North Carolina is Moving to Make Fetal Movement Education the Law

Two babies are stillborn every day in North Carolina. Senate Bill 909, the Building Understanding of Movement in Pregnancy Act - known as the BUMP Act - is working to change that. The bill is currently moving through the North Carolina General Assembly and would require standardized fetal movement education for all pregnant patients beginning at 28 weeks, same-day clinical evaluation protocols when movement changes, and provider training on stillbirth prevention statewide. It would also fund a dedicated Count the Kicks public awareness campaign with priority outreach in high-disparity communities.

North Carolina would be the first state in the nation to pass legislation of this kind. The evidence that justifies it already exists. Iowa reduced its stillbirth rate by 32% over teen years of fetal movement education using Count the Kicks. Ohio has seen a 15.9% reduction iover nearly eight years after statewide adoption of Count the Kicks. Wisconsin achieved a 7% decline in just two years while state funding supported a Count the Kicks campaign. When that funding ended, continued expansion fell to volunteers. Moving Forward Foundation celebrates and recognizes the work of the volunteers, while also acknowledging that permanent legislative standards are needed in Wisconsin and beyond.

Every state deserves the standard North Carolina is setting.

Read the full story here.

Read North Carolina Senate Bill 909 here.