A sweeping study found thousands of stillbirths occur without clear warning signs

[Diamond_Dog]

Cross post from GD

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https://wapo.st/3WlRKx3

Despite advances in prenatal care, stillbirths in the United States remain far more common than previously reported, with a significant number of them striking without warning.

A sweeping analysis of nearly 2.8 million pregnancies finds that nearly 19,000 stillbirths occurred between 2016 and 2022, a rate higher than recorded in federal data.

The study published Monday shows that nearly 30 percent of stillbirths occur in pregnancies that did not appear linked to any previously identified health or clinical risks. The study also found that stillbirth continues to fall unevenly along racial and socioeconomic lines, with Black families and poorer communities being hit hardest.

Mark Clapp, an obstetrician and maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital and one of the study authors, said better screening and monitoring are urgently needed.

(snip)

They found that between 2016 and 2022 stillbirths occurred in:

1 in every 147 births, a higher rate than the roughly one in every 175 births reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
1 in every 112 births for-low income families.
1 in every 95 births in areas with higher proportions of Black families compared with White families.

The study also found that structural inequities, including where a person lives and the resources available in their community is still a strong predictor of risk. Stillbirth rates were higher in areas with more low-income households and larger Black populations, even among those with private insurance.

The authors suggests that social disadvantage continues to determine pregnancy that stem beyond simple access to care. They add that even in cities with top hospitals, some women are still afraid to advocate for themselves or question medical decisions.

Harvey Kliman, director of the Reproductive and Placental Research Unit at Yale University who was not involved in the study, said systemic racism is one of the main culprits for the disparity.

More at link.

We have such a long way to go in America treating pregnant women and ensuring access to proper prenatal medical care. I don’t suppose this concerns our Health and Human Services secretary much, though. And for sure nothing will get better with this current administration in charge.