Stillbirth signs, symptoms and risks

On this page

Baby’s movements in pregnancy

Leaking fluid or vaginal discharge in pregnancy

Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy

Infection in pregnancy

Waters breaking early in pregnancy

Diabetes in pregnancy

Pre-eclampsia and stillbirth

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

Finding the causes of stillbirth

What are the signs of stillbirth?

Often when a baby dies in the womb, there aren’t any noticeable symptoms or changes. But there are some things that you should look out for during your pregnancy.

We know reading about the symptoms of stillbirth can be very worrying. If you are struggling to manage anxious feelings or thoughts, please talk to your midwife about it. Your healthcare team is there to support you if you have any concerns about your and your baby's health. Please don’t worry about speaking up, asking questions and asking for checks and tests.  

You can also talk to our Tommy’s midwives for free on 0800 0147 800. We are open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Or you can email them on [email protected].  

If you are of Black or Black-Mixed heritage you can book a call on the specialist helpline that we run in partnership with the Black maternal health organisation Five X More, if that feels more appropriate for you.

Even if you do have some of the symptoms or conditions listed below, please remember that you’re likely to go on to have a healthy pregnancy and baby.  

If you’re looking for more information about what causes stillbirth, our information about causes of stillbirth may be more helpful. 

Baby’s movements in pregnancy

Reduced baby movements are linked with an increased risk of stillbirth.  If you think your baby is moving less than usual or has stopped moving it may be the first sign that they are unwell. It’s important to notice this and contact your maternity unit immediately. 

Getting to know your baby’s movements

You will probably first feel your baby move between 16 and 20 weeks, though it may be up to 24 weeks, particularly if this is your first pregnancy. Movements feel different to everyone, but you might feel kicking, swirling, fluttering or rolling. You should feel your baby move right up to the time you go into labour and during labour. 

Every baby has its own pattern of movement – for example your baby may move more in the evenings when you are resting, or before you go to sleep at night. You might find this hard to work out, especially at first. Some babies have no clear pattern of movements. You may also find certain activities like taking a bath, putting your feet up and resting on the sofa, or eating and drinking seem to encourage your baby to move more.

As the weeks go on, you may notice a pattern of movements that becomes familiar to you. The movements usually become fairly regular by 28 weeks. Get to know your baby’s pattern of movements so you can notice any changes.  

Read more about your baby’s movements in pregnancy.  

If your baby’s movements have slowed down or stopped

Contact your midwife or maternity unit immediately if you think your baby is moving less than usual, or has stopped moving. Trust your instincts. There are staff on the hospital maternity unit 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Do not wait until the evening or the next day – seek help even if it is the middle of the night or the weekend.  

Unless you have been given alternative numbers to ring during your pregnancy, the best place to ring is usually the maternity triage. Maternity triage is not just for people in labour but also for emergencies in pregnancy.  

The ward should be open 24 hours a day and there should always be a midwife there who will be able to listen to your worries and advise you. Midwives often receive calls about reduced baby movements – they would much rather you got in touch than didn’t. 

What will happen if I go into hospital?

They will probably check you over and listen to the baby’s heartbeat. If you are more than 28 weeks pregnant they may attach you to a heart rate monitor which records the baby’s heartbeat. You may also be given a button to push every time you feel the baby move. This can also be seen on the print out of the baby’s heartbeat.

Once you lie down, hear the baby’s heartbeat and relax, you might start to feel the baby move again. This is quite common. Don’t feel embarrassed about this – midwives see this every day. It is much better to go and be checked so that any potential problems can be picked up. 

Midwives and doctors will also check your blood pressure, talk to you about any other symptoms and may offer you an ultrasound scan to check on your baby’s growth. This will depend on your health, your pregnancy and what they find when they examine you. 

Find out more about what should happen if you report your baby’s movements have slowed down or stopped.

Leaking fluid or vaginal discharge in pregnancy

If you have any leaking of fluid from your vagina during your pregnancy, you should contact your maternity unit immediately and go in to be monitored. It could be your waters breaking early or a sign of infection of the womb.

Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy

If you have any bleeding from your vagina in pregnancy, contact your midwife (if you have started antenatal care) or GP straightaway. It can be a sign that something is wrong, such as a low-lying placenta (placenta praevia) or the placenta coming away from the wall of the womb (placental abruption). 

Read more about bleeding in pregnancy. 

Infection in pregnancy

Lots of people have vaginal discharge in pregnancy. But you may have an infection in your womb or vagina if you also have: 

• itching
• soreness
• bad smell
• pain when you wee.

Contact your midwife (if you have started antenatal care) or your GP straight away.

Other symptoms of an infection include a high temperature and a tender tummy.

Infections can cause problems in pregnancy including stillbirth. Read more about infections in pregnancy.

Waters breaking early in pregnancy

Waters can sometimes break early in pregnancy, not just in the last couple of weeks. If this happens, you and your baby are at risk of infection that would make you both unwell. You are also more likely to have a premature birth. If you think your waters have broken, contact your maternity unit straightaway.

If you feel a gush or trickle of fluid from your vagina, or feel damp, it could be a sign that your waters have broken. Put on a clean sanitary towel (not a tampon) and call the maternity unit straight away. They may ask you to sniff the pad – as it is common to leak urine in pregnancy – or they may ask you to check the pad again in around 20 minutes to see if it is damp.

Amniotic fluid (the fluid from around the baby) smells different to urine and is usually clear, pinkish or can be green or brown. If you think it might be amniotic fluid, it is important to go straight to the hospital to be examined. The doctor or midwife may take a special swab (inside the vagina) to see whether it is amniotic fluid that is leaking. You will be asked to give your consent for an internal examination.  

You may be asked to wear a special panty liner for up to 12 hours to confirm if you are leaking amniotic fluid. You may also need an internal examination to look for signs that your cervix is opening or softening for labour. 

Diabetes in pregnancy

People with diabetes in pregnancy are more affected by stillbirth, miscarriage, pre-eclampsia and other pregnancy complications. Your healthcare team is there to support you and your baby to stay healthy through pregnancy and birth and to spot any problems quickly. Whether you had diabetes already, or develop diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes), you will be closely monitored during your pregnancy. 

What to do if you have diabetes in pregnancy

The best way to reduce the risks to you and your baby is to make sure that you are managing your diabetes as well as possible before you get pregnant. Before you start trying for a baby, ask your GP or diabetes specialist for advice. They will be able to give you information and support to reduce your risks and help you have a positive and healthy pregnancy.  

If you are pregnant with diabetes, you will probably be regularly seen by a consultant and a specialist diabetes midwife and/or diabetes specialist. Attend all your appointments so your healthcare team can monitor your health and your baby’s health. Seek help immediately from your GP, midwife or hospital doctors if you are concerned about your blood sugar levels or any other aspects of your pregnancy or your diabetes.

Being aware of your baby’s movements is very important. If you think your baby is moving less, or has stopped moving, do not wait until the next day to get help – you can contact the maternity unit to speak to a midwife 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you have any of the risk factors for developing gestational diabetes, including having a BMI (Body Mass Index) of above 30, having had gestational diabetes before, or having a close relative with diabetes, you should be offered a blood sugar test between 24 and 28 weeks. It is important to get this blood test.

If you have gestational diabetes it can be treated with diet and medication. You may also need insulin injections to keep your blood sugars at a safe level.  

Pre-eclampsia and stillbirth

Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy complication. It is usually mild but can lead to serious problems for you and your baby, including stillbirth. Early signs of pre-eclampsia include having high blood pressure and protein in your wee.

Pre-eclampsia is one of the pregnancy conditions your midwife will be testing for at your antenatal appointments, which is one of the reasons it’s important to attend all of them. 

Symptoms and signs of pre-eclampsia

Look out for any of the warning signs of pre-eclampsia, such as:  

• severe headaches
• vision problems, such as blurring or flashing lights
• sudden swelling, particularly of your feet, ankles, hands and face
• pain just under the ribs.

If you notice any of these, contact your GP, midwife or maternity unit straightaway. Don’t wait until your next appointment. You should be seen by a healthcare professional the same day.  

Read more about pre-eclampsia. 

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), also known as obstetric cholestasis (OC), is a liver condition that can develop during pregnancy. For people with severe ICP there may be an increased risk of stillbirth.

Itching without a rash is the most common symptom of ICP. It is often worse at night and more noticeable on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, but it can be anywhere on the body.

Itching is very common in pregnancy and only a small number of pregnant people will have ICP. But if you are feeling very itchy contact your maternity service within 24 hours.

Read more about obstetric cholestasis.  

Finding the causes of stillbirth

Sadly, many parents never find out why their baby died.  The latest report on stillbirths in the UK showed around 34% of stillbirths were unexplained.

Without more research, we will never know why so many babies die before birth. Tommy’s Manchester Research Centre is focused on learning more about the main causes of stillbirth and how it can be prevented.

The Manchester Placenta Clinic is a specialist service for pregnant women and birthing people  at risk of placental problems, which can potentially lead to fetal growth restriction. We believe most stillbirths could be prevented and we want to find out how.  

The Rainbow Clinic is a specialist service for women and birthing people who are pregnant after stillbirth. This was developed at our Manchester Research Centre, but there are now Rainbow Clinics at several places in the UK.

Our research depends on fundraising and donations. Find out more about how you can support our research.