Today, BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology publishes a special stillbirth edition, which includes reports from 15 studies, addressing a range of issues from preventing deaths to care after a loss. The edition includes commentaries, recent studies and newly published findings, including a number of Sands-funded and supported studies.

These include a study which recently found that pregnant women who go to sleep on their side have a lowered risk of stillbirth, and a study looking at what makes good bereavement care. Another study, supported by Sands, estimates the costs of stillbirth and makes an invaluable case for investing to improve and make maternity care safer now, in order to save money in the future. A collection of summaries of all the studies, written for lay readers, will be available alongside the papers.

Clea Harmer said, “Sands welcomes this BJOG edition focussing much needed attention on stillbirth. Personal stories from parents themselves have raised awareness of stillbirth and there is now widespread acceptance that delivering better antenatal care will help reduce stillbirth rates. But there remains too much that we don’t know about why babies die. Research is vital if we are to make real progress in preventing more of these tragic deaths.

“After a baby dies parents and families need the best care to cope with their loss as well as support in future pregnancies, if they are planning them. Studies in this edition will contribute to improving information and services from antenatal care right through to post-natal care.”

You can find the full collection of papers and commentary via the BJOG online library.