HealthInfo West Coast-Te Tai Poutini
In New Zealand, losing a pēpi (baby) after 20 weeks of pregnancy (or weighing more than 400 g if the dates are uncertain) is called a stillbirth.
Most stillbirths cannot be prevented, but there are things you can do to reduce the risk.
If you notice any of the following, get help straight away by calling your midwife, lead maternity carer (LMC) or general practice team:
Do not wait until the next day.
Many stillbirths happen in otherwise healthy pēpi. It is not always possible to find out why a stillbirth has occurred.
Possible causes include:
You will have an ultrasound scan to check if your baby's heart is still beating.
Your pēpi will still need to be born. This is usually done by an induced vaginal delivery.
You will be offered blood tests to try and find the cause of your baby's death.
You will also be offered a post mortem examination of your baby (the information on the linked page is also available in te reo Māori, Hindi, Samoan and Simplified Chinese).
You may be offered an appointment with a specialist doctor (obstetrician) to discuss possible causes and plans for any future pregnancy. This will happen around 2 months after the post mortem.
You may need help coping with your grief. There are several options for getting support for you and your whānau (family).
If your pēpi was stillborn after 20 weeks of pregnancy (or weighing more than 400 g if the dates are uncertain), there is a legal requirement to register their birth and to bury or cremate them.
While most stillbirths cannot be prevented, there are ways to reduce the risk.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
Information about possible causes of stillbirth. The page also has information about preventing stillbirth and what happens if your unborn pēpi dies.
Sands New Zealand is a network of parent-run, non-profit groups supporting families who have experienced the death of a pēpi.
Information for whānau experiencing the stillbirth. Includes legal information, burial and cremation and support resources.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed November 2024.
Review key: HIPLT-311303