Omaha Mothers Advocated For Fetal Movement Tracking
Local parents have pushed for the expansion of a mobile app designed to help prevent stillbirths.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Pregnancy
Mothers in Omaha have begun advocating for the Count the Kicks mobile application to improve fetal health monitoring. The tool allows pregnant individuals to track daily fetal movement to detect potential complications early.
Why it matters
By promoting the use of this tracking tool, parents aim to honor the legacies of their deceased infants while reducing the future incidence of stillbirths. Early detection of changes in movement can alert medical professionals to critical issues before they become fatal.
The application requires mothers to track 10 fetal kicks during the most active period of the day. In one recent case, this tracking prompted intervention that discovered an umbilical cord wrapped seven times around the fetus.
The players
Rachel Foran
A mother who successfully used the Count the Kicks app to monitor her second pregnancy after a previous stillbirth.
Jessi Michel
The Nebraska ambassador for Count the Kicks who is currently coordinating efforts to secure statewide funding.
The details
Rachel Foran, who previously lost a child to stillbirth, utilized the app during her second pregnancy to identify a deviation in movement. This alert allowed for an early induction that revealed the umbilical cord was wrapped seven times around her baby, preventing a likely tragedy.
Timeline
September 20, 2026: The movement to increase app usage gained recent media attention.
End of 2027: The state-level goal for full funding and accessibility in Nebraska.
Culture Shift
This advocacy reflects a broader societal move toward using patient-centered mobile technology to manage pregnancy health. It aligns with the Count the Kicks initiative, which uses research-backed protocols to lower stillbirth rates through consistent fetal monitoring.
Pregnant residents can adopt the app into their daily health routine by tracking 10 movements each day to establish a baseline of activity. Consistent usage helps users develop a habit that allows for the quick identification of potentially dangerous changes in fetal movement.
The takeaway
Using mobile health applications can empower expectant parents to take an active role in monitoring fetal well-being. Consistent tracking is a simple yet potentially life-saving practice that bridges the gap between home monitoring and clinical care.
Further reading
Learn more about local initiatives and resources in the Pregnancy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wowt.
