In a move to tackle the heartbreaking issue of stillbirths in Tennessee, the state's Department of Health announced a comprehensive campaign aimed at prevention, by educating and equipping pregnant individuals with necessary resources. The campaign focuses especially on monitoring health during the third trimester, a critical phase for pregnant mothers and their unborn children.

During a statement, Tennessee Health Commissioner Ralph Alvarado emphasized the drive to combat a grave and often preventable issue, "Stillbirths have a profound impact on families and preventing these tragedies is a top priority", he stated. As cited by the Tennessee Department of Health, changes in an unborn baby's movement pattern may signal complications, a focus point of the initiative.

The central tool of this initiative is the "Count the Kicks" app, a free, multilingual mobile application designed to assist expecting parents in tracking their baby's movements from the onset of the third trimester. This digital resource, along with printable charts and educational materials, supports the proactive monitoring of fetal activity, vital for the early detection of potential health issues.

Set to be released in September, the app will be accessible in 21 different languages, ensuring wide accessibility, the Department also plans to disseminate educational materials in both English and Spanish to health providers and other agencies. Recognizing the crucial role healthcare providers play in this initiative, TDH is also hosting a webinar to offer in-depth insights into fetal movement monitoring, "We are committed to providing expectant mothers and their families with the knowledge and tools necessary to safeguard their pregnancies and support healthier outcomes", Alvarado said, as per the Tennessee Department of Health.