There continues to be slow progress in preventing stillbirths. It is estimated that globally, more than 2 million stillbirths ¹ occur each year, adding to 2.9 million neonatal deaths. ² Ending preventable perinatal deaths is high on the international public health agenda. ^{3 , 4} In countries with the highest mortality burden, limited or non-existent vital registration and medical records mean that perinatal deaths are often not recorded. ⁵ Thus the first step in addressing high perinatal mortality is the accurate capture and classification of the causes of those deaths across all settings.