suddenly Claire and the consultant walked into my cubicle wearing their scrubs…. “Right you two” Claire said calmly… “We think it’s time we all met this baby!”

To be honest I can’t really remember what I thought or what went through my mind, before I knew it Dan was dressed in scrubs, I was in a gown and the Anethetist was asking me all their questions, in no time at all I was lying in the theatre, I remember the door opened and in rushed Annie “I wasn’t going to miss this guys!” she sang, and I heard the consultant say, “Right Sophia you might feel some tugging and pushing…..”

The next thing I knew Claire said “Dan look, look!” she was holding up our baby to show him…… “It’s a BOY!” he said quietly, “We’ve got a boy Soph!”

George William Wyatt was born at 23:11 on 18th May 2011.

A fit and healthy 6lb8oz

The following day we were told he had stopped moving because my Placenta was failing.

I had followed my instinct, listened to everything I had learned, and called my Midwife.

Dan and I took George home the following week.

George is the proof – Awareness really does save lives!

Ever fancied running the London Marathon?

We are on the waiting list for Charity places for the London Marathon but sadly we have been told there is an approximate 5 year wait, so if you would like to enter the London Marathon in 2013 and nominate COUNT THE KICKS as your chosen charity the only way to get a place is to enter the Ballot.

The Ballot for general places opens on Monday 30th April to enter visit www.LondonMarathon.com

This paper supports the work of COUNT THE KICKS and should encourage Healthcare Professionals to ensure they follow the RCOG Greentop Guidelines to ensure any woman presenting concerns with Reduced Fetal Movements are monitored closely to ensure the reduction is not an indication of Placenta Dysfunction.

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0034851

Published by Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, School of Biomedicine, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom, Department of Paediatric Histopathology, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom, St Mary’s Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom

Backed by our patron Michelle Heaton we want to encourage Mums to listen to their babies and healthcare professionals to listen to Mums.

Download & Print Our New Posters

Please download, print and distribute our poster to any notice board you feel will help:

My Kicks Count Poster

“My Kicks Count!” Maternity t-shirts and lovely “Mummy Counted My Kicks!” Newborn Sleepsuits, Bibs & Tots T-Shirts all are available to buy from our online SHOP now!

Michelle says “ COUNT THE KICKS is an amazing new charity,  working to empower mums-to-be with knowledge and confidence throughout their pregnancy. During my own pregnancy I often felt confused by all the contradiction in advice, and hearing lots of old wives tales. There’s so much to learn and being a first time mum you don’t really know what to expect.

“COUNT THE KICKS encourages mums to follow their instincts and most importantly to listen to their babies by being aware of their movement and progress and to report any changes. The charity aims to standardise information to ensure all healthcare professionals, antenatal teachers and maternity companies are offering the same, correct information to mums throughout the UK.”

COUNT THE KICKS was founded in January 2010 by Sophia Mason whose first baby Chloe was stillborn just three days before her due date. Sophia’s pregnancy was problem-free and low risk. “When I came home from hospital without my baby I was desperate to find out what I could have done to prevent her death. I was staggered to read just how many babies die in the UK – around 4,000 stillbirths each year – and 70% of these deaths are preventable”.

“We are thrilled to have the support from Michelle, she was so positive throughout her pregnancy, often tweeting about her progress and encouraging other expectant Mums to be to remain active and eat healthily. She is a great ambassador and inspiration to expectant Mums”.

In the two years the charity has been running there have been many reports such as The Lancet Report and updated guidelines such as the Royal College of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Green-top Guidelines backing up COUNT THE KICKS’ message:

 “Any change to regular fetal movements should be reported to a healthcare professional for further assessment”, National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence, NICE.

Feel free to circulate …

CTK Michelle Heaton Press Release

Practical Parenting & Pregnancy magazine announces charity partnership for this year’s Practical Parenting & Pregnancy Awards

Practical Parenting & Pregnancy has today announced a partnership with Count the Kicks for this year’s Practical Parenting & Pregnancy Awards.  For every entry to the awards, Immediate Media Co, publisher of Practical Parenting & Pregnancy, will donate £5 to Count the Kicks.

The Practical Parenting & Pregnancy Awards are much loved and trusted by parents and the baby and nursery market.  The awards will open for submissions in early March and the results will be announced in the January 2013 issue of Practical Parenting & Pregnancy.

Count the Kicks was established by Sophia Mason in 2010 to help empower mums-to-be to know the importance of monitoring movements in their pregnancy.  Their aim is to ensure that Mums have the confidence to call for advice and receive the best guidance and monitoring from their healthcare provider.

“We are thrilled to be associated with the Practical Parenting & Pregnancy Awards,” commented Sophia Mason.  “We aim to empower and inform Mums throughout their pregnancy and motherhood, with the help and support of such a popular publication we are confident this partnership will assist us in our aim of saving little lives.”

‘The Practical Parenting & Pregnancy Awards and Count the Kicks are such a good fit together,’ commented Daniella Delaney, editor.  ‘Both provide mums with the knowledge they need to make the best decisions about starting a family, whether that’s health and safety advice or information on the best products to spend their money on.”

Make sure you look out for ways that you can get involved in Count the Kicks’ campaign in forthcoming issues and on Practical Parenting & Pregnancy’s sister website www.madeformums.com.

We recommend any expectant Mums who are worried or concerned by reading or watching these news reports should contact her Midwife or GP to chat through these worries.

Our patron Dr Bryan Beattie commented this morning:

“The complications reported in the news this morning are very rare in the UK and our Mums should not worry or get upset by them. However it is important to speak to your healthcare advisor about these risks. Risks such as these should be considered and discussed when chosing your prefered birth place. 

If you are concerned in particualr about a Low-lying Placenta the RCOG have produced a useful help sheet:

RCOG Low lying Placenta

If you are diagnosed with a Low-lying Placenta you will be closely monitored, in the majority of  cases Placentas do move in the last few weeks of pregnancy, a scan at around 36 weeks will confirm this.”

The NHS Choices Website also has an abundance of information and advice to help you:

We at COUNT THE KICKS™ aim to encourage and empower Mums with knowledge, we also want to ensure every Mum knows the importance of sharing any questions or concerns with their Midwife, GP or Consultant, to ensure she recieves the best advice and care.

This year literally thousands supported our event not only raising funds but also awareness of our campaign. We had lovely weather and a great array of stalls and entertainment.

The Mascot "Grand National" won by Guss The GIVING Gorilla

The finale to the day was a superb Mascot race.

We are so excited about next years event. It has been booked for Sunday 8th July 11-4pm.

We are hoping to have even more fun and games to raise money and awareness.

Anyone interested in booking a stall or coming allong to the day take a look at our Family Fun page.

The ceremony was hosted by Ruth and Eamonn from ITV This Morning and many other celebs were there to honor these inspirational women.

Congratulations Sophia!