Stillbirths
When Babies Die Before Taking Their First Breath
The U.S. has not prioritized stillbirth prevention, and American parents are losing babies even as other countries make larger strides to reduce deaths late in pregnancy.
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ProPublica a Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting
The project, “Stillbirths,” is ProPublica’s 16th Pulitzer finalist in 15 years of publishing.
Other Entries
Lawmakers Reintroduce Bill to Battle Nation’s Stillbirth Crisis
After legislation fell short of passage last year, a bipartisan group of lawmakers hope to advance a new bill to fund stillbirth prevention, and they credit ProPublica for its reporting.
What You Need to Know About Stillbirths
We spoke to dozens of parents and medical experts about what causes stillbirths, whether there are warning signs to look for during pregnancy, and what your options are if you experience a stillbirth.
Federal Study Calls U.S. Stillbirth Rate “Unacceptably High” and Recommends Action
A National Institutes of Health report decried stillbirths as a “major public health concern” and said the nation needed to do more to address the problem through research and prevention.
Lawmakers Pledge to Fight for Comprehensive Action on Stillbirths
A ProPublica investigation found the U.S. lagging other developed nations in reducing the number of stillbirths. Lawmakers say increased funding will be key to any improvement.
She Says Doctors Ignored Her Concerns About Her Pregnancy. For Many Black Women, It’s a Familiar Story.
Black women in America are more than twice as likely as white women to have a stillbirth. Getting physicians to take their concerns seriously is one reason for this disparity, they say: “If you’re a Black woman, you get dismissed.”
After a Stillbirth, an Autopsy Can Provide Answers. Too Few of Them Are Being Performed.
One in three stillbirths goes unexplained, leaving parents desperate for information. Many doctors don’t perform autopsies or tests that could offer insight, while some patients decide against them without fully understanding the potential benefits.
Help Us Report on Stillbirths
We want to understand stillbirths and their effects on parents, families and medical professionals. You can help by sharing your experience with us.
Her Child Was Stillborn at 39 Weeks. She Blames a System That Doesn’t Always Listen to Mothers.
Every year more than 20,000 pregnancies in the U.S. result in a stillbirth, but not all of these tragedies were inevitable. As many as one in four stillbirths are potentially preventable.
“God, No, Not Another Case.” COVID-Related Stillbirths Didn’t Have to Happen.
A lack of testing data and government guidance led many to avoid the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy, unwittingly increasing their chances of a stillbirth.
How Misinformation About COVID Vaccines and Pregnancy Took Root Early On and Why It Won’t Go Away
Before coronavirus vaccines were even released, a disinformation campaign used a moment of national and personal vulnerability to prey on those who were pregnant or who planned to become pregnant.
