Definitions
Fetal death: death before the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of human conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy; the death is indicated by the fact that after such separation, the fetus does not breathe or show any evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord or definite movement of voluntary muscles.
Fetal mortality rate: number of fetal deaths per 1,000 total births. Total births include live births plus fetal deaths of 20 or more weeks’ gestation.
Infant death: death occurring to a person under one year of age.
Infant mortality rate: number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births.
Neonatal death: death occurring to an infant under 28 days of age.
Neonatal mortality rate: number of neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births.
Perinatal death: death of a fetus of 28 or more weeks’ gestation or of an infant less than 7 days of age.
Perinatal mortality rate: number of perinatal deaths divided by the number of fetal deaths of 28 or more weeks’ gestation plus the number of live births times 1,000.
Postneonatal death: death occurring to an infant between 28 days and one year of age.
Postneonatal mortality rate: number of postneonatal deaths per 1,000 live births.
Note: Data contained on this website for Maryland, Southern Maryland, and St. Mary’s County are based on county of residence, regardless of where the vital event occurred. Infant and fetal death data includes information for all Maryland residents, regardless of where the birth or death occurred in Maryland or in the remainder of the United States.
Fetal mortality rate: number of fetal deaths per 1,000 total births. Total births include live births plus fetal deaths of 20 or more weeks’ gestation.
Infant death: death occurring to a person under one year of age.
Infant mortality rate: number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births.
Neonatal death: death occurring to an infant under 28 days of age.
Neonatal mortality rate: number of neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births.
Perinatal death: death of a fetus of 28 or more weeks’ gestation or of an infant less than 7 days of age.
Perinatal mortality rate: number of perinatal deaths divided by the number of fetal deaths of 28 or more weeks’ gestation plus the number of live births times 1,000.
Postneonatal death: death occurring to an infant between 28 days and one year of age.
Postneonatal mortality rate: number of postneonatal deaths per 1,000 live births.
Note: Data contained on this website for Maryland, Southern Maryland, and St. Mary’s County are based on county of residence, regardless of where the vital event occurred. Infant and fetal death data includes information for all Maryland residents, regardless of where the birth or death occurred in Maryland or in the remainder of the United States.
Fetal Death
A total of 23,595 fetal deaths at 20 weeks of gestation or more were reported in the United States in 2013. The U.S. fetal mortality rate was 5.96 fetal deaths at 20 weeks of gestation or more per 1,000 live births and fetal deaths, not significantly different from the rate of 6.05 in 2012. In 2016, Maryland experienced 550 fetal deaths and a fetal mortality rate of 7.5 per 1000 total deliveries. Southern Maryland (Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s Counties) experienced 28 fetal deaths and a fetal mortality rate of 6.7 per 1000 total deliveries. St. Mary’s County experienced 8 fetal deaths and a fetal mortality rate of 5.6 per 1000 total deliveries.
Infant Death
Infant mortality rates for Maryland and the U.S. are shown below. In 2016, Southern Maryland (Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s Counties) experienced 35 infant deaths and an infant mortality rate of 8.4 per 1000 live births. St. Mary’s County experienced 10 infant deaths and an infant mortality rate of 7.0 per 1000 live births.
Neonatal Death
Neonatal mortality rates for Maryland and the U.S. are shown below. In 2016, Southern Maryland (Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s Counties) experienced 27 neonatal deaths and a neonatal mortality rate of 6.5 per 1000 live births. St. Mary’s County experienced 7 neonatal deaths and a neonatal mortality rate of 4.9 per 1000 live births.
Perinatal Death
In 2016, Maryland experienced 502 perinatal deaths and a perinatal mortality rate of 6.8 per 1000 fetal deaths of 28 or more weeks’ gestation plus infant deaths under 7 days of age. Southern Maryland (Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s Counties) experienced 42 perinatal deaths and a perinatal mortality rate of 10.1 per 1000 fetal deaths of 28 or more weeks’ gestation plus infant deaths under 7 days of age. St. Mary’s County experienced 11 perinatal deaths and a perinatal mortality rate of 7.7 per 1000 fetal deaths of 28 or more weeks’ gestation plus infant deaths under 7 days of age.
Postneonatal Death
Postneonatal mortality rates for Maryland and the U.S. are shown below. In 2016, Southern Maryland (Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s Counties) experienced 8 postneonatal deaths and a postneonatal mortality rate of 1.9 per 1000 live births. St. Mary’s County experienced 3 postneonatal deaths. The postneonatal mortality rate for St. Mary’s County was not calculated because of the small number of deaths.
Ten Leading Causes of Death
The ten leading causes of death for infant, neonatal, and postneonatal deaths for Maryland in 2016 are shown below.
Causes of Fetal Death
There are a number of known causes of fetal death. Sometimes more than one of these causes may contribute to the baby’s death. Common causes include:
Birth defects: About 15 to 20 percent of fetal deaths have one or more birth defects. At least, 20 percent of these have chromosomal disorders, such as Down syndrome. Others have other birth defects resulting from genetic, environmental or unknown causes.
Placental problems: Placental problems cause about 25 percent of fetal deaths. One of the most common placental problems is placental abruption. In this condition, the placenta peels away, partly to almost completely, from the uterine wall before delivery. It results in heavy bleeding that can threaten the life of mother and baby. Sometimes it can cause the fetus to die from lack of oxygen. Women who smoke cigarettes or use cocaine during pregnancy are at increased risk of placental abruption.
Poor fetal growth: Fetuses who are growing too slowly are at increased risk of death. About 40 percent of fetal deaths have poor growth. Women who smoke cigarettes or have high blood pressure are at increased risk of having a baby that grows too slowly. An ultrasound examination during pregnancy can show that the fetus is growing poorly, allowing health care providers to carefully monitor the pregnancy.
Infections: Infections involving the mother, fetus or placenta appear to cause about 10 to 25 percent of fetal deaths. Infections are an important cause of fetal deaths before 28 weeks of pregnancy. Some infections may cause no symptoms in the pregnant woman. These include genital and urinary tract infections and certain viruses, such as fifth disease (parvovirus infection). These infections may go undiagnosed until they cause serious complications, such as fetal death or preterm birth (before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy).
Chronic health conditions in the pregnant woman: About 10 percent of fetal deaths are related to chronic health conditions in the mother, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease and thrombophilias (blood clotting disorders). These conditions may contribute to poor fetal growth or placental abruption.
Umbilical cord accidents: Accidents involving the umbilical cord may contribute to about 2 to 4 percent of fetal deaths. These include a knot in the cord or abnormal placement of the cord into the placenta. These can deprive the fetus of oxygen.
Other causes of fetal death: Trauma (such as car accidents), postdate pregnancy (a pregnancy that lasts longer than 42 weeks), Rh disease (an incompatibility between the blood of mother and baby), and lack of oxygen (asphyxia) during a difficult delivery. These causes are uncommon.
Birth defects: About 15 to 20 percent of fetal deaths have one or more birth defects. At least, 20 percent of these have chromosomal disorders, such as Down syndrome. Others have other birth defects resulting from genetic, environmental or unknown causes.
Placental problems: Placental problems cause about 25 percent of fetal deaths. One of the most common placental problems is placental abruption. In this condition, the placenta peels away, partly to almost completely, from the uterine wall before delivery. It results in heavy bleeding that can threaten the life of mother and baby. Sometimes it can cause the fetus to die from lack of oxygen. Women who smoke cigarettes or use cocaine during pregnancy are at increased risk of placental abruption.
Poor fetal growth: Fetuses who are growing too slowly are at increased risk of death. About 40 percent of fetal deaths have poor growth. Women who smoke cigarettes or have high blood pressure are at increased risk of having a baby that grows too slowly. An ultrasound examination during pregnancy can show that the fetus is growing poorly, allowing health care providers to carefully monitor the pregnancy.
Infections: Infections involving the mother, fetus or placenta appear to cause about 10 to 25 percent of fetal deaths. Infections are an important cause of fetal deaths before 28 weeks of pregnancy. Some infections may cause no symptoms in the pregnant woman. These include genital and urinary tract infections and certain viruses, such as fifth disease (parvovirus infection). These infections may go undiagnosed until they cause serious complications, such as fetal death or preterm birth (before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy).
Chronic health conditions in the pregnant woman: About 10 percent of fetal deaths are related to chronic health conditions in the mother, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease and thrombophilias (blood clotting disorders). These conditions may contribute to poor fetal growth or placental abruption.
Umbilical cord accidents: Accidents involving the umbilical cord may contribute to about 2 to 4 percent of fetal deaths. These include a knot in the cord or abnormal placement of the cord into the placenta. These can deprive the fetus of oxygen.
Other causes of fetal death: Trauma (such as car accidents), postdate pregnancy (a pregnancy that lasts longer than 42 weeks), Rh disease (an incompatibility between the blood of mother and baby), and lack of oxygen (asphyxia) during a difficult delivery. These causes are uncommon.
Citations
Maryland Vital Statistics Annual Report 2016. Baltimore, MD: Maryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration, Division of Health Statistics. 2016.
https://health.maryland.gov/vsa/Documents/2016_Annual_Report.pdf
Fetal and perinatal mortality: United States, 2013. National vital statistics reports; vol 64 no 8. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2015.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr64/nvsr64_08.pdf
Quick Reference Fact Sheet on Stillbirth. White Plains, NY: March of Dimes. 2009.
http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1198.asp#causes
https://health.maryland.gov/vsa/Documents/2016_Annual_Report.pdf
Fetal and perinatal mortality: United States, 2013. National vital statistics reports; vol 64 no 8. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2015.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr64/nvsr64_08.pdf
Quick Reference Fact Sheet on Stillbirth. White Plains, NY: March of Dimes. 2009.
http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1198.asp#causes