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Risk factors for stillbirth are not well defined; indeed, until recently, as many as 50% to 70% of stillbirths were reported as unclassified or unexplained. Using data from the National Health Service for a large region of England, investigators explored risk factors identifiable before as well as during pregnancy. The study focused on preventable factors; hence, stillbirths resulting from congenital anomalies were omitted.
From June 2009 to May 2011, 389 stillbirths occurred among 92,218 singleton pregnancies. Maternal factors that significantly raised risk for stillbirth were first and third or subsequent pregnancies (compared with second pregnancies); African, African-Caribbean, and South Asian origin; first-generation immigration; obesit…