Stillbirth News and Research

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Stillbirth refers to the death of a baby before or during delivery and after 24 weeks of pregnancy. If a baby dies before 24 weeks of completed pregnancy, the term “miscarriage” or fetal loss applies instead.

Scientists explore triggers associated with transplacental transmission of SARS-CoV-2

A new study examines the risk of fetal SARS-CoV-2 infection following infection of a pregnant mother with the virus.

17 May 2022

Study investigates COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy

A new study discusses the risk of COVID-19-related complications in pregnancy and the role of vaccination in reducing this risk.

17 May 2022

CDC study of pregnant women hospitalized with COVID in 2021 found 93% not vaccinated

In a recent study posted to the Research Square* preprint server, researchers assessed the characteristics and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in pregnant women.

12 May 2022

Inexpensive daily diet supplementation in pregnancy can reduce complications at birth, study shows

A six-year study of nearly 100,000 women in Botswana has provided new evidence that relatively inexpensive daily diet supplementation of iron, folic acid and vitamin supplementation in pregnancy can reduce complications at birth.

11 May 2022

3D simulations reveal early origin of complex human birth pattern and cognitive skills

Childbirth in humans is much more complex and painful than in great apes. It was long believed that this was a result of humans’ larger brains and the narrow dimensions of the mother’s pelvis.

10 May 2022

Improved screening can benefit women with postpartum depression

Nurse education is the key to successfully screening women for postpartum depression, which affects some 15% of mothers, according to a new quality improvement (QI) study from Cedars-Sinai.

4 May 2022

SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy linked to adverse maternal outcomes and preterm birth

Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was declared in 2020, there has been much concern over the effects of the disease on unborn children and pregnant women.

4 May 2022

Treating COVID-19 using monoclonal antibodies during pregnancy

Researchers assessed the efficiency efficacy and safety of monoclonal antibodies for treating SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy.

25 Apr 2022

Maternal and infant antibody levels and transplacental transfer following SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination

A recent study evaluated maternal antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 and transplacental transfer.

22 Mar 2022

Low levels of SARS-CoV-2 viremia associated with ‘COVID placentitis’ and stillbirths

Researchers hypothesize that patients with COVID placentitis were more likely to contract viremia.

20 Mar 2022

Blood test may identify risk of stillbirth and placentitis in pregnant patients with COVID-19

A small preliminary study from Northwestern Medicine has shown that a blood test may identify risk of stillbirth and placentitis in pregnant individuals who have had COVID-19.

16 Mar 2022

Maternal and neonatal outcomes during UK's SARS-CoV-2 Omicron wave

Researchers describe the characteristics of pregnant women hospitalized due to COVID-19.

15 Mar 2022

Researchers identify genetic link between lymphatic disorder and stillbirth

In a world first discovery, South Australian researchers have identified a genetic mutation responsible for a lymphatic disorder that may cause stillbirth or severe, chronic disease in affected children.

4 Mar 2022

COVID-19 related placental tissue destruction and insufficiency may cause stillbirth and neonatal death from hypoxic-ischemic injury

Researchers evaluate the role of the placenta in causing stillbirth and neonatal death post-maternal COVID-19 and confirmed placental positivity for SARS-CoV-2.

16 Feb 2022

Study shows mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy can prevent hospitalization among infants

A report published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) shows how primary two-dose vaccination series against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during pregnancy is linked to a reduced risk of COVID-19–associated hospitalization among infants six months of age or younger.

16 Feb 2022

Researchers identify a way to block Listeria infections

University of Queensland researchers have unlocked a way of fighting Listeria infections, which can cause severe illness in pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems.

23 Jan 2022

COVID-19 during pregnancy may induce fetal immune response even in the absence of placental infection

SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy may cause inflammatory immune responses in the fetus, even if the virus does not infect the placenta, according to a small National Institutes of Health study.

18 Jan 2022

Pregnant women who contracted COVID-19 more likely to have poor birth outcomes

People who contracted COVID-19 while pregnant were more likely to have poor birth outcomes including preterm birth, small for gestational age, low birth weight, and stillbirth.

16 Jan 2022

Harmful effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant women and their newborns

Pregnant women should get vaccinated to minimize the detrimental health effects COVID-19 has on the placenta, the fetus and the newborn, states Roberta L. DeBiasi, M.D., M.S., division chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Children's National Hospital in an editorial published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases.

13 Jan 2022

Researchers detect Delta variant in the blood and placentas of women who had pregnancy complications

A growing body of evidence has linked the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, with an increased risk for pregnancy complications, including stillbirths.