Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day: A National Call to Action
Congress set September 19th as Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day back in 2022. Senators Jeff Merkley, Cory Booker, and Chuck Grassley pushed the bipartisan resolution through alongside Representatives Alma Adams and Ashley Hinson.
Here's what hits hard: twenty-one thousand stillbirths happen in the US every year. That's one out of every 175 pregnancies, CDC reports. Research also shows that about 25 percent could be prevented with better interventions — roughly 6,000 babies whose lives we could save annually[1].
Why aren't we doing more about this?
Key Info: National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day
- When is National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day?
Occurs annually on the 19th of September - This Year (2026):
Saturday, September 19, 2026 - Official Website: Measure the Placenta
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Future Dates
- Sunday, September 19, 2027
- Tuesday, September 19, 2028
- Wednesday, September 19, 2029
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Additional Details
- Observed By: Healthcare providers, advocacy groups, families, and public health organizations across the United States
- Where Is It Observed: United States
- Primary Theme: Stillbirth Prevention Through Education and Action
- Hashtags: #StillbirthPrevention #StillbirthAwareness #MeasureThePlacenta #PreventStillbirth #HealthyBirthDay
Quick Links: Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day
Prevention Changes Everything
Iowa proved prevention works. Their Count the Kicks campaign cut stillbirth rates by 32 percent.
Simple fetal movement monitoring made the difference — catching problems before tragedy strikes.
Beyond this, organizations like Healthy Birth Day Inc. and measuretheplacenta.org turn awareness into real family support. They clearly connect research to action.
Prevention ripples outward from individual families to entire healthcare systems adopting life-saving protocols.
How September 19th Became Official
Since 2022, the momentum has kept building:
2022 — First Congressional recognition for September 19
2022 — Bipartisan push from Merkley, Booker, Grassley, Adams, Hinson
2022 — 23 states participate with nearly 50 building illuminations
2023 — Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act becomes law
Ways to Mark September 19
Pink and blue building lights create the most visible nationwide observance.
For families:
Request city building illumination through municipal contacts. Share Count the Kicks resources online. Ask healthcare providers about movement monitoring — this conversation saves lives.
Join local candlelight vigils where available.
Healthcare providers can:
Host fetal movement education sessions during prenatal visits. Distribute prevention materials during routine care. Coordinate facility lighting ceremonies. And implement kick counting protocols that actually work.
Organizations should:
Schedule workplace presentations on pregnancy health. Partner with advocacy groups for community events. Light up company facilities where possible.
Connect employees with loss support resources when needed.
Digital campaigns amplify prevention messages; social platforms spread educational content faster than traditional outreach.
Prevention Focus Makes This Different
September 19th emphasizes research advancement over memorial services. The National Institutes of Health calls current stillbirth rates "unacceptably high" despite medical progress — this day channels grief into prevention work that saves lives.
But here's the reality: healthcare provider training gets priority through intervention programs that actually reduce deaths. Future-focused messaging separates September 19th from other pregnancy loss remembrance events.
In practice, prevention research benefits directly from increased public awareness and advocacy pressure.
Beyond September 19
Connect with Count the Kicks, Star Legacy Foundation, and Healthy Birth Day Inc. for year-round advocacy work. Supporting prevention research through donations strengthens intervention development; community advocacy means requesting healthcare provider training programs locally.
Engage your healthcare team. Ask providers about fetal movement protocols during prenatal appointments.
These conversations matter.
Prevention momentum builds when communities see stillbirth as a solvable public health challenge requiring collective action. Not just an individual tragedy.
Continue to protect babies even before childbirth by saving Birth Defects Prevention Month in your calendar.
Resources:
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
First-trimester combined screening spots high-risk pregnancies early, when aspirin therapy and extra monitoring help most. This screening cuts perinatal deaths by up to 70% based on Fetal Medicine Foundation research. Why don't all women receive these advanced screenings? Doctors track fetal growth and movement throughout pregnancy as standard practice. When pregnancy hits 40 weeks, medical teams make quick delivery decisions for women with higher risks. These tools work best together as a clear connect strategy, not as individual options.
Quality care during pregnancy and birth creates the biggest effect on outcomes. Providers need training in glucose management and aspirin use for at-risk women. This relates directly to WHO findings across multiple countries and care settings. Sleep position guidance matters too. Beyond this, healthcare teams must develop better bereavement support skills. Today, many hospitals use structured plans with growth restriction screening. One standalone approach that works: dedicated stillbirth prevention specialists who coordinate care across departments.
Aetna covers fetal surveillance for women with stillbirth risk factors starting at 32-34 weeks when problems like high blood pressure exist. Most state Medicaid programs pay for home monitoring equipment for managing pregnancy complications. Your specific plan details matter more than general guidelines. The key to pract protect is understanding what your insurance covers before problems arise. Some families need pre-authorization for specialized tests, so check your policy early in pregnancy to avoid surprise bills or care delays.
The Act lets Title V federal funds support stillbirth prevention activities across states. Health departments now implement fetal movement tracking programs and community services with this money. This creates connections between doctors, researchers, and local programs working on the same problems. The March of Dimes points to this legislation as gen progress in addressing stillbirth. In practice, the funding bridges gaps between medical care and public health education that existed before the Act passed.
Star Legacy Foundation, Count the Kicks, and Healthy Birth Day Inc. provide trusted education materials based on current research. Local hospitals employ childbirth educators with specific training in prevention strategies for high-risk pregnancies. When choosing resources, verify they follow current medical guidelines rather than outdated practices. This suggests seeking specialists in maternal-fetal medicine instead of general providers. Community support groups connect families with similar concerns and experienced medical teams for ongoing support.
Sources & References
- [1]
- Page, J. M., et al. (2018). Potentially Preventable Stillbirth in a Diverse U.S. Cohort. Obstetrics and gynecology, 131(2), 336–343.
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Barbara is a former journalist who is passionate about translating important causes into engaging narratives. She combines communication expertise with an environmental science background to create accessible, fact-driven content.
