Myth: Talking about stillbirth scares pregnant women

Research shows that pregnant women generally welcome information about stillbirth prevention when that information is shared clearly and sensitively (22,23).

Some healthcare professionals avoid discussing risk factors due to fears of causing distress, which can result in missed opportunities for prevention or effective risk management during pregnancy (23–25). They need training and support to do so (25,26).

Some stillbirth risk factors are modifiable, including behavioural factors (e.g., smoking, alcohol use, substance use, sleeping position), some are medical (e.g. hypertension, diabetes, fetal growth restriction) and some are warning signs (e.g. reduced fetal movements) (27,28). Information and supports about how to reduce risk of stillbirth should be available to women in pregnancy.

References

(22) Andrews C, Pade A, Boyle F, Fernandez DR, Singline L, Lancaster A, et al. Conversations about stillbirth risk in routine antenatal care: A qualitative study post-implementation of the Safer Baby Bundle. BJOG. 2025; Aug 13.

(23) Escañuela Sánchez T, Matvienko-Sikar K, Meaney S, O’Donoghue K. Exploring first-time mothers’ experiences and knowledge about behavioural risk factors for stillbirth. Health Expectations. 2023;26(1):329–42.

(24) Andrews C, Boyle FM, Pade A, Middleton P, Ellwood D, Gordon A, et al. Experiences of antenatal care practices to reduce stillbirth: surveys of women and healthcare professionals pre-post implementation of the Safer Baby Bundle. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2024;24(1):520.

(25) Rutherford E, Escañuela Sánchez T, O’Donoghue K. Exploring healthcare professionals’ experiences when communicating with pregnant patients about stillbirth. Irish Medical Journal. 2025;118(5):70.

(26) McNamara K, Meaney S, O’Connell O, McCarthy M, Greene RA, O’Donoghue K. Healthcare professionals’ response to intrapartum death: a cross-sectional study. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. 2017;295(4):845–52.

(27) Escañuela Sánchez T, Meaney S, O’Donoghue K. Modifiable risk factors for stillbirth: a literature review. Midwifery. 2019;79:102539.

(28) Heazell A, Flenady V. Interventions in Pregnancy to Reduce Risk of Stillbirth. In: Johnson A, Oepkes D, Kilby MD, editors. Fetal Therapy: Scientific Basis and Critical Appraisal of Clinical Benefits. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2020. p. 48–60.