The tragedy of stillbirth remains relevant even today, and one in four stillbirths is estimated to have been preventable. Representatives Kathy Castor (D-FL) and Young Kim (R-CA) have introduced and are urging the passage of a bipartisan bill to improve and fund research into the phenomenon.
Rep. Castor's bill, introduced initially last August, is the Stillbirth Health Improvement and Education (SHINE) for Autumn Act, named for Debbie Haine Vijayvergiya's stillborn daughter. According to the SHINE website, approximately 21,000 babies are stillborn every year, and that unfortunate rate has remained relatively unchanged for 30 years, even as one in four are considered preventable.
As a result, the bill provides grants to states to improve reporting, assessment, and collection of data on stillbirth and associated risk factors, with guidelines and material supplied by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in coordination with healthcare providers.
Additionally, the Perinatal Pathology Fellowship Program at the National Institute of Health (NIH), which studies diseases and other issues occurring during fetal and child development, would be incorporated, thereby allowing the funding of stillbirth research for other fellowships, which would then be reviewed after five years.
In her press release, Rep. Castor said, "At least one out of every four stillbirths is estimated to be preventable, but there is still too much we do not know. That's why we need real change that will lead to measurable improvements, and the SHINE for Autumn Act will help achieve this goal. I urge my colleagues to make the SHINE for Autumn Act law before the end of the year to confront this crisis and improve outcomes for mothers and babies."
Rep. Kim added, "Despite alarming statistics, stillbirth is one of the most underfunded and under-researched public health issues today. To address high stillbirth rates, we need to improve data collection, research, and awareness. The SHINE for Autumn Act would do just that. I hope for swift action from Congress to ensure healthier pregnancies and decrease stillbirth rates."
