The variations in stillbirth rates between high income countries suggest that it should be possible to make further reductions in late stillbirths. The estimated annual reduction in rates of late stillbirth over recent decades is about 1.1% [1], compared to 2.1% for neonatal death rates, with a resultant increase in the proportion of perinatal deaths (stillbirths plus neonatal deaths) attributable to stillbirth [2]. The Lancet Stillbirth Series [1, 3, 4] has highlighted the silent but prevalent public health problem of stillbirth and together with Sands and the Royal College Of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has called for research to address these unacceptably high rates.