Identifying babies failing to grow in the womb could prevent hundreds of stillbirths, British researchers say today.
A study in the English West Midlands, which has a high rate of baby death, found that slow growth of the foetus was the single biggest factor linked to the loss of a baby.
Researchers found it was responsible for 32% of stillbirths.
The study, reported in the British Medical Journal, shows that failing to detect slow growth during pregnancy doubles the risk of stillbirth.
The researchers say that very few cases of slow growth are detected during pregnancy.
The researchers studied more than 92,000 births including 389 stillbirths. They concluded that 71 of the stillbirths could have been prevented by identifying slow growth of the foetus.
The researchers also linked obesity, smoking and diabetes to increased risk of stillbirth.
Researcher Professor Jason Gardosi, director of the West Midlands Perinatal Institute, Birmingham, UK, said: "Our study shows that while there are several risk factors for stillbirth that can be ascertained from the outset of pregnancy, the single largest factor is foetal growth restriction, which is currently not well predicted and not recognised antenatally in most pregnancies.
"Most normally formed singleton stillbirths are potentially avoidable … and preventive strategies need to focus on improving antenatal detection."
BMJ 25 January 2013 [abstract]
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