‘Alarming’ rise in UK stillbirths and babies dying within weeks of being born reverses eight-year trend

• Experts notice increase in stillbirths among women from deprived areas 
• These figures put an end to the ‘consistent reduction in UK rates since 2013’

By EMILY CRAIG SENIOR HEALTH REPORTER FOR MAILONLINE

The number babies who are stillborn or dying in the first few weeks of life has risen in the UK, reversing an eight-year-long trend.

An annual report from researchers at Oxford and Leicester universities shows that there were 3.54 stillbirths per 1,000 births in 2021, up from 3.33 in 2020. 

A similar rise was seen for neonatal deaths — when a baby dies within 28 days of being born — from 1.53 per 1,000 live births in 2020 to 1.65 in 2021.

Premature births increased by 1.5 per cent. 

Researchers said the figures put an end to the ‘consistent reduction in UK rates since 2013’, while charities warned that the figures paint ‘an alarming picture of baby loss’.

Stillbirth rates increased among all gestational age groups, with a 12% jump in stillbirths among babies born between 28 and 31 weeks