Stillbirth (cause not specified)
Also known as: Unspecified time of fetal death, cause not specified
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In short
A stillbirth is the loss of a fetus at or after the 20th week of pregnancy, which can occur before or during delivery. In many cases, the cause of a stillbirth remains unknown, though potential causes can include problems with the placenta or umbilical cord, genetic issues, infections, or other physical problems in the fetus. Before delivery, a stillbirth is diagnosed by checking for a fetal heartbeat using an ultrasound, while after delivery, providers check the baby for signs of life such as breathing, heartbeat, voluntary movements, and umbilical cord pulsations. If the loss happens before delivery, a health care provider may start labor or use surgery to deliver the fetus, and if it happens during labor and delivery, the placenta will still need to be delivered.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
AI-generated summary of the sources cited on this page, checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a clinician; not medical advice.
Codes
Description
What is a stillbirth?
If you lose a fetus at or after the 20th week of pregnancy, it's called a stillbirth. A stillbirth can occur before or during delivery and may be considered as:
- Early. The loss of a fetus between 20 and 27 weeks of pregnancy.
- Late. The loss of a fetus between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy.
- Term. The loss of a fetus at 37 or more weeks of pregnancy.
What are the risk factors for stillbirth?
Stillbirth can happen in any pregnancy. Some factors may increase the chance that one can occur. Risk factors can include if you:
- Are age 35 years or older
- Are of low socioeconomic status
- Smoke during pregnancy
- Have certain medical conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure
- Are a non-Hispanic Black woman
- Previously had a stillbirth
- Are pregnant with more than one baby (twins or triplets)
What are the possible causes of stillbirth?
In many cases, the cause remains unknown. Some causes may be preventable, but most are not.
Causes for a stillbirth may include:
- Problems with the placenta, the organ that carries oxygen and nutrients to the fetus
- Genetic problems with the fetus
- Fetal infections
- Other physical problems in the fetus
- Problems with the umbilical cord during labor and delivery
How is a stillbirth diagnosed?
Before delivery, the only way to diagnose a stillbirth is to check if the fetus's heart is beating. Your health care provider may use an ultrasound to look for the fetal heartbeat.
During your pregnancy, your provider may recommend keeping track of fetal movements. However, if you don't notice movement, it doesn't always mean a stillbirth occurred. Sometimes, especially if it's your first pregnancy, it might be difficult to notice movement. If you're pregnant and something seems unusual or is worrying you, talk to your provider.
After labor and delivery, your provider will check the baby for signs of life. These can include breathing, heartbeat, voluntary movements, and pulsations in the umbilical cord. If one or more signs of life are not present, then life-saving measures are taken. If these measures are unsuccessful, a stillbirth may be diagnosed.
How do health care providers manage a stillbirth?
Care after a stillbirth depends on when it occurs. If it happens before delivery, your provider may induce (start) labor or use surgery to deliver the fetus (cesarean delivery). If it happens during labor and delivery, the placenta will still need to be removed or delivered.
No matter when it occurs, losing a pregnancy can be difficult. Counseling may help you cope with your grief. Later, if you decide to try to get pregnant again, work closely with your provider to understand any risks. Many women who have a stillbirth go on to have healthy babies.
NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Next to it in ICD-10
- P77Necrotising enterocolitis in newborns
- P90Seizures in newborns
- P92Feeding problems in newborns
- P96Other conditions starting around birth
- Q00Anencephaly
- Q01Cephalocele
Neighbouring codes in the classification, not a medical link.
External resources
Questions
What is the ICD-10 code for Stillbirth (cause not specified)?
P95 (WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision).
What is the ICD-11 code for Stillbirth (cause not specified)?
KD3B.Z: Unspecified time of fetal death, cause not specified (WHO, ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics).
Sources and attribution
- ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics, © World Health Organization, licensed under CC BY-ND 3.0 IGO.
- Names other than the official source titles: Anpheros translations and plain-language names, made with AI assistance and checked automatically; the source names are in English.
- Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- ICD-10 codes and titles © World Health Organization. Source: WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (2019).
Anpheros Search catalog 2026.10.5, published 17 October 2026. About the data →
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