Facts about Stillbirth

• 1 out of every 100 pregnancies results in stillbirth.
• More than 25,000 stillbirths occur annually in the US. That's roughly the same number of deaths as breast cancer. This is compared to 2,000 deaths related to SIDS.
• 60% of all stillbirth deaths remain unexplained.
• Stillbirth is defined as the unintentional death of an unborn baby who has passed 20 gestational weeks.
• Almost 50 percent of stillborn deaths occur at or near full term and often seem to be otherwise healthy babies. About 85 percent occur before delivery, with 15 percent occurring during labor and delivery.
• Some of the common diagnosable causes for stillbirth: placental abruption and other placental problems, birth defects and chromosomal abnormalities, uncontrolled diabetes, preeclampsia, cord accidents and infections.
• Risk factors include: advanced maternal age, maternal obesity, uncontrolled maternal diabetes and maternal hypertension.
• Only 21 states officially recognize the stillbirth of a child by providing the parents with a certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth. Parents in the other 29 states receive a death certificate. N.C. has a bill pending on the Senate floor to provide a certificate of birth resulting in a stillbirth.
• Kicks count!! Kick counting throughout pregnancy can drastically reduce the number of stillbirths. Visit Kick Counts for more information.