Each year, stillbirth affects nearly 21,000 families in the U.S. Behind each number is a family navigating grief few can comprehend. Despite how often it happens, stillbirth remains one of the least discussed experiences in maternal health. 

A new JAMA study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Mass General Brigham brings renewed attention to this reality, revealing how greater awareness, equitable care, and stronger research could help prevent more losses.

What the study found

The research, one of the largest analyses of stillbirth to date, looked at 2.8 million births and revealed that nearly half of stillbirths occurring after 37 weeks of pregnancy may be preventable.  The scale of the study also allowed researchers to provide a more accurate national estimate of how often stillbirth occurs.

The Harvard-Mass General Brigham team found that 1 in 147 U.S. births ends in stillbirth, which is higher than the CDC’s previous estimate of 1 in 175. For perspective, that means stillbirth is more common than many conditions that receive far greater public attention, such as maternal mortality.

While most pregnancies result in healthy births, the study suggests that stillbirth happens more frequently than many families realize. In about 70% of cases, researchers identified at least one known risk factor, such as hypertension, diabetes, or declining placental function. These are issues that can often be managed when recognized early.

But nearly 28% of stillbirths had no identifiable cause, and that number climbed even higher for pregnancies that extended beyond 40 weeks. After 40 weeks, about 40% of stillbirths were considered unexplained. Those findings have prompted new conversations about how prenatal monitoring, late-term testing, and delivery timing could help reduce risk.

The data also confirmed what advocates have long emphasized: not all families face the same risk. In lower-income areas, the rate of stillbirth was 1 in 112. In regions with higher proportions of Black families, the rate was 1 in 95. These inequities reflect broader maternal health gaps in the United States and point to the need for better access, earlier intervention, and consistent prenatal care for all families. 

While these disparities demand large-scale change, the study also underscores what every family can do right now: build awareness, ask questions, and feel empowered to advocate for their care.

Related: Labor nurse shares how she honors stillbirths in the most beautiful way in viral TikTok

What parents can take away 

This study offers both perspective and hope. Most pregnancies lead to healthy births, and greater awareness helps ensure that more do. Understanding how to advocate for your own care can make a real difference. 

If you’re pregnant or planning to be, consider these key takeaways:

  • Talk with your provider about your personal health factors. Conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or advanced maternal age can influence how your pregnancy is monitored. 
  • Track fetal movement and report changes. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends reaching out if your baby’s movements feel slower or less frequent than usual.
  • Ask about monitoring after 40 weeks. Tests like nonstress tests or biophysical profiles can help assess placental function in late pregnancy.
  • Build trust with your care team. Awareness works best when you feel safe speaking up about questions or concerns.

Why awareness and advocacy matter

Stillbirth research in the United States has historically been underfunded, leaving many families without clear answers. The new JAMA data reinforces why listening to mothers, prioritizing equity, and investing in research are essential steps toward prevention. 

International examples offer hope. In countries like the United Kingdom and Australia, national campaigns have helped reduce stillbirth rates through public awareness and prevention bundles that include guidance on side sleeping after 28 weeks, education about fetal movement, and shared decision-making around the timing of delivery.

These measures demonstrate that small, consistent changes, supported by data and compassion, can make a measurable difference.

How parents and allies can advocate

Meaningful change often begins with collective advocacy. Stillbirth prevention deserves the same level of attention and funding as other maternal-infant health issues.

One important piece of legislation, the Stillbirth Health Improvement and Education (SHINE) for Autumn Act, seeks to do just that. Named for Autumn Joy, a baby stillborn in 2011, the bill would expand data collection, research, and public education on stillbirth prevention. The act has bipartisan support and is awaiting movement in Congress.

Advocacy can also begin in smaller, personal ways, such as sharing stories, joining remembrance walks, or supporting local programs that help families who are navigating loss. Each effort helps bring visibility to a topic too often kept in the dark.

Related: Ms. Rachel shares a heartfelt song honoring the baby she lost before welcoming her son

If you’ve experienced loss

No statistic can capture the depth of losing a baby. Grief after stillbirth is often compounded by isolation, many parents say what they needed most was someone willing to listen and acknowledge their child’s life.

If you or someone you love has experienced stillbirth, you are not alone. Free, compassionate support is available:

Seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. No one should have to grieve alone.

Related: Mom’s heart-wrenching video about wearing a weighted bear after stillbirth goes viral

Moving forward together 

Stillbirth is never easy to talk about, yet awareness and research can change what families experience next. The findings from this study point to real opportunities for prevention, better care, and stronger support for parents navigating pregnancy and loss.

Every family deserves compassionate, evidence-based care and a system that listens early and often.

By learning and talking about stillbirth, by asking the hard questions and supporting the parents who have lived through it, we create a culture where no one walks through this alone.

Related: These viral photos tell a story of stillbirth that words could not

Sources:

  1. JAMA. 2025. Stillbirths in the United States | Women’s Health
  2. CDC. 2025. “Data and Statistics on Stillbirth