Stillbirth

What is a stillbirth?

Unlike a miscarriage, a stillbirth is the loss of a pregnancy by natural causes occurring after the 20th week of pregnancy. Stillbirth can happen before or during delivery. Statistically, one in every 200 pregnancies end with a stillbirth.

What are the signs of a stillbirth?

In some cases, the mother will notice lack of movement with the fetus. If the doctor cannot locate a heartbeat, he/she can perform an ultrasound to determine the health of the baby. It is not always possible to determine why the baby has died, but an autopsy of baby and placenta can sometimes render a cause.

What are the causes of a stillbirth?

It is not always possible to determine the cause of a stillbirth. In fact, in nearly half the stillbirths, no reason can be found. Some known reasons are:

• Chromosomal abnormalities with the fetus as a result of egg or sperm imperfections
• Fetuses that do not continue to grow
• Problems with the placenta
• Bacterial infections
• Some physical problem with the fetus that does not allow it to flourish

What are procedures following a stillbirth?

• A woman will normally go into labor within two weeks following the death of the fetus. If not, labor is induced or a c-section will be performed.
• Depending on individual circumstances, the fetus may necessarily be delivered immediately after discovering its death.
• In some cases, the woman may be able to decide when to deliver