What
Every Woman Should Know
About Stillbirth
About Stilbirth
Stillbirth is the death
of an infant in-utero and
past 20 completed gestational
weeks. It can happen
before or during the onset
of labor and can happen
to any woman. About 1 in
100 pregnancies will
end with the death of a
baby to stillbirth or about
30,000 per year in the United
States alone.
Many full-term stillbirths
occur to low risk mothers
and approximately 40% of
stillbirths occur
with no diagnosable cause
of death. These deaths are
called Sudden Antenatal
Death Syndrome, or
SADS. This means that a
baby has died at or near
term for no explainable
reason.
The most common diagnosable causes for stillbirth include:
- Placental problems:
Women who smoke cigarettes
have a much greater risk
of placental
abruption. High blood pressure
(preeclampsia) also increases
the risk of abruption. Other
problems
with the placenta, which
prevent it from supplying
the infant with enough oxygen
and nutrients,
may also increase the risk
of stillbirth.
- Birth defects: Between
5 and 10 percent of stillborn
babies have chromosomal
anomalies. Others may have
structural anomalies which
can result from genetic,
environmental, or unknown
causes.
- Intra-Uterine Growth Restriction (IUGR): Infants who are not growing at an appropriate rate for their gestational age are at an increased risk of stillbirth due to hypoxia (lack of oxygen) both before and during birth.
- Infections. Bacterial infections often cause no symptoms in the pregnant woman and may go undiagnosed. These infections increase the likelihood of stillbirth or premature birth.
Education + Awareness=Reduction
Scientists and physicians do not fully understand the causes of many stillbirths. We do know that at this time, stillbirth cannot be prevented or predicted. However, there are some helpful strategies for pregnant women to follow to help reduce the risk of stillbirth:
1. Around 26 weeks of
pregnancy, begin doing daily
“kick counts.”
If you count less than 8-10
kicks during a two-hour
period or if the baby is
moving less than usual and
you are concerned, contact
your
doctor immediately.
2. Do not smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs (unless prescribed by your physician).
3. Report any vaginal bleeding, leakage, or sharp pain to your health care provider.
4. If you are post-term, be sure to discuss your options and concern with your physician. Pregnancies which last longer than 42 weeks ge station may be at greater risk of stillbirth.
5. It may be necessary
to request a second or even
a third opinion during your
pregnancy to put your mind
at ease. Your caregivers
should be empathic and respectful
of your concerns and you
have
every right to expect the
best care for you and your
baby.
NOTE: This information is not intended to replace you doctor’s advice . This is for informational purposes only. Please call your physician if you have any other questions.
The Difficult Questions
What if it happens to me
or someone I know?
Though the chances of having
a stillborn baby are decreasing
in most states, it is helpful
to know who
to call for help. The MISS
Foundation has volunteers
who can help you or someone
that you know
who may be going through
this tragedy. Will I still
have to go through labor
if my baby dies? Most often,
yes. Even if a baby is stillborn
before the onset of labor,
most women will experience
labor and childbirth in
the same way as a “live”
birth. Having adequate pain
control options, supportive
family members, and birth
assistants or doulas can
help ease the overwhelming
emotional and physical pain
of stillbirth.
Will I get to see my baby?
Yes. We encourage women
and their families to see,
hold, and touch their baby.
You may participate in bathing
and caring for your baby
after his or her birth.
Although it may difficult,
most families are very grateful
that they had those special
moments with their baby.
A volunteer with the MISS
Foundation can help guide
and support you during this
time.
Will my baby get a birth
certificate?
Yes, Several states recently
began offering this to parents.
Call the Office of Vital
Records in your state and
tell them you’d like
to obtain a “Certificate
of Birth resulting in Stillbirth.”
For more information, please
contact info@missfoundation.org
or 623.979.1000.
MISS Foundation ~ Caring for Women and Their Babies
MISS
Foundation Information
The M.I.S.S. Foundation
was founded in 1996 and
is an international non-profit
501(c ) 3 organization
which offers immediate and
on-going support for families
experiencing the death of
a child from any
cause. We offer local support
groups, bilingual support,
resources, free funeral
planning, peer counseling,
newsletters, camps for grieving
kids, and a wonderful website
(www.missfoundation.org).
We also believe strongly
in community education and
awareness. We offer various
programs that range from
healthy baby education to
bereavement support to annual
conferences and seminars
for medical professionals
helping provide psychosocial
intervention to grieving
families . For more information,
please contact the National
MISS Foundation offices
at 623.979.1000.
