Stillbirth and Neonatal Death

Tragically, not all pregnancies end happily with a healthy mother and baby. Around 800 mothers in NSW lose their child either through stillbirth or death in the neonatal period every year.

Stillbirth occurs when a baby greater than 20 weeks gestation is delivered with no signs of life. 

Neonatal death is the death of a baby within the first 28 days of life.

Despite significant medical and technological advancements over the last 20 years, the numbers of stillbirth and neonatal death are not reducing. In many instances of neonatal death and stillbirth, the death is avoidable and due to substandard practice. .

We help our clients to find answers to unanswered questions and the information they need to start to come to terms with what has happened. Holding those responsible to account for any negligence ensures lessons are learned and changes to procedures made.

We can also assist in making a claim for compensation where appropriate.

Establishing that a hospital or health professional’s breach of duty caused a baby’s death is difficult, but it is essential to a successful compensation claim. Part of the difficulty is that stillbirth remains poorly understood. For neonatal deaths, investigations that could have assisted in determining the cause of the baby’s death are not conducted in a timely manner or at all.