The following may begin to answer some of these questions. Some premature babies also may have birth defects, which may cause or contribute to their death. The most common cause of neonatal death is birth defects. These cause about 25 percent of neonatal deaths. Prenatal diagnosis of life-threatening birth defects can help parents begin to cope with their grief over their baby's expected death.
Prematurity is another important cause of neonatal deaths.
About 11 percent of babies are born prematurely. A minority of premature babies have birth defects, which may cause their death. Many more face life-threatening health problems that result from being born too small and too soon. Prematurity and its complications cause about 20 percent of neonatal deaths. The earlier a baby is born, the more likely he or she is to die.