We are so sorry for your loss. Red Nose supports anyone affected by the loss of a pregnancy, stillbirth, or the death of a baby or child.
Understanding the types of pregnancy and baby loss
There are many different words used to describe pregnancy and baby loss. Below, we explain what each term means, so you can find the words that fit your experience.
What’s on this page
Loss during pregnancy
Miscarriage and other early pregnancy losses
Before 20 weeks’ gestation
Miscarriage is a broad term used to describe the loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks’ gestation.
There is also a range of medical terms used for miscarriage and other early pregnancy losses, including:
- Ectopic pregnancy A potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when a fertilised egg implants outside of the uterus, most commonly in the fallopian tube.
- Missed miscarriageWhen a baby has died, but a physical miscarriage has not yet occurred.
- Chemical pregnancyA very early pregnancy loss, which was only recorded on a pregnancy test.
- Molar pregnancyOccurs when there is a genetic error during fertilisation, leading to the growth of abnormal tissue in the uterus, which can sometimes be cancerous.
Death of a twin or multiple pregnancies
This is when one or more babies die during pregnancy. There may also be a living child, or multiple babies may have died.
- Vanishing Twin SyndromeWhen a fetus in a multiple pregnancy dies within the first trimester and is reabsorbed.
Termination for Medical Reasons (TFMR)
TFMR is the ending of a pregnancy for medical reasons, such as when a baby is diagnosed with a chromosomal, genetic or structural condition, or when the pregnancy poses a risk to the mother’s health or life.
The term compassionate induction may also be used as an alternative to TFMR, depending on a family’s personal preference and after consultation.
Perinatal loss: stillbirth and neonatal death
A perinatal loss is the loss of a pregnancy or the death of a newborn within the first month of life (Stillbirths and Neonatal Deaths in Australia, Definitions Used in Reporting). It includes:
Stillbirth
After 20 weeks or 400 grams
The death of a foetus before birth, after 20 weeks’ gestation or weighing at least 400 grams.
Neonatal death
Within 28 days of birth
The death of a live-born baby within 28 days of birth, after 20 weeks’ gestation or weighing at least 400 grams.
Termination for Medical Reasons (TFMR)
The ending of a pregnancy for medical reasons for either the pregnant person or the baby. Read more about TFMR.
IVF losses
Failure to conceive after in vitro fertilisation.
Sudden and unexpected death of a baby or child
Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI)
7 to 365 days of life
Sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) is a term used to refer to all cases of sudden and unexpected death in infancy. It includes deaths from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and fatal sleeping accidents.
Deaths are classified as SUDI if they occur between 7 and 365 days of life and fulfil the following criteria:
- Deaths that were unexpected and unexplained at autopsy
- Deaths during acute illness that were not recognised as life-threatening
- Deaths due to an acute illness of less than 24 hours’ duration in a previously healthy infant (or death after this if life had only been prolonged by intensive care)
- Deaths from a pre-existing or diagnosed condition, or deaths from any form of accident, trauma or poisoning (CESDI SUDI studies 1993–1996)
Join our Newborn & Infant Loss, SIDS & SUDI online support group
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Under 1 year of age
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is defined as the sudden unexpected death of an infant under 1 year of age, with onset of the fatal episode apparently occurring during sleep, that remains unexplained after a thorough investigation.
This includes performance of a complete autopsy and review of the circumstances of death and the clinical history (Krous et al., 2004).
Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC)
Over 12 months of age
Sudden unexplained death in childhood (SUDC) is the sudden and unexpected death of a child over the age of 12 months that remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation (Krous et al., 2005).
Involuntary childlessness
Involuntary childlessness is when a person or couple has been unable to fulfil their dream of having a child.
