US Number of Fetal Deaths By Mother's Pre-Pregnancy BMI in 2022 (CDC)

According to the CDC data, in 2022, there were 40,113 recorded fetal deaths in the US. Mothers with a Normal (18.5-24.9) pre-pregnancy BMI had the highest number with 8,034 fetal deaths (20.03% of total), followed by mothers with an Overweight (25.0-29.9) pre-pregnancy BMI with 6,859 fetal deaths (17.10% of total), and mothers with an Obesity I (30.0-34.9) pre-pregnancy BMI with 4,923 fetal deaths (12.27% of total).

Under 20 Weeks Gestation Period: 18,354 fetal deaths occurred between the first week and 19th week of gestation. Mothers with a Normal (18.5-24.9) pre-pregnancy BMI experienced the highest number with 2,555 fetal deaths (13.92%), followed by mothers with an Overweight (25.0-29.9) pre-pregnancy BMI with 2,129 fetal deaths (11.60%), and mothers with an Obesity I (30.0-34.9) pre-pregnancy BMI with 1,424 fetal deaths (7.76%).

20 Weeks and Over Gestation Period: 20,288 fetal deaths occurred within the gestation period of 20 weeks and Over. Mothers with a Normal (18.5-24.9) pre-pregnancy BMI experienced the highest number with 5,298 fetal deaths (26.11%), followed by mothers with an Overweight (25.0-29.9) pre-pregnancy BMI with 4,581 fetal deaths (22.58%), and mothers with an Obesity I (30.0-34.9) pre-pregnancy BMI with 3,369 fetal deaths (16.61%).

The charts and tables below shows the percentages of fetal deaths by mother's pre-pregnancy BMI. The first chart and table shows total fetal deaths. The second chart and table shows fetal deaths that occurred under 20 weeks of gestation, and the third chart and table shows fetal deaths that occurred within 20 weeks of gestation and over.

The CDC defines “Fetal death” as: "death prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of human conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy and which is not an induced termination of pregnancy. The death is indicated by the fact that after such expulsion or extraction, the fetus does not breathe or show any other evidence of life such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles."