My name is Emily McConnell, and I am work as an Ambassador in honor of my daughter Margaret. I originally joined Count the Kicks as an Ambassador in South Carolina, and I am now working as an Ambassador in my home state of Michigan.
On May 9th, 2019, at my 37-week routine appointment, my husband, Dustin, and I learned that our daughter and first child, Margaret Bernice McConnell, no longer had a heartbeat. We were completely shocked and devastated to find out our baby girl had died. I had a “perfect” pregnancy, and we just didn’t think anything could go wrong after making it through the first trimester.
On the night of May 9th, I was induced, and I gave birth to Margaret at 10:21 on May 10th, 2019. She was 5 lbs. 10 oz and was 19 inches long. She was silent, but she was perfect. She was absolutely beautiful, with dark curly hair, and a cute little nose. She had the softest cheeks, and we both loved kissing them.
Margaret’s death has been the most devastating experience of my life, and her death is unexplained. She falls into the category where 60 percent of stillbirths are unexplained.
I was never educated on the importance of keeping track of fetal movement during the third trimester, but I strongly believe that if I had been, Margaret would be here with us today.
I want to honor her every day of my life, and I want her brief life to make a difference for others. Through my work with Count the Kicks, I will be able to honor Margaret in a beautiful way. I am excited to educate expectant mothers, families, and medical professionals about Count the Kicks.
I am also the co-founder of Walk of Remembrance: Miles for Margaret, Lydia and All Babies Gone to soon, an annual fundraising walk held each fall. All proceeds support the Count the Kicks campaign.
Hear Emily share her experience with pregnancy after loss, counting kicks and being pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic. Expecting Rainbow podcast
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