Center for Health Statistics

Fetal Death

The Washington State Fetal Death Certificate System gathers information about each fetal death that occurs in Washington State. Fetal deaths are sometimes referred to as stillbirths or miscarriages. Reporting of fetal deaths to the state is required only when the gestational period is twenty weeks or more. Similar information is collected for fetal deaths to mothers who live in Washington State, but deliver in another state or country. Thus, the Fetal Death Certificate System contains records on all fetal deaths occurring in the state and nearly all fetal deaths to residents of the state.

Information is gathered about the mother, the father, the pregnancy, and the cause-of-death. Information about the pregnancy and delivery is collected in hospitals and birth centers and information about the death is collected by funeral directors from an informant (usually a family member). Cause-of-death information is provided by a certifying physician, medical examiner, or coroner.

The major purposes of the fetal death system are 1) to provide a death record for proper disposition of human remains; and 2) to record information such as pregnancy history, prenatal care, and causes of death which can be used by data analysts, policy makers, health care providers and others to help prevent future fetal deaths.