The relationship between fetal wastage and pregnancy spacing in Bangladesh

The relationship between early fetal wastage or stillbirth and pregnancy spacing was examined in a population characterized by prolonged lactation, minimal nutrition, and high fertility and mortality. The highest risk of early fetal death was found among those pregnancies conceived less than twelve months after the birth of a surviving breast‐fed infant. Lactation as a possible causal factor is discussed. A significant inverse relationship was apparent for second trimester fetal deaths and pregnancy intervals, but not for third trimester deaths. This finding is surprising when one considers that fetal weight gain, and presumably nutrient demand, increases most rapidly during the third trimester.