The birth rate in England and Wales has fallen to its lowest level for at least 80 years, official figures have revealed.  The stillbirth rate reached the lowest level recorded for the second year running.

Clea Harmer, chief executive at stillbirth and neonatal death charity Sands, said: “This continuing downward trend in the deaths of babies before birth is very welcome but, until the figures can be seen alongside mortality rates for babies who die shortly after birth, it is too early to comment on whether we are on track to meet the English government’s ambition to halve deaths by 2025.”  Continue reading