Every year, more than 20,000 pregnancies in the U.S. end in a stillbirth, the death of an expected child at 20 weeks of pregnancy or more.
As many as 1 in 4 stillbirths may be preventable.
About 60 babies are stillborn in the U.S. each day. This memorial symbolizes a single day of loss.
Many parents felt their loss was invisible. They worried no one would know their child’s name.
Here we remember their names.
STILL
BORN
For the past two years, we’ve examined the failures that have led to the stillbirth crisis. While other wealthy countries have reduced their stillbirth rates, the U.S. lags behind. Black women are more than twice as likely as white women to have a stillbirth.
More than 200 people shared their stories with ProPublica. Over and over, they told us about the costs of failing to prioritize stillbirth prevention.
Many mothers neared or reached their due date only to be told their babies had died in their wombs.
We invited 60 families to share their baby’s name. This memorial — which highlights some of their stories — concludes with a list of all 60 names.
We offered parents the following prompts:
You were …
You made me …
You gave me …
In some cases, multiple families expressed the same feelings following a stillbirth. We grouped those submissions together to underscore the power of those responses.
Several families shared a unified response to this prompt.
Caleb Marcus Lens
Stillborn in 2017 at 37 weeks
Jill and Josh Lens, Caleb’s parents, pictured with Hannah (left) and Gretchen
Cooper Allen Dunlap
Stillborn in 2022 at 40 weeks
Lexi and Joey Dunlap, Cooper’s parents
Emilia Madeleine Rose Clough
Stillborn in 2017 at 33 weeks
Charmel and Daniel Clough, Emilia’s parents
Amelia Claire
Stillborn in 2020 at 34 weeks
Caroline Kercheval and Renzo Barrientos, Amelia’s parents
Autumn Joy
Stillborn in 2011 at 24 weeks
Debbie Haine Vijayvergiya and Chetan Vijayvergiya, Autumn’s parents
Mason Joseph Bode
Stillborn in 2023 at 40 weeks
Laura and Travis Bode, Mason’s parents
Despite the fatalistic acceptance that some babies just die, ProPublica found that not all stillbirths were inevitable. A lack of research and awareness creates significant barriers to better understanding and preventing stillbirths.
But even with these failings, there’s hope. The National Institutes of Health in March released a report listing a series of steps national and local agencies can take to lower the stillbirth rate. Congress is considering two stillbirth-prevention bills to help address the country’s stillbirth crisis. One has passed in the Senate. Parents continue to fight for change.
Several families shared a unified response to this prompt.
D.J. Anderson
Stillborn in 2016 at 28 weeks
Alishia Anderson, D.J.’s mother, pictured with Derrek Anderson
Hank Justice Felker
Stillborn in 2020 at 31 weeks
Allie Felker, Hank’s mother
Giles Jones
Stillborn in 2019 at 39 weeks
Ava Jones, Giles’ mother, pictured with Gregory Jones Jr.
Lily Josephine Parncutt
Stillborn in 2023 at 34 weeks
Janel Parncutt, Lily’s mother
C.J. Spivey Hunsberger
Stillborn in 2020 at 31 weeks
Ashley Spivey, C.J.’s mother
Rhoan Osborne Bailey
Stillborn in 2020 at 39 weeks
Erica Bailey, Rhoan’s mother
Baby Beet Kessler
Stillborn in 2021 at 36 weeks
Shanley Peterson, Baby Beet’s mother
The grief of a stillbirth is difficult to fully capture. It can last a lifetime. People who’ve lost a pregnancy often experience crushing guilt, wondering if they could have done anything to save their baby. In some cases, their pain is followed by anger at a health care system that did not educate them on the risks of stillbirth, monitor them closely enough or listen to them when they said something felt wrong.
Mental health experts often advise parents grappling with grief to focus on a moment or a memory that gives them comfort. Some choose an image that makes them think of their baby or that highlights a milestone like a birthday or what would have been the first day of school. Others take walks at places they had envisioned visiting with their babies.
Several families shared a unified response to this prompt.
Annaya Marie Edwards
Stillborn in 2010 at 39 weeks
Nneka Hall, Annaya’s mother, speaking at the Massachusetts Statehouse
Barret Wilmont Lawrence
Stillborn in 2022 at 26 weeks
Elizabeth Nicholson, Barret’s mother
Liam Angel Calix
Stillborn in 2016 at 40 weeks
Anna Lorena Calix, Liam’s mother, pictured with her son Rio
T.J. Rice
Stillborn in 2017 at 36 weeks
Domenique Rice, T.J.’s mother
Ruthie Mae Unkovic
Stillborn in 2020 at 37 weeks
Rachel Clark Unkovic, Ruthie’s mother
Kennedy Grey Smith
Stillborn in 2014 at 40 weeks
Brooke and Colin Smith, Kennedy’s parents
Thank you to the hundreds of families who trusted us with their memories.
Although we cannot update this memorial to include additional material, we hope parents who have experienced a stillbirth will continue the conversation by sharing their children’s names wherever it is meaningful.
Share your child’s nameDownload our template to create your own version of this memorial. If you post it on social media, tag @ProPublica and use the hashtag #StillbirthMemorial.