The role of stillbirth prevention and late preterm (near-term) births.

Stillbirth remains an important cause of fetal loss in both the term and late-preterm (near-term) pregnancy. As ongoing research further elucidates the causes of intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD), strategies can be tested to reduce its occurrence. Currently, reduction of IUFD in the term and late preterm infants should focus on reduction or elimination of risk factors (eg, smoking and control of medical conditions) and enhanced fetal surveillance in those pregnancies identified to be at increased risk.