Stillbirth / Preterm Birth

What Are Stillbirth and Preterm Birth?

Stillbirth refers to the loss of a pregnancy after twenty weeks of gestation, while preterm birth refers to delivery occurring before thirty seven weeks of pregnancy.

There are an estimated two point six million stillbirths occurring each year worldwide, with ninety eight percent occurring in low and middle income countries.¹

In the United States, approximately one in two hundred pregnancies reaching twenty two weeks of gestation will result in stillbirth, reflecting a significant, though often underdiscussed, pregnancy complication.¹

There are an estimated 2.6 million stillbirths each year, with 98% occurring in low and middle income countries.
National Center for Biotechnology Information

Symptoms

Stillbirth is often first recognized through absence of fetal movement, prompting further evaluation and confirmation through ultrasound imaging.

Preterm labor, potentially leading to preterm birth, typically presents with regular contractions, pelvic pressure, and sometimes vaginal bleeding or fluid leakage occurring before thirty seven weeks of pregnancy.

Because both conditions can develop with limited warning, awareness of concerning symptoms and prompt medical evaluation remain critically important throughout pregnancy.

Causes

Among maternal conditions contributing to stillbirth, high blood pressure and infection of the membranes surrounding the fetus represent leading identified causes.¹

Among fetal conditions, growth restriction and congenital abnormalities are common contributing factors, while placental and umbilical cord disorders represent the most frequent overall causes of stillbirth.¹

Despite thorough evaluation, approximately twenty eight percent of stillbirth cases remain unexplained even after comprehensive investigation, highlighting significant gaps in current understanding.¹

Risk Factors

Maternal medical conditions significantly increase stillbirth risk, including diabetes mellitus, chronic high blood pressure, and abnormal amniotic fluid volume.¹

Risk factors most strongly associated with stillbirth include maternal history of chronic hypertension and placental abruption, a condition involving premature separation of the placenta.²

A history of previous stillbirth significantly increases the risk of recurrence in future pregnancies, and prior preterm birth or a small for gestational age infant similarly increases risk of subsequent stillbirth.³

Complications

Intrauterine growth restriction, meaning the fetus growing more slowly than expected, represents an important risk factor closely linked to both stillbirth and preterm birth.²

Preterm birth itself carries significant risk for the newborn, including complications related to underdeveloped organ systems that continue maturing during the final weeks of a full term pregnancy.

Ongoing research continues to investigate whether certain processes contributing to poor outcomes in premature infants might be identified and addressed earlier in pregnancy.⁴

Treatment

Following a stillbirth diagnosis, delivery is typically managed through induction of labor, with comprehensive evaluation afterward to help identify a potential underlying cause when possible.

For pregnancies at risk of preterm birth, treatments including corticosteroids to support fetal lung development and, when appropriate, medications to delay labor may be used depending on individual clinical circumstances.

Clinical prediction models, including validated stillbirth risk calculators, continue to be developed and refined to help identify pregnancies at elevated risk requiring closer monitoring.⁵

Prevention

Early identification of potential risk factors combined with appropriate perinatal management represents an important strategy for preventing adverse fetal outcomes.¹

Appropriate preconception care and quality antenatal care accessible to all women has genuine potential to reduce stillbirth rates on a broader population level.¹

For women with identified risk factors, closer monitoring throughout pregnancy supports earlier identification of concerning changes, allowing for timely intervention when possible.

Why Visual Communication Matters for Stillbirth and Preterm Birth

Explaining the range of factors contributing to stillbirth and preterm birth requires sensitive, accurate visuals that support both clinical understanding and compassionate patient education.

Pharmaceutical companies, obstetric practices, and patient education organizations rely on precise, thoughtfully created illustration and animation to explain these sensitive pregnancy complications.

• Illustrating placental and umbilical cord contributions to pregnancy complications
• Animating risk factor assessment and monitoring approaches
• Explaining preterm labor mechanisms and available interventions
• Visualizing fetal growth monitoring and risk stratification
• Supporting sensitive patient education and bereavement support materials
• Creating training materials for obstetric and maternal fetal medicine clinicians

How Biotic Artlab Supports Stillbirth and Preterm Birth Communication

We work with pharmaceutical companies, obstetric practices, and healthcare organizations to create scientifically accurate, sensitively handled visuals related to stillbirth and preterm birth.

• Custom 3D animations of pregnancy complication mechanisms
• Detailed illustrations of risk factor assessment and monitoring
• Visualizations supporting preterm birth prevention strategies
• Patient facing materials created with appropriate sensitivity and care
• Clinical training content for obstetric and maternal fetal medicine teams
• Conference presentations and marketing visuals for maternal health audiences

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between stillbirth and preterm birth?

Stillbirth refers to pregnancy loss after twenty weeks, while preterm birth refers to live delivery before thirty seven weeks.

How common is stillbirth?

Approximately one in two hundred pregnancies reaching twenty two weeks in the United States results in stillbirth.¹

What are common causes of stillbirth?

Placental and umbilical cord disorders, high blood pressure, and growth restriction are common causes, though many cases remain unexplained.¹

What increases stillbirth risk?

Chronic hypertension, diabetes, placental abruption, and a history of prior stillbirth all increase risk.²

Can stillbirth be prevented?

Quality antenatal care and early risk factor identification can help reduce stillbirth rates, though not all cases are preventable.¹

How is risk for preterm birth managed?

Close monitoring, corticosteroids for fetal lung development, and sometimes medications to delay labor may be used.

Have a Project in Mind? Contact Us.

If you are developing patient education materials, clinical training content, or marketing visuals related to stillbirth or preterm birth, our team can help translate the science into visuals that are both accurate and handled with appropriate sensitivity. Contact us at info@biotic-artlab.com or get in touch through our contact form to discuss your project.

References

1. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Stillbirth.
2. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Risk Factors for Stillbirth at Term, An Italian Area-Based, Prospective Cohort Study.
3. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Risk of Stillbirth, Preterm Delivery, and Fetal Growth Restriction Following Exposure in a Previous Birth.
4. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Is It Possible to Prevent the Thanatogenetic Processes in Premature Babies.
5. National Center for Biotechnology Information. A Stillbirth Calculator, Development and Internal Validation of a Clinical Prediction Model to Quantify Stillbirth Risk.

Disclaimer: This page provides general educational information and is not a substitute for diagnosis, treatment, or individualized advice from a qualified healthcare professional.