{"id":525,"date":"2025-07-01T16:32:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T15:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/reduce-the-risk-of-stillbirth\/"},"modified":"2025-07-01T16:33:56","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T15:33:56","slug":"reduce-the-risk-of-stillbirth","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/reduce-the-risk-of-stillbirth\/","title":{"rendered":"Reduce the Risk of Stillbirth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:40%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"589\" height=\"586\" src=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2022\/09\/pregnantillustration.jpg\" alt=\"Illustration of a pregnant woman\" class=\"wp-image-1033\" srcset=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2022\/09\/pregnantillustration.jpg 589w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2022\/09\/pregnantillustration-300x298.jpg 300w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2022\/09\/pregnantillustration-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 589px) 100vw, 589px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center supplementary is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is stillbirth?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When a baby dies after 24 weeks of pregnancy, before or during birth, it is known as a stillbirth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>4 babies a week are stillborn in Scotland and it\u2019s a devastating experience for any family to go through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although the rate of stillbirth in Scotland has reduced significantly in recent years, this has not always been consistent year on year and there is still more that we can do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes we don\u2019t know the cause of stillbirth, but we do know that there are ways for pregnant women to reduce their risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Steps to reduce the risk of stillbirth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Pregnant women are advised to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to sleep on their side<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Not smoke<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.parentclub.scot\/articles\/monitoring-your-babys-movements\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Monitor their baby\u2019s movements<\/a>, contacting maternity services should these alter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Further information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>More information can be found at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.parentclub.scot\/stillbirth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Parentclub&nbsp;&#8211; stillbirth<\/a>&nbsp;or see below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sleep<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pregnant women should sleep on their side from 24 weeks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sleeping on&nbsp;either side appears to be equally beneficial compared to sleeping on the&nbsp;back.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pregnant women should not worry if they wake up on their back they&nbsp;should just go back to sleep lying on their side again.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It can be tough to stop but there are links to support available a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.parentclub.scot\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">parentclub.scot<\/a>&nbsp;and in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/ready-steady-baby-including-translations\/\">Ready Steady Baby!<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There is also lots of help and support available to you help pregnant women quit&nbsp;smoking. To find out more and get started, visit&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhsinform.scot\/campaigns\/quit-your-way-scotland\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">quityourway.scot<\/a>&nbsp;or call&nbsp;0800 84 84 84.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Baby Movement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Maternal awareness of fetal movements typically begins at 18-20 weeks\u2019&nbsp;gestation, although it may be later in first pregnancies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Although the nature of the movements may change in later pregnancy, as space around the growing fetus becomes more limited, it is not true that babies move less towards the end of pregnancy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pregnant women should contact their midwife or maternity unit straight&nbsp;away if they experience a reduction in their baby\u2019s movements.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To learn more facts about baby movements, you can visit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tommys.org\/pregnancy-information\/pregnancy-symptom-checker\/baby-fetal-movements\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Your Baby&#8217;s Movements | Tommy&#8217;s<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:20% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tommys.org\/sites\/default\/files\/2024-10\/RFM%20leaflet%20A4_1.pdf\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"582\" height=\"824\" src=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2025\/07\/feeling-baby-movement-eng.png\" alt=\"feeling baby movement eng\" class=\"wp-image-4703 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2025\/07\/feeling-baby-movement-eng.png 582w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2025\/07\/feeling-baby-movement-eng-212x300.png 212w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 582px) 100vw, 582px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tommys.org\/sites\/default\/files\/2024-10\/RFM%20leaflet%20A4_1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Leaflet: Feeling your baby move is a sign that they are well<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The leaflet is available in more languages. Click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tommys.org\/pregnancy-information\/health-professionals\/free-pregnancy-resources\/leaflet-and-banner-feeling-your-baby-move-sign-they-are-well\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a> to see the translated versions.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Support&nbsp;can also&nbsp;be found at&nbsp;<strong>Held in our Hearts<\/strong>&nbsp;(previously SANDS Lothian)&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/heldinourhearts.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/heldinourhearts.org.uk\/<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is stillbirth? When a baby dies after 24 weeks of pregnancy, before or during birth, it is known as a stillbirth. 4 babies a week are stillborn in Scotland and it&rsquo;s a devastating experience for any family to go through. Although the rate of stillbirth in Scotland has reduced significantly in recent years, this<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":32,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/widewidth.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"class_list":["post-525","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"NHS Lothian","author_link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/author\/nhs-lothian\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":false,"rttpg_excerpt":"What is stillbirth? When a baby dies after 24 weeks of pregnancy, before or during birth, it is known as a stillbirth. 4 babies a week are stillborn in Scotland and it&rsquo;s a devastating experience for any family to go through. Although the rate of stillbirth in Scotland has reduced significantly in recent years, this","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/525","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=525"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/525\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4705,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/525\/revisions\/4705"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=525"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=525"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}