stillbirths occur globally each year.
Evidence & Resources
Pregnancy, pregnancy loss and work
Pregnancy and loss can change capacity, safety, grief and working life.
Pregnancy may involve ordinary changes, complications, appointments or restrictions. Miscarriage, stillbirth and other losses can bring physical recovery, grief and stigma while work continues around them.
Health, healthcare and work are connected.
Global evidence snapshot
Scale, context and equity matter.
a baby is stillborn somewhere in the world.
of stillbirths occur during labour; WHO links prevention to quality, respectful care.
What the evidence says
Start with what is established.
01
The health evidence
Pregnancy experiences and risks differ, so support should be based on the individual and appropriate clinical advice.
02
The wider context
WHO describes stillbirth as a major global health issue and calls for stigma reduction and respectful bereavement care.
03
What matters
WHO highlights the shame and silence that can follow pregnancy loss and the need for compassionate support.
Working-life lens
The impact can appear in more than absence.
01
Capacity and participation
Fatigue, nausea, pain, bleeding, physical restrictions and appointments may affect work.
02
Systems and access
After loss, physical recovery and grief do not follow a predictable timetable.
03
Trust and disclosure
Return-to-work needs may change, and some women may want privacy while others want acknowledgement.
From evidence to practice
Support begins with a respectful, individual response.
01
Listen first
Discuss safety and adjustments without making assumptions about capacity.
02
Design practical support
After loss, offer compassionate leave, flexibility and a supported return.
03
Protect dignity
Follow the woman’s preferences about language, privacy and communication with colleagues.
Women Working Well’s research purpose
What Women Working Well is seeking to understand.
Women Working Well exists to investigate the questions that remain unseen or unanswered: what is missing from the evidence, whose experiences are under-represented, and how women’s health, healthcare, working life and life beyond work connect. These topic-specific priorities help shape the Global Women and Work Study.
01
What is missing
Pregnancy-loss workplace evidence is fragmented and culturally variable.
02
Who is under-represented
Policies do not always translate into psychologically safe practice.
03
What research should connect
Research should include early loss, recurrent loss, termination for medical reasons and later loss.
Sources and further reading
Global evidence and authoritative guidance.
These sources support the key statements on this page. Statistics are contextual, time-bound and should be read with their source definitions. Evidence from one country, occupation or health condition should not automatically be generalised to all women.
World Health Organization — Why we need to talk about losing a baby →World Health Organization — Stillbirth prevention →World Health Organization — Women's health →
Important: This page provides general evidence and workplace information. It is not medical, legal or employment advice and does not replace individual clinical care or professional advice.
Keep exploring
See the connected evidence picture.
Return to the Evidence & Resources Hub or explore the Global Women and Work Study.
Evidence & Resources →