Background: Currently several interlinked international groups are examining the epidemiology of stillbirth, potential interventions to reduce stillbirth rates, and research gaps and priorities in low, middle and high income countries. Objectives: To outline the contribution of Cochrane reviews to stillbirth policy and research priority development. Methods: As part of the high income project, we assessed all relevant Cochrane reviews (254 reviews from Cochrane Library issue 4, 2009) for their ability to identify interventions with the potential to reduce stillbirths or to reduce factors known to be associated with stillbirths in high income countries (informed by a systematic review of 63 cohort and case control studies from high income settings undertaken by the authors and other colleagues). Results: Only 11 (4.3%) of the 254 Cochrane reviews reported a significant reduction in stillbirth. While we judged that a further 139 (54.7%) were unable to confirm or refute stillbirth reductions due to insufficient trials or participants, they helped indicate which interventions might affect modifiable factors (such as smoking cessation interventions for pregnant women). Together with perinatal research gaps identified by the WOMBAT Collaboration, these findings are being integrated in the larger project, to help rank feasibility of interventions and research priorities. There was some evidence of selective outcome reporting bias at both the review and trial level. Conclusions: Clearer reporting of perinatal deaths in Cochrane reviews (and trials), particularly separate reporting of fetal and neonatal deaths and more attention to selective reporting of stillbirth outcomes is required. While few Cochrane reviews contain enough trials and participants to show differences in stillbirth rates, they are essential for indicating promising interventions, informing future stillbirth policies and research agendas. The contribution of Cochrane reviews can be maximised by linking with other study designs and as part of larger projects aimed at improving health outcomes.