Saint Peter's Implementing Program to Prevent Stillbirths

New program aims to educate expectant parents on monitoring fetal movement to reduce stillbirths in New Jersey

Feb. 1, 2026 at 2:47pm

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Saint Peter's University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey is implementing the Count the Kicks program, an evidence-based stillbirth prevention initiative that educates expectant parents on the importance of tracking their baby's movements during the third trimester of pregnancy. The goal is to reduce the state's stillbirth rate, which currently stands at 6.26 per 1,000 live births.

Why it matters

Stillbirth is a major public health issue, impacting over 20,000 families in the U.S. each year. Research shows that nearly 30% of stillbirths can be prevented when expectant parents are educated on monitoring fetal movement. As a leader in maternal health, Saint Peter's is taking action to improve birth outcomes in New Jersey.

The details

The Count the Kicks program provides expectant parents with free tools and resources to track their baby's movements starting at 28 weeks of pregnancy. After a few days of counting, parents will establish a baseline for their baby's normal movement pattern. If this pattern changes, it could be an indication of a potential issue, prompting the parent to contact their healthcare provider immediately. Saint Peter's will use the program's proven methods to educate not just expectant parents, but also healthcare providers, midwives, doulas, and community members.

  • The Count the Kicks program will be implemented at Saint Peter's University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
  • Expectant parents are encouraged to start tracking their baby's movements at 28 weeks of pregnancy.

The players

Saint Peter's University Hospital

A leading maternal health provider in New Brunswick, New Jersey that is implementing the Count the Kicks stillbirth prevention program.

Count the Kicks

An evidence-based stillbirth prevention program that educates expectant parents on the importance of tracking fetal movement during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Pam Harmon

Director of the Women and Children's Division at Saint Peter's University Hospital.

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What they’re saying

“As a leader in maternal health services, Saint Peter's has often instituted protocols that have become the model of care for other hospitals in New Jersey and across the nation. Our partnership with Count the Kicks is further evidence of our longstanding commitment to expectant parents when it comes to doing everything possible to improve maternal outcomes and welcome healthy babies into the arms of their loving parents.”

— Pam Harmon, Director of the Women and Children's Division at Saint Peter's University Hospital

What’s next

The Count the Kicks program will be rolled out at Saint Peter's University Hospital, providing expectant parents, healthcare providers, and the community with the tools and resources to monitor fetal movement and help prevent stillbirths in New Jersey.

The takeaway

By implementing the evidence-based Count the Kicks program, Saint Peter's University Hospital is taking a proactive step to address the public health crisis of stillbirth in New Jersey. This initiative has the potential to save lives and improve birth outcomes for families across the state.