{"id":36895,"date":"2021-04-10T16:13:19","date_gmt":"2021-04-10T06:13:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hudson.org.au?post_type=disease&p=36895"},"modified":"2026-04-16T11:11:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T01:11:44","slug":"stillbirth","status":"publish","type":"disease","link":"https:\/\/hudson.org.au\/disease\/womens-newborn-health\/stillbirth\/","title":{"rendered":"Stillbirth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Stillbirth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The birth of a child is one of the great joys of life for families, but tragically each year more than 2,100 Australian babies are stillborn.  This significant loss of our youngest lives is more than our national road toll, 1,580. Incredibly around 20 per cent of stillbirths could be prevented, but there has been no improvement for two decades. New strategies are needed to reduce the rate of stillbirth, for families and their babies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hudson Institute researchers have made it a priority to reduce stillbirths by understanding the causes, identifying high risk mothers and closing the gap between scientific knowledge and clinical practice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stillbirth research at Hudson Institute<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our stillbirth research program combines population-based and clinical epidemiological studies with biological science to inform the standard clinical care. The program aim is to reduce the rate of stillbirth in Australia and support improvements in clinical care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following our scientist\u2019s discovery that South Asian mothers are at an increased risk of stillbirth, new clinical care guidelines introduced at Monash Health halved the rate of stillbirth at term for South Asian women.  Our researchers are now leading the roll-out, evaluation and expansion of new guidelines to support health services across Australia that will reduce stillbirth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, for the first time they are exploring the endometrium and its potential roll as an early driver of stillbirth. <\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What is stillbirth?<\/h3>\n \n <\/div>\n
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Stillbirth is when a baby dies in the womb after 20 weeks pregnancy. If a developing baby dies before 20 weeks gestation, it is called a miscarriage. If the length of the pregnancy is not clear, it is designated as a stillbirth if a baby weighs more than 400 grams.<\/p>\n

Stillbirth is further defined by the pregnancy length<\/p>\n