What the research says
Answers to questions parents ask after losing a baby, based on published studies. Each answer links to the original papers.
Last checked: 22 October 2026
- Why did my baby die?
- Should we agree to a post-mortem or other tests?
- Will it happen again?
- Is what I am feeling normal?
- How does this affect partners and fathers?
- Should we see and hold our baby?
- Being pregnant again
- Can stillbirth be prevented?
- How common is stillbirth in Europe?
babies are stillborn every year, one every 17 seconds
UNICEF, 2023 estimatesof recognised pregnancies end in miscarriage, about 23 million a year
Quenby et al., The Lancet, 2021stillbirths have a probable or possible cause found when full tests are done
Bukowski et al., JAMA, 2011women have post-traumatic stress symptoms one month after a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy
Farren et al., AJOG, 2020Why did my baby die?
Often a cause can be found, but not always. In a large study where families agreed to a full set of tests, a probable or possible cause was found for about 3 in 4 stillbirths. The most common were complications of pregnancy or birth and problems with the placenta.
For about 1 in 4 babies, no cause was found even after full testing. Not finding a cause is common.
When a baby dies suddenly in the first months after birth, the main known risks relate to how and where the baby sleeps. Researchers are also looking for early signs of which babies are more vulnerable.
Full testing found a probable or possible cause for 76% of stillbirths. The most common were complications of pregnancy or birth (29%) and problems with the placenta (24%).
A review of what is known about SIDS. Most deaths happen before 6 months. Known risks include sleeping on the front or side, soft bedding and overheating.
Some results of the newborn heel-prick screening were linked to a higher risk of SIDS. This is early research and is not yet used in care.
Should we agree to a post-mortem or other tests?
This is your decision. An examination of the placenta and a post-mortem are the tests most likely to explain why a baby died. In one large study, the placenta examination helped find the cause in about 2 in 3 stillbirths, and a post-mortem in about 4 in 10.
Ask the hospital what is possible where you are, for example a full or a limited examination, how much time you have to decide, and how and when you will hear the results.
Examination of the placenta helped explain 65% of stillbirths and a post-mortem 42%. Genetic testing helped in 12%.
Will it happen again?
After a stillbirth, the risk in a next pregnancy is higher than average, but it is still low. In studies of over 3 million women, 2.5% of pregnancies after a stillbirth ended in stillbirth, compared with 0.4% for women without a previous stillbirth.
Miscarriage is common: about 15% of recognised pregnancies end in miscarriage. Repeated miscarriage is much rarer. About 2% of women have had two miscarriages and less than 1% three or more.
Ask for an appointment to go through any test results and a plan for a future pregnancy.
Studies of over 3.4 million women: 2.5% of pregnancies after a stillbirth ended in stillbirth, compared with 0.4% without a previous stillbirth.
About 15% of recognised pregnancies end in miscarriage, around 23 million a year worldwide. About 11% of women have had one miscarriage, 2% two, and less than 1% three or more.
Is what I am feeling normal?
Strong grief, anxiety and trauma symptoms are common after losing a baby, and they can last a long time. In a large UK study, almost 3 in 10 women had post-traumatic stress symptoms one month after a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, and almost 2 in 10 nine months later.
Research on stillbirth describes grief, guilt, isolation and anxiety in later pregnancies, and for some parents also pride in their baby. If your feelings make daily life very hard, talk to your doctor or midwife, or a support organisation in your country.
Find support in your country →
What the research showsOne month after the loss, 29% of women had post-traumatic stress symptoms and 24% moderate to severe anxiety. Nine months later, 18% and 17%.
A review of 144 studies. Grief, anxiety in later pregnancies, grief not recognised by others, and effects on brothers and sisters were common themes. Some parents also described pride in their baby.
18 studies of mothers a year or more after their loss. Grief was long-lasting and changed how women saw themselves. Being acknowledged by carers and others helped.
How does this affect partners and fathers?
Partners often feel they must stay strong for the mother, and their own grief is less often recognised by family, friends and carers. How men grieve varies a lot from person to person.
Fathers often keep busy, go back to work early and grieve privately. Some studies find fathers report less intense grief than mothers, but the scales used mostly capture grief that people show, so they may miss some of it. In reviews, trauma symptoms that eased over time in mothers sometimes lasted longer in fathers. Most studies are small and come from a few countries.
Read our guide for partners and fathers →
What the research showsA review of 46 studies. Men often felt they had to support their partner, and their own grief was less often recognised by others.
A scoping review. Men reported less intense and less lasting psychological effects than women, were more likely to cope by avoidance, including drinking more alcohol, and felt overlooked by health professionals.
A review of 21 studies of fathers after the death of a child of any age. Fathers often avoided talking about their grief and went back to work sooner. Trauma symptoms that eased over time in mothers lasted longer in fathers.
Should we see and hold our baby?
There is no right or wrong choice. A review of the research found no clear evidence that holding a stillborn baby helps or harms parents’ mental health. Mothers who held their baby were consistently glad they did.
If you are not ready, ask the hospital whether photographs, hand and footprints or other keepsakes can be made and kept for you.
No clear evidence that holding a stillborn baby helps or harms mental health. Mothers who held their baby were consistently glad they did.
Being pregnant again
A pregnancy after loss often brings hope and fear at the same time, and it can be hard to trust that it will end well. Parents say that emotional support from their midwife or doctor made a real difference.
You can ask for extra check-ups, a named contact person, or a plan for what to do if you are worried.
Parents described mixed emotions, strong anxiety and little trust that the pregnancy would end well. Emotional support from carers made the pregnancy easier.
Can stillbirth be prevented?
Some risks can be lowered. Going to sleep on your back in the last three months of pregnancy is linked to a higher risk of late stillbirth. Going to sleep on your side, left or right, is safer.
Health services advise contacting your maternity unit straight away if your baby’s movements slow down or change. A large UK trial showed that a movement-awareness campaign alone did not lower stillbirth, so good care when parents report a change matters too.
Going to sleep on the back in late pregnancy was linked to about 2.6 times the risk of late stillbirth, compared with the left side. The right side carried no extra risk.
A care package on baby movements in UK maternity units did not lower the stillbirth rate overall (4.40 vs 4.06 per 1,000 births), and led to more inductions and caesareans.
How common is stillbirth in Europe?
About 1.9 million babies are stillborn worldwide each year. Rates in Europe are among the lowest in the world, but they differ between countries. Between 2010 and 2021 they fell in 6 of 25 European countries, rose in 2, and did not change much in the rest.
Countries also count stillbirths in different ways, for example by weeks of pregnancy or by birth weight, so comparisons between countries need care.
An estimated 2.0 million babies were stillborn worldwide in 2019. Progress in lowering stillbirth is too slow to meet international targets.
Stillbirth rates fell in 6 of 25 European countries and rose in 2. Mothers’ age and twin or multiple pregnancies explained only a small part of the changes.
European countries count stillbirths in different ways. On average, official rates were 22% higher than research network data, so country comparisons need care.
How we choose studies
We include peer-reviewed studies that answer questions parents ask. Every study is checked by hand against the original paper, and each link goes to the paper itself. Summaries are written in plain language and are not medical advice: please talk to your doctor or midwife about your own situation.
Are you a researcher? We would like to hear about your work, check our summaries with you, or share studies that are looking for parents to take part. Write to contact@mimatis.org.