When you see a positive pregnancy test, you usually start thinking about nurseries, names, and maybe how you’re going to survive on four hours of sleep. You don't usually think about the end before the beginning. But for thousands of families every year, the reality shifts from "when the baby arrives" to "what happened?" Honestly, the silence around this topic is one of the hardest parts for parents to navigate.
Most people think of pregnancy loss as something that only happens in the very early weeks. But it's different when it happens later. How common are stillborns? It’s a heavy question, and the answer is more complex than a single number.
In the United States, stillbirth affects about 1 in every 175 births. If you're looking at the raw data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), that’s roughly 21,000 babies every single year. To put that in perspective, that’s about the same number of babies who die during their first year of life. It isn't a rare "fluke" or a relic of the past; it's a persistent, quiet crisis in modern maternal health.
The Reality of Stillbirth in 2026
We’ve seen some progress, but it’s been slow. Kinda frustratingly slow, actually. According to a major report released in December 2025, the U.S. stillbirth rate fell by about 2% last year. That brings the national average to roughly 5.41 fetal deaths per 1,000 pregnancies that lasted 20 weeks or longer.
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While a decline is good news, experts like Ashley Stoneburner from the March of Dimes argue that we aren't moving fast enough. For decades, the rate of stillbirth hasn't seen the same dramatic drops that we’ve seen in infant mortality or other areas of medicine.
Why the Numbers Are Squishy
One thing you’ve gotta understand is that "stillbirth" has a specific medical definition. In the U.S., it's generally defined as the loss of a baby at or after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
- Early stillbirth: Between 20 and 27 weeks.
- Late stillbirth: Between 28 and 36 weeks.
- Term stillbirth: 37 weeks or later.
Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) uses 28 weeks as the cutoff for their primary statistics. This makes comparing countries a bit of a headache. If you look at the 2024 United Nations data, there were about 1.9 million stillbirths worldwide in 2023. That breaks down to one every 16 seconds. It's a staggering scale of loss that often happens behind closed doors.
What Causes a Stillbirth?
It's the first question every parent asks: Why? Sometimes, we just don't know. In about one-third of cases, even with a full autopsy and placental exam, the cause remains a mystery. That lack of answers can be its own kind of trauma. But when doctors can find a cause, it usually falls into a few specific buckets.
Placental Problems
The placenta is basically the baby's life support system. If it starts to peel away from the uterine wall (placental abruption) or if it simply isn't providing enough oxygen and nutrients, the baby is in trouble. Placental issues account for roughly 1 in 4 stillbirths.
Genetic and Structural Issues
Sometimes the "blueprints" for the baby have a significant error. This might be a chromosomal abnormality or a physical birth defect that makes it impossible for the baby to survive. These aren't anyone's fault—they're just tragic biological glitches.
Infection
This is a big one that doesn't get enough attention. In developed countries, infections cause about 10-25% of stillbirths. We're talking about things like CMV (Cytomegalovirus), Listeria, or even common urinary tract infections that go unnoticed.
Maternal Health Conditions
Existing health issues can make a pregnancy much riskier. High blood pressure (preeclampsia) and diabetes are the two biggest culprits here. Obesity also plays a significant role; a 2025 study in PMC noted that a BMI over 30 can increase the risk of stillbirth by nearly 40% compared to those in a healthy weight range.
The Stark Disparity Nobody Can Ignore
If we're being totally honest, your risk of stillbirth depends way too much on who you are and where you live. This is one of the most glaring failures in the U.S. healthcare system.
Black, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander families experience stillbirth at nearly double the rate of White, Hispanic, or Asian families. In 2023 and 2024, the rate for Black mothers remained near 10 per 1,000, while the rate for White mothers was under 5.
Why? It’s a mix of things. Access to quality prenatal care is a factor, sure, but researchers also point to "weathering"—the physical toll that chronic stress and systemic racism take on a person's body over time. It’s not just about biology; it’s about the environment.
Can We Prevent Stillbirth?
You can't prevent every loss. That's a hard truth. But we can lower the odds.
A huge study published in The Jerusalem Post in 2025 suggested that up to 70% of stillbirths might have preventable risk factors. That’s a massive number. It means better monitoring and faster intervention could save thousands of lives.
Monitoring Movement
One of the most effective tools is surprisingly low-tech: "counting kicks." Around the third trimester, you get to know your baby's patterns. If they usually have a "dance party" after you drink orange juice and suddenly they’re quiet, that’s a reason to go to the hospital. Not tomorrow. Now. Medical experts in 2026 are leaning heavily into this. They’re telling parents: Don't worry about being a "nuisance" to your doctor. If the movement feels off, get checked. It could be the difference between a close call and a tragedy.
Medical Interventions
If you have high blood pressure or diabetes, staying on top of your meds is non-negotiable. Doctors are also using more frequent ultrasounds and "non-stress tests" (NSTs) to check the baby’s heart rate in high-risk pregnancies.
Practical Steps for Expectant Parents
If you're reading this because you're worried, take a breath. While 1 in 175 sounds scary, it also means that 174 out of 175 pregnancies do not end this way.
Here is what you can actually do to stay proactive:
- Track the kicks. Pick a time each day when the baby is usually active. Learn what's normal for your baby.
- Manage the "Big Two." If you have high blood pressure or diabetes, treat them like a full-time job. Work closely with a maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialist if you can.
- Check your environment. New research from 2024 highlighted how extreme heat and pollution can increase risks. Stay cool and hydrated during those summer heatwaves.
- Trust your gut. If something feels weird—cramping, spotting, or just a "vibe" that something is wrong—call the clinic.
- Sleep on your side. After 28 weeks, medical consensus suggests sleeping on your side (either side!) can improve blood flow to the placenta compared to sleeping on your back.
Stillbirth is a heavy topic, and the statistics can feel cold. But behind every 1 in 175 is a family and a story. By talking about it more openly, we can push for the research and the care changes that actually move those numbers down for good.
To stay proactive, start by asking your OB-GYN or midwife for a specific "fetal movement protocol" so you know exactly when to call the office if your baby’s activity changes. If you have been told your pregnancy is high-risk, request a referral to a Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist who can provide more intensive monitoring of your placenta and the baby’s growth through the third trimester.