Stillbirth Rates Increase in 2021

Data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has confirmed that rates of stillbirth in England and Wales increased from 3.8/1000 births in 2020 to 4.1/1000 in 2021.

The data also shows that there continues to be significant variation in stillbirth rates across different parts of England and Wales.

This is the first year on year increase in stillbirths since 2014, which is extremely concerning.

A brief summary…

There were 624,828 live births in England and Wales in 2021, an increase of 1.8% from 613,936 in 2020, but still below the 2019 figure (657,076); 2021 remains in line with the long-term trend of decreasing live births seen before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The total fertility rate (TFR) increased to 1.61 children per woman in 2021 from 1.58 in 2020; the first time TFR has risen since 2012.

Fertility rates increased overall; however, younger age groups saw declining fertility rates while older age groups saw fertility rates increase.

There were 2,597 stillbirths in 2021, an increase of 226 from 2020; this is similar to the 2,522 stillbirths in 2019.

The stillbirth rate in 2021 increased to 4.1 stillbirths per 1,000 total births compared with 3.8 in 2020; this is also higher than the rate seen before the coronavirus pandemic in 2019 (3.9).

Heidi Eldridge, CEO of MAMA Academy said: “These sad statistics highlight the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the fact that the government’s ambition of a 50% reduction in stillbirths by 2025 will not be met unless urgent action is taken by the government and NHS England. Maternity services and saving babies lives must be made a priority immediately and put back to the governments agenda. As a safer pregnancy charity, MAMA Academy remains more committed than ever to provide our life saving resources to every NHS Trust to help save more babies lives.

We are calling on the government to invest and rectify the current midwifery shortage and for all NHS Trusts to implement the actions stated in the Ockenden report to improve maternity services for all expectant parents and their babies.

Our thoughts are with all the families and their friends who had to say goodbye to their precious baby last year, all 2,597 of them.”