Stillbirth affects thousands of families in the United States each year, yet it remains one of the most overlooked public health issues in the country. At the Zain Jaffer Foundation, we believe that silence around preventable loss has real consequences. That is why we are proud to share the release of the official trailer for TheDueTime, an upcoming independent documentary by Helen Raleigh.
TheDueTime explores why stillbirth continues to receive so little attention in American healthcare conversations, despite advances in prenatal care and medical technology. Through interviews with families, advocates, and healthcare professionals in the United States and abroad, the film brings forward stories that are too often unheard. It challenges the idea that stillbirth is unavoidable and asks why proven prevention strategies are not more widely used.
A defining strength of the documentary is its global perspective. The film looks to other countries that have successfully reduced stillbirth rates and highlights practical, evidence-based approaches that could be adopted in the U.S. These include improved placental monitoring, clearer patient-provider communication, and stronger system-level accountability. By showing what has worked elsewhere, TheDueTime offers both clarity and hope.
This project closely aligns with the Foundation’s mission to support awareness, advocacy, and research that lead to meaningful and preventive change. Stillbirth is not inevitable. Families deserve access to information and care that could save lives, and honest conversations are a critical part of that effort.
The trailer’s release marks an important step in bringing this film to a wider audience. Supporters can help by sharing the trailer on social media using #TheDueTime, #EndPreventableStillbirth, and #BreakTheSilence, by contributing to the film’s production through tax-deductible donations, or by sharing personal experiences with stillbirth to help inform and strengthen the project.
The Zain Jaffer Foundation is honored to support TheDueTime and to partner with Helen Raleigh in advancing this important work. We invite you to watch the trailer and join us in pushing for a future where preventable stillbirth is no longer ignored.
