Fetal Death Registration
A fetal death, also called a stillbirth, is the death of a fetus before or during delivery. Minnesota law requires that fetal deaths at 20 or more weeks of gestation be registered. Unlike other deaths, which are registered by funeral directors, fetal deaths that occur in or on the way to a hospital must be registered by that hospital’s staff. Reports must be filed within five days after delivery of the fetus. Learn more: Vital records for infant and fetal deaths (PDF)
Induced terminations of pregnancy are not reported as fetal deaths.
Use these worksheets for data collection:
- Mother's worksheet for creating a fetal death report (PDF)
- Cause of fetal death and medical information for fetus and mother (PDF)
Learn more: Guide to Completing the Facility Worksheet for the Certificate of Live Birth and Report of Fetal Death (CDC)
You may correct information in Minnesota Registration and Certification (MR&C) for fetal deaths that you registered at any time. Parents may request a Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth. Learn more: Stillbirth Records.
Cause of death data
Improving cause of death data in fetal death registrations can be valuable to public health professionals looking to improve birth outcomes. Fetal death registrations often lack accurate or meaningful data regarding cause of death, because the information is not commonly documented. We encourage birth registrars to:
- Ask birth attendants to provide cause of death opinions about fetal deaths
- Register the fetal death with as much cause of death information as possible
- Update the fetal death record in MR&C if more information becomes available
Neonatal/infant deaths
Minnesota vital records law distinguishes between a fetal death, live birth, and death. If a live birth occurs and the infant lives for a short time, a death record is required. You will register the birth, but a funeral home will register the death. When working with a funeral home for an infant who died, clearly communicate whether the delivery resulted in a fetal death or a live birth, because it will affect what actions the funeral director can take.