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Updated September 03, 2013.

Definition:

Neonatal death is any death that occurs in the first 28 days after birth. It is often considered a type of pregnancy loss.

Statistically, it may be counted in infant mortality, or perinatal mortality rates. Since different countries use different methods for defining life at the time of birth, a baby’s death might be considered a neonatal death in some countries, and a stillbirth in others.

These distinctions are mostly important to scientists wishing to use infant or perinatal mortality rates among populations. They are all but irrelevant to families grieving the loss of their young infant.