Nearly 500 babies were stillborn or died shortly after birth in Scotland last year - that's equivalent to one in every 200 births.
The stillbirth and neonatal death charity Sands say the figures are a “national tragedy” and are calling for more to be done to reduce the number of deaths.
In the charity's report, 'Saving Babies Lives', figures show that 325 babies were stillborn in Scotland during 2008. A total of 168 babies also died within four weeks of their birth - 122 within the first seven days of their lives.
Ten times more babies are stillborn than die of cot death every year in Scotland, according to the report which will be given to MSPs at the Scottish Parliament at an event on Wednesday night.
The report states: "Of the 53,000 babies born in Scotland every year, around 8,000 are admitted to Scottish neonatal units. Scotland's premature birth rate is higher than in England and Wales and is increasing.”
The report is highly critical of understaffing in neonatal units which it says results in nurses and specialist midwives being overstretched and babies being transferred unnecessarily.
"Babies in Scotland are not guaranteed one-to-one nursing care in intensive care units. Health boards in Scotland must commit to a long-term recruitment and training strategy for the whole neonatal workforce to achieve minimum standards of care for babies."
The report also said over half of all stillbirths are "unexplained" with the majority occurring in low-risk pregnancies. Neal Long, chief executive of Sands, said: "Almost 500 babies dying every year in Scotland is a national tragedy.
"For too long these deaths have been ignored and yet here is compelling evidence to suggest that many babies' lives could be saved with improved delivery of maternity services and increased funding for research. Despite Scotland leading the UK in many aspects of maternity resourcing and data collection stillbirth rates remain at very high levels."
Mr Long said a devolved Scotland has an opportunity to "really make a difference". The charity also said it believed that £6 million of funding during the next five years could have a "significant impact" on reducing the number of deaths across the UK.
Gillian Smith, Royal College of Midwives (RCM), said: "The RCM in Scotland welcomes this report and recognises that more work and research has to be carried out around the loss of these babies.
"We share concerns around the reorganisation of maternity services and would support Sands in their request to make sure that during these reorganisations we do not lose the valuable input not just from midwives who specialise in providing support to parents and families at this time but also for onsite facilities which help families come together and start the grieving process."
The Scottish Government said that it would fund up to £20,000 for Sands to work with health boards on improving support for mothers and fathers after their baby is stillborn.
The money will be used to ensure maternity staff are given specialist education and training, so that they are better equipped to support bereaved parents. Public Health Minister Shona Robison will announce the funding on Wednesday evening.
Last updated: 17 November 2009, 21:42
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