Stillbirth matters: Research is key to mitigating risk

In a field of medicine dominated by happy outcomes, unexplained deaths do occur. As delegates gather in Cork for the International Stillbirth Alliance conference, Dr Keelin O’Donoghue says research is key to mitigating risk.

FEW complications in a maternity hospital are as emotionally devastating for parents and clinicians as the death of a baby during pregnancy or birth.

In these days of modern healthcare, parents anticipate a normal pregnancy and a healthy baby, and their children surviving to adult life.