What is defined as the death of a product of conception, including the fetus and placenta, prior to complete expulsion or extraction?

The definition of the death of a product of conception, which includes both the fetus and the placenta, prior to complete expulsion or extraction is referred to as fetal death. This term encompasses the loss of the fetus at any point during pregnancy, up until the moment of delivery. It's a broader category that includes various instances of loss that occur before delivery.

In contrast, stillbirth typically refers to a specific scenario where a fetus is born with no signs of life after a certain gestational age, often defined at 20 weeks or later. Late fetal death specifically refers to fetal loss occurring after a certain point in gestation, usually after 20 weeks but before delivery. Early fetal death refers to losses that occur before this timeframe, usually within the first trimester.

Understanding these distinctions helps clarify the terminology surrounding pregnancy loss and ensures accurate reporting, diagnosis, and treatment in clinical settings. Fetal death serves as the umbrella term that covers all instances of loss of viability before childbirth, making it the correct answer in this context.