What is a stillbirth?
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Dr. Michael Roizen answered:A stillbirth is a miscarriage that takes place after 20 weeks. Most of the time when a stillbirth happens, it's related to some preexisting condition that compromised the placenta in some way.
While many moms feel very guilty, thinking it was something that they did, the fact of the matter that 99 percent of stillbirths are not due to anything the mom could have done differently. I would urge you to try to exchange your feelings of guilt for those of grief. Typically, an autopsy will be performed to help determine the cause, and doctors will usually focus on uncovering the cause in hopes of preventing it for the next pregnancy.
Should you find yourself in this position, the nursing staff and your doctor or midwife will help you and your partner through this unsettling time. They will give you the option of gathering mementos - such as pictures, so you can grieve in your way and your own time. And of course, hospitals do offer grief counseling services and chaplains to help you through this traumatic time.
Find out more about this book: YOU: Having a Baby: The Owner's Manual to a Happy and Healthy Pregnancy
A stillbirth is a miscarriage that takes place after 20 weeks. Most of the time when a stillbirth happens, it's related to some preexisting condition that compromised the placenta in some way. While many moms feel very guilty, thinking it was... More -
Dr. Deborah Raines of Honor Society of Nursing (STTI) answered:A stillbirth is when the fetus dies in utero after 20 weeks gestation but prior to birth. There are a variety of factors that can cause of stillbirth including: Congenital anomalies, infection, maternal medical conditions, placental problems or umbilical cord problems, yet approximately a third of stillbirths are unexplained.
A stillbirth is when the fetus dies in utero after 20 weeks gestation but prior to birth. There are a variety of factors that can cause of stillbirth including: Congenital anomalies, infection, maternal medical conditions, placental problems or... More -
Boston Women's Health Book Collective answered:"Stillbirth" refers to fetal death after 20 weeks' gestation. It occurs in one in two hundred pregnancies and often involves apparently healthy fetuses. The most common known causes of stillbirth are maternal diabetes, bacterial infection, high blood pressure, placental problems, growth restriction, and umbilical cord accidents. But in over half of stillbirths, a cause cannot be determined even after extensive testing.
Most fetal deaths are detected before labor begins, usually at a routine prenatal check, or when a woman notices an absence of the usual kicks and movement. An ultrasound and fetal heart monitor will confirm that the baby has died. If there is no medical need for immediate delivery, you will be able to decide whether to wait for labor to come naturally or to have labor induced. Having the chance to prepare yourself for the experience may help you manage the physical and emotional pain.
Once the baby is born, you will need to decide whether you want to see and hold her or him. You may want to name the baby if you haven't already done so, take photos, and take some time to say your goodbyes. It may seem at first that seeing or holding the baby will be too much to handle, but many women later feel grateful that we did this. Such acts help to acknowledge the infant's existence and to preserve her or his memory. Some hospitals now offer a "memory box" to bereaved parents; it can include footprints and handprints, along with any items that were in contact with the baby, such as a blanket.
You will be faced with a number of difficult and pressing decisions, including how you wish the baby's remains to be handled and whether you want to have an autopsy performed. The thought of an autopsy can be painful, and in many cases there is no conclusive answer. Yet an autopsy could provide important information about the cause of the stillbirth, which may help with closure and provide information for future pregnancies. If you choose to have an autopsy done, the person performing it should be a pediatric or neonatal pathologist, or working with one. If the person is not, you may want to ask for a referral to a pathologist with the necessary expertise to review the findings.
"Stillbirth" refers to fetal death after 20 weeks' gestation. It occurs in one in two hundred pregnancies and often involves apparently healthy fetuses. The most common known causes of stillbirth are maternal diabetes, bacterial infection, high... More
