Fact Guide
This section of the website contains definitions of the different types of pregnancy losses.
The links provided are for additional organisations that may provide useful general information on advocacy, health services, education, bereavement and pregnancy.
Definitions
Ectopic pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy is any pregnancy implanted outside of the endometrial cavity.
Clinical practice guideline on the diagnosis and management of ectopic pregnancy
First trimester loss
A loss within the first 12 completed weeks of pregnancy
Clinical practice guideline on management of early pregnancy miscarriage
Second trimester loss
A second trimester miscarriage may be defined as a pregnancy loss after the 12th and before the 24th completed week of pregnancy.
Clinical practice guideline on the management of second trimester miscarriage
Stillbirth
“A baby delivered without signs of life after 23 weeks & 6 days of pregnancy.”
Clinical practice guideline on investigation and management of stillbirth and intrauterine fetal death
Fatal fetal anomaly / life limiting conditions
Fatal fetal anomalies /life-limiting conditions include diagnoses that are highly likely to lead to death in utero or in the
newborn period (28 days of life), although for some of these diagnoses, survival beyond 28 days has been reported.
Interim clinical guidance Termination Of Pregnancy following diagnosis of Fatal Fetal Anomaly/Life-Limiting Condition
Perinatal palliative care pathway
