Stillbirths tend to happen more on Saturdays, and neonatal death rates tend to be peak on Sundays.

BBC: Wintry nights spark summer births

Charlotte Bevan, from the stillbirth and neonatal death charity Sands, said hundreds of stillbirths were potentially avoidable.

BBC: 'Induce older mums early to cut stillbirth risk'

Stillbirths and neonatal death rates were, in general, higher in the winter months.

BBC: Wintry nights spark summer births

Other new petitions considered included one on behalf of Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, calling for a strategy for reducing levels of stillbirths and neonatal deaths.

BBC: Public Petitions Committee

According to Stillbirth and Neonatal Death charity, Sands, more than 4, 000 babies are stillborn - born dead after 24 completed weeks of pregnancy or more - in the UK annually.

BBC: Baby death support unit opens in Salisbury hospital

Dorothy Maitland, operations manager for Sands (the Stillbirth And Neonatal Death Society), had her daughter Kaelen cremated at Mortonhall in 1986, and was told there would be no ashes to scatter.

BBC: Campaigner Arlene McDougle addresses the MSPs

In their paper, the authors said there was a proven link between advancing maternal age and increased risk of complications during pregnancy - and a strong link with increased risk of stillbirth and neonatal death.

BBC: 'Induce older mums early to cut stillbirth risk'

However, there remains the need to explore in more detail variations in death rates and risk factors with the hope of continuing these improvements in stillbirths and neonatal deaths.

BBC: 'No complacency' over stillbirths