Make change with your powerful words. Send an email.

Let decision makers know why stillbirth prevention is important to you. Encourage them to support stillbirth prevention efforts.

We’ve created sample wording you can use in an email to decision makers. It’s also important to share your personal story about why stillbirth prevention matters to you. Feel free to use the template wording below, and then find contact information for your Representatives and Senators. Many members of Congress have web contact forms where you can place your note and contact information as a quick and easy way to reach them.

Sample Email

Dear {Insert Name},

My name is {insert name} and I am writing to ask {insert your member of Congress’ name} to support the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act.

This legislation is important to me because … {Insert Your Story Here}

Every year 44,600 expectant parents lose their baby to stillbirth, according to the CDC. The annual number of stillbirths far exceeds the number of deaths among children aged 0-14 years from preterm birth, SIDS, accidents, drownings, guns, fire, and flu combined. Racial disparities persist, with 1 out of every 97 Black pregnancies ending in stillbirth. Native Hawaiian, Other Pacific Islanders and American Indian or Alaska Native pregnancies are also at greater risk of experiencing a stillbirth.

The Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act is a critical piece of legislation that would add stillbirth and stillbirth prevention to Title V of the Social Security Act — something that has been lacking since the introduction of Title V funding back in 1935.

The legislation recognizes that stillbirth (defined as the loss of a baby at 20 weeks or greater during pregnancy), and the disparity in those impacted by stillbirth, requires further research, support, and prevention programming. It also calls for evidence-based programs and activities and outcome research to reduce the incidence of stillbirth including tracking and awareness of fetal movements, improvement of birth timing for pregnant people with risk factors, initiatives that encourage safe sleeping positions for pregnant people, screening and surveillance for fetal growth restriction, efforts to achieve smoking cessation amongst pregnant people, community-based programs that provide home visits or other types of support, and any other research or evidence-based programming to prevent stillbirths.

Many stillbirths can be prevented! As a constituent, I respectfully ask you to please support the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act.

With Gratitude,

{Insert Your Name Here}

Would you like to ask your decision maker for a meeting? We’d love to attend with you and can help you prepare. Please reach out to us at info@healthybirthday.org in advance of your request!