Stillbirth: causes, risks and what happens afterwards

What is stillbirth?

A stillbirth is the death of a baby after 24 completed weeks of pregnancy, before or during birth. If a baby dies before 24 completed weeks, it’s called a miscarriage (NHS, 2024 a).

The stillbirth rate was 3.22 per 1,000 total births in 2023 for the UK. This was a reduction on previous years (Gallimore et al, 2025). The UK Government has a national ambition to reduce stillbirth and neonatal death (Nuffield Trust, 2024).  

What do we know about the causes?

Some stillbirths may be linked to complications with the placenta, a birth defect or the mother or birthing person's health. For others, it can be hard to identify the cause of death. The charity Sands (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Support) have more information in their article ‘Understanding why your baby died’.  

Many factors may increase the risk of stillbirth. Some of these, like age or ethnicity, are outside the pregnant woman or person’s control. Others are routinely screened for at antenatal appointments (NHS, 2024 b). 

What can be done to reduce the chance of stillbirth?

Things that the NHS suggest could lower the chance of stillbirth include (NHS, 2024 a; NHS, 2024 b; NHS, 2024 c; RCOG, 2019; RCOG, 2022):  

• Avoiding or reducing smoking.
• Avoiding or reducing alcohol and recreational drugs.
• Attending antenatal appointments so the midwife can monitor the wellbeing of mother or birthing person and baby.
• Taking folic acid up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.
• Telling the midwife about any medical conditions so they can be managed. This includes:

1. diabetes
2. tummy pain, with or without bleeding  
3. vaginal bleeding on its own
4. headache, which might be pre-eclampsia
5. itching, which might be a liver disorder

• Protecting against infection by keeping up to date with flu and other vaccinations.
• The mother or birthing person can protect themselves and their baby from other infections by:  

1. washing their hands
2. asking anyone who may be infectious to wear a mask  
3. ensuring food is well cooked, and avoiding some foods

• Tuning into the baby’s movements and telling the midwife the same day about any reduction or changes in movement noticed.
• Going to sleep on the side rather than the back.
• Limiting the amount of caffeine consumed during pregnancy to 200mg a day (two cups of instant coffee).  
• Healthy eating and exercise could reduce risks associated with obesity. 

Given the disproportionate effect of ethnicity and deprivation on stillbirth, the pregnant woman or person may also want to:  

• Ask the midwife about socially and culturally competent care. If not confident in the response, contact the senior midwifery team at the hospital.  
• Seek socially and culturally competent care from a doula. 

Finding out your baby has died

If the caregivers think that the baby has died before birth, the mother or birthing person will be offered a scan to check for the baby’s heartbeat. They will be offered support, and someone will explain the options to them. If they’re on their own in the hospital, they can ask the staff to contact someone to come and be by their side (NHS, 2024 d).  

Guilt, anxiety, and depression are normal responses to this traumatic event. Parents can feel lonely, and support from health professionals, family, and other parents who have lost a baby can help.  

How and where you might give birth

There is a National Bereavement Care Pathway which applies in England and Scotland. It is expected to extend to Wales and Northern Ireland.  

A bereavement midwife will act as a point of contact for the parent and other healthcare professionals (NHS, 2024 d).  

Some parents wish to wait for labour, which could include labour and birth at home, and others choose an induction of labour in hospital. Healthcare providers usually recommend a vaginal birth, but in some situations a ‘compassionate caesarean birth’ may be considered (RCOG, 2024).  

After the birth, some parents want to see and hold their baby and have some quiet time together. Many parents take photographs, create mementos such as foot or handprints, or keep the blanket the baby was wrapped in at birth. Some parents wish to name their baby (NHS, 2024 d).  

Parents can ask if a cuddle cot is available. This is a specialist piece of equipment for bereavement care. It has a cooling system which gives parents the chance to spend more time with their baby to grieve (Sands, 2023).

After a stillbirth it is likely that breastmilk will still be produced. Some people will want to wait for the milk supply to dry up, and others will prefer to use medication to stop the milk (NHS, 2024 d). Some mothers and birthing people decide to express and donate their breastmilk to a local milk bank. The midwife will have more information. 

Investigating what happened

Caregivers will discuss the option of tests and a post-mortem with the mother or birthing person to explore what caused the stillbirth.  

There will be a hospital review of the care provided during pregnancy and birth. The hospital will ask parents if they would like to share their perspective or ask any questions (Sands, No date). This video from Sands (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death) explains more about the review process.  

Saying goodbye  

There is a legal requirement for a burial or cremation after a stillbirth, but not a funeral.  Some parents choose to have a funeral, memorial, or their own informal ceremony. This may be an important part of dealing with their loss and an opportunity to say goodbye to their baby or babies (Sands, 2023).  

Some hospitals will be able to make these arrangements, while others do not (Sands, 2023). This can be discussed with the bereavement midwife.   

Registering the birth and your rights

After a stillbirth, the bereavement midwife may be able to help with any paperwork that needs to be done (NHS, 2024 d).  

The stillbirth registration combines both birth and death records. Stillbirths must be registered within 42 days in England and Wales, 21 days in Scotland and up to a year in Northern Ireland. Parents can name their baby in the register (Gov.uk, no date).  

Maternity and paternity leave, as well as statutory maternity and paternity pay are available following a stillbirth. The Maternity Allowance is an option if not entitled to maternity pay (Gov.uk, no date).  

Employed parents are also entitled to parental bereavement pay and leave (Gov.uk, no date).

This Government page has information about registering a stillbirth, including who can register, leave from work and pay rights.

Where to get support  

If your baby has died or someone close to you has had a stillbirth, there is support available.  

‘Remember my baby’ is a charity offering free remembrance photography.  

The charity Sands (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Support) offers a helpline for parents, families, and healthcare professionals affected by stillbirth: 0808 164 3332. It also offers other support such as local groups run by bereaved parents.  

The charity Tommy’s offers a helpline run by midwives who have experience in talking about pregnancy loss and have had bereavement training. Call 0800 0147 800.    

The charity Cruse Bereavement Care offers a helpline (0808 808 1677), and face-to-face and group support following the death of someone close.  

Pregnancy after stillbirth

A pregnancy following a stillbirth will include additional support and care from a consultant obstetrician.  However, the most recent review of evidence shows no specific interventions that will reduce the chance of stillbirth in a subsequent pregnancy (Wojcieszek et al, 2018).  

Therefore, the type of care provided will depend on any known causes of the stillbirth, and your own wishes.  

The charity Tommy’s operates specialist clinics for families who are pregnant again after a stillbirth or neonatal death.

Further information

Find out more about stillbirth: NHS Stillbirth  

If you are anxious about stillbirth or struggling with your mental health:  

• Maternal Mental Health Alliance    
• Tommy’s helpline for Black and Black Mixed-Heritage women    
• Sands also offers guidance on safer pregnancy