CONTACT:
LezlieMestdagh
Healthy Birth Day
515-205-0701
Christine Pulmano
Magicbullet Media
646-652-7130
HEALTHY BIRTH DAY LAUNCHES THE "COUNT THE KICKS" PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
TO HELP SAVE BABIES’LIVES
NEW YORK, New York -- (January 4, 2016) -- As a pregnant mom and happy dad dance across the screen, the upbeat visuals of a new public service announcement will make viewers smile and the message will save lives.
Every twenty minutes in the U.S. a baby is born still.According to the CDC, "Stillbirth effects about 1% of all pregnancies, and each year about 24,000 babies are stillborn in the United States.That is about the same number of babies that die during the first year of life and it is more than 10 times as many deaths as the number that occur from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)".Count the Kicks is a public awareness campaign created to teach expectant parents the importance of monitoring their unborn babies' movements as studies show that regularly monitoring a baby's movements helps reduce the chance of stillbirth.
Count the Kicks has prevented unexpected birth complications and even late-term stillbirth across the country. Scientific studies indicate kick counting, a daily record of a baby's movements (kicks, rolls, punches, jabs) during the third trimester, is an easy, free and reliable way to monitor a baby's well-being in addition to regular prenatal visits. The message has gone global thanks to a new kick counting app found in the iTunes and Google Play online stores. The app can send text reminders so expectant moms don't forget to count kicks, tracks the movement of twins, logs daily movement history, and is available in English and Spanish. It’s free, easy and can save babies.
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ABOUT HEALTHY BIRTHDAY:
In 2009, five Iowa moms who all lost baby daughters within months of each other, launched Count The Kicks. Through their non-profit organization Healthy Birth Day, the women have created a network of supportive hospitals, doctors and advocates who are spreading the Count the Kicks message. Prior to the development of Count the Kicks, the five founding women helped get Iowa's Stillbirth Registry law enacted and they now have Count the Kicks ambassadors in thirteen states.
ABOUT AARON & EMILY TOLSON (DANCERS):
Aaron Tolson is a professional tap dancer whose favorite performances include traveling the world with Riverdance and performing at Radio City Music Hall and on Broadway. Miss New Hampshire 2006,Emily Tolson is a University of NH graduate with a Master's Degree in Elementary Education. AlexisAnn Tolson was born on 10/10/15 happy and healthy!She was 6 pounds, 15 ounces and measured 19 3/4 inches long.