Stillbirth Risk Factor Calculator (Educational Explainer)
Check the factors that apply to you. This tool explains what population studies say about each factor — with sources — and helps you prepare talking points for your doctor or midwife.
⚠️ Educational tool — not medical advice.
This calculator is not a diagnostic tool and does not compute your personal probability. The numbers here come from population studies (CDC, Lancet, JAMA) and cannot be translated into “my risk is X%”. Always discuss your pregnancy with your doctor or midwife.
How to use
1
Check the factors that apply — 10 risk factors documented in the scientific literature. Each factor shows a “what the studies say” summary with its sources.
2
Enter gestational age (optional) — get educational notes relevant to your week of pregnancy.
3
Read the results & bring them to your clinician — results are population-level educational context + warning-sign guidance. Bring this list to your checkup.
Risk factor checklist (check all that apply)
Sources: CDC (US), Flenady et al. meta-analysis, Lancet 2011 (96 population studies), NCHS/CDC 2024 data, Sullivan et al., JAMA 2025 (2.7 million pregnancies).
Results — educational context
⚠️ Remember: this is population context, not a personal prediction.
The factor count above is not added or multiplied into “my risk is X%” — studies don't work that way, and every pregnancy's risk is individual. Use this list as discussion material with your doctor or midwife.
What do the population numbers say?
United States (for scale — not your personal risk):
- ~1 in 175 births end in stillbirth (CDC).
- 19,837 stillbirths at ≥20 weeks of gestation were recorded in 2024; the late fetal mortality rate (≥28 weeks) was 2.57 per 1,000 (NCHS/CDC 2024).
- JAMA 2025 study (2.7 million pregnancies, insurance claims data): ~1 in 150; >70% had ≥1 clinical risk factor — but ~28% occurred with no identified risk factor.
An honest note: about 28% of stillbirths occur with no identified risk factor. So the absence of risk factors does not mean zero risk — routine monitoring and warning-sign awareness remain important for every pregnancy.
🚨 Warning signs — call your doctor/midwife IMMEDIATELY
Don't wait for your next checkup if you experience any of these. Call your doctor, midwife, or go straight to the maternity unit/ER:
- Fetal movement sharply reduced or stopped
- Vaginal bleeding
- Severe abdominal pain
- Severe headache or vision problems (linked to preeclampsia)
- High fever or premature rupture of membranes
Reduced fetal movement is the most common reason for urgent evaluation — it's better to get checked and be fine than to wait.
What you can do (discuss with your clinician)
- Quit smoking — and avoid smoke exposure. Quitting at any point during pregnancy still helps; ask for a cessation program referral if needed.
- Start prenatal care early and keep it regular — early detection of high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, and fetal growth disorders.
- Manage blood pressure & blood sugar as your doctor advises, including preconception targets if you're planning a pregnancy.
- Monitor fetal movement daily (usually from ~28 weeks, or as your doctor advises) — learn your baby's normal pattern and report any decrease promptly.
- Discuss delivery timing if your pregnancy goes past 40–41 weeks.
Guidance sources: CDC & ACOG. These are general evidence-based steps — your personal plan is still set by the doctor/midwife who knows your history.
Frequently asked questions
What is stillbirth?
Stillbirth is the loss of a fetus at 20 weeks of gestation or later (per the US CDC definition). It differs from miscarriage, which occurs before 20 weeks. In the US, the CDC records about 1 in 175 births ending in stillbirth, and 2024 data recorded 19,837 cases at 20 weeks of gestation or later.
Can this calculator predict my personal stillbirth risk?
No. This calculator is an educational tool that explains risk factors documented in population studies, not a diagnostic or personal prediction tool. Numbers from population studies cannot be translated directly into your personal probability. Always discuss your pregnancy with your doctor or midwife.
Which stillbirth risk factors are best documented?
According to the CDC and the Lancet 2011 meta-analysis (96 population studies): maternal age 35 or older, smoking during pregnancy, pre-pregnancy obesity, diabetes, chronic hypertension, twin pregnancy, previous stillbirth, restricted fetal growth, and minimal prenatal care. These ten factors form the checklist above, each labeled with its published source.
Does stillbirth risk change with gestational age?
Yes. Population studies show stillbirth risk rises after 40 weeks of gestation. ACOG guidelines recommend a serious discussion about delivery timing starting at 41 weeks in uncomplicated pregnancies. If you are already 40 weeks or more, promptly discuss your delivery plan with your doctor or midwife.
When should I contact my doctor or midwife urgently?
Immediately — do not wait for your next checkup — if: fetal movement is reduced or stops, vaginal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, severe headache or vision problems, high fever, or early rupture of membranes. Reduced fetal movement is the most common reason for urgent evaluation.
Can stillbirth be prevented?
Some risk factors are modifiable: quitting smoking, starting prenatal care early and keeping it regular, managing blood pressure and blood sugar, and monitoring fetal movement daily. But the JAMA 2025 study found ~28% of stillbirths occurred without any identified clinical risk factor — not all cases can be prevented, and the absence of risk factors does not mean zero risk.
I have no risk factors — is my pregnancy definitely safe?
No one can guarantee that. About 28% of stillbirths occur in pregnancies with no identified risk factor (JAMA 2025), with a higher proportion in full-term pregnancies. Keep attending routine checkups, monitor fetal movement daily, and report any warning signs promptly. This is an educational tool, not a medical guarantee.
What is kick counting and how do I do it?
Kick counting is daily fetal movement monitoring, usually starting around ~28 weeks (or as your doctor advises). Pick a time when the baby is usually active, lie on your side, count each movement up to 10 movements, and note how long it takes. Most important is recognizing what is normal for your baby; if movement drops sharply or stops, contact your doctor/midwife immediately.
Should I bring these checklist results to my doctor?
Yes — that is its main purpose. Documented risk factors help your clinician plan appropriate monitoring (e.g. extra growth ultrasounds or a delivery-timing discussion). Bring your checked list to your next checkup, or sooner if you are worried.
Where can I get emotional support related to stillbirth?
Pregnancy loss is real grief. Talk to your doctor, midwife, or counselor about pregnancy-loss support groups in your area, and do not hesitate to ask for a counseling referral if the grief feels heavy. You do not have to go through it alone.
Data sources
- CDC — About Stillbirth. Definition (≥20 weeks), ~1 in 175 births figure, risk factor list. cdc.gov/stillbirth/about/
- Flenady V. et al., Lancet 2011 — “Major risk factors for stillbirth in high-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis” (96 population studies). Abstrak di The Lancet
- Chu S.Y. et al., Am J Obstet Gynecol — meta-analysis of maternal obesity & stillbirth (obesity OR 2.07). ScienceDirect
- Sullivan H. et al., JAMA 2025 — study of 2.7 million US pregnancies (~1 in 150; 27.7% with no risk factors). Ringkasan: MedicalXpress
- NCHS/CDC 2024 — US fetal mortality data 2024 (19,837 cases ≥20 weeks; 2.57 per 1,000 at ≥28 weeks). Ringkasan: MedicalXpress
- ACOG Practice Bulletin — risk factors, stillbirth history evaluation, and delivery-timing management (induction discussion from 41 weeks).
The figures on this page are quoted from the publications above and labeled with sources on each factor. No personal probabilities are computed or invented.
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