FOI ref: FOI/2022/4350
You asked
For 2015 to 2022, please provide:
Late term baby deaths - how many mothers grew a baby for months to have them die before birth between 14 and 24 weeks gestation.
And how the up to date figures vary from the 10 year average.
Stillborns - how many children died in the womb before 20 weeks. (both babies that has died before birth at 24 weeks or above and late miscarriage but only those below 20 weeks gestation
And how the up to date figures vary from the 10 year average.
Miscarriages - how many women unfortunately suffered miscarriages before the 12th week.
And how the up to date figures vary from the 10 year average.
Menstrual issues - how many people have been in contact due to period complications, or were advised, treated etc any involvement.
And how the up to date figures vary from the 10 year average.
We said
Thank you for your enquiry.
A stillbirth is a baby born after 24 or more weeks completed gestation and which did not, at any time, breathe or show signs of life. On 1 October 1992 the Still-Birth (Definition) Act 1992 came into force, altering the definition of a stillbirth to 24 or more weeks completed gestation, instead of 28 or more weeks completed gestation.
Data on stillbirths can be found in our recent Births in England and Wales publication. The latest available data is for 2021 which was published on 9th August 2022. The number of still births is available in table 1 of the dataset.
Number of Stillbirths:
- 2021 2,597
- 2020 2,371
- 2019 2,522
- 2018 2,689
- 2017 2,873
We do not report or hold analysis on a 10-year average for stillbirths. Therefore, I have supplied the last 5 years of data, however within the dataset provided data is available from 1927 to 2021.
Please note that final figures for January to August 2022 will not be available until summer 2023. Provisional data would be based on birth notifications and as such would not be directly comparable with other birth statistics derived using birth registrations.
Users can request bespoke analysis using birth notifications data. The analysis would be subject to legal frameworks, disclosure control, resources and agreements of costs under the ONS Charging policy where appropriate. If you would like to discuss further or obtain a quote for this work, which is out with the Freedom of Information Act please contact the HALE Customer Services team on Health.Data@ons.gov.uk
The loss of a baby between 10 and 23 weeks would be defined as a miscarriage, and unfortunately, we do not hold data relating to miscarriages. NHS Digital are responsible for these statistics and are better placed to answer your enquiry.
NHS digital would also be better placed to answer your enquiry regarding diagnosis of complications with menstrual cycle. They can be contacted on enquiries@nhsdigital.nhs.uk or by telephone 0300 303 5678.