Myth: There is no return on investment from pregnancy loss research

Policy reviews and expert consensus agree that increasing investment in this area is both clinically effective and beneficial for the health system (34, 76, 77).

Research funding for pregnancy loss and newborn health is significantly lower than what is needed, especially given the scale of impact on families and healthcare systems. For example, for every £1 spent on pregnancy care in the NHS, only about 1p is directed to pregnancy-related research, even though stillbirths and newborn health issues are major contributors to perinatal mortality (76).

Despite newborn health and stillbirths representing major causes of perinatal mortality, research spending lags substantially behind other areas (77).

Global analyses confirm that these areas receive far less investment than other health topics, despite enormous human and societal costs (77).

Evidence consistently shows that targeted funding improves care, leads to better prevention and detection of risk factors, and helps reduce rates of adverse outcomes as well as reducing long-term healthcare and litigation costs (34).

References

(34) Gold KJ, Lens JW, Camacho EM, Heazell AEP. Malpractice payments for stillbirth and miscarriage in the United States from 2004 to 2023. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2025;232(6):e195–7.

(76) Guthrie S, Lichten CA, Leach B, Pollard J, Parkinson S, Altenhofer M. Pregnancy Research Review: Policy report: RAND Corporation. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation; 2020. Available from: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR4340.html. 

(77) Agravat P, Loucaides EM, Kumar MB, Howells A, García AM, Sebina I, et al. Research funding for newborn health and stillbirths, 2011–20: a systematic analysis of levels and trends. The Lancet Global Health. 2023;11(11):e1794–804.