Stillbirth: What It Is, Who Is at Risk, and What CDC Is Learning

Stillbirth is more common than many people realize, and it remains a painful reality for many families. If you're pregnant and something feels unusual or worries you, talk to your doctor.

Image from CDC's page about stillbirth.

What stillbirth is

A stillbirth is the loss of a pregnancy at or after the 20th week. It differs from a miscarriage, which in the United States usually means the loss of a fetus before 20 weeks.

Who is at higher risk

Stillbirth can happen to families of every background, and most pregnancies end in a healthy birth. But stillbirth is more common among women who:

• are 35 or older;
• have low socioeconomic status;
• smoke during pregnancy;
• have certain medical conditions, such as high blood pressure;
• are carrying more than one baby, such as twins or triplets;
• have had a stillbirth before.

Rates also differ by race and ethnicity. In 2020, stillbirth occurred twice as often among non-Hispanic Black women as among non-Hispanic White and Asian or Pacific Islander women. These differences are not caused by biology or genetics. Researchers are studying the many factors that may contribute, including access to quality health care, pre-existing health conditions and other influences on pregnancy — knowledge that can shape programs to prevent stillbirth.

Adrian's story

One mother shared with CDC how her son, Adrian, was stillborn because of complications of undiagnosed preeclampsia, a condition that can develop after 20 weeks of pregnancy. No one had mentioned the risk of stillbirth to her, and her providers didn't seem concerned about her symptoms. The night before she reached 41 weeks, she went to bed feeling him kick; by morning he had died. She wishes she had known how common stillbirth is, that preeclampsia symptoms are serious — and, most of all, that more people talked about stillbirth. "My son should be here, and he isn't."

Learn more about high blood pressure during pregnancy.

What CDC is doing

CDC tracks how often stillbirth occurs and researches its possible causes, so the findings can guide recommendations, policies and services to help prevent it. Much work remains.

Sources

Based on "About Stillbirth," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a work of the United States government in the public domain.