Stillbirth

Understanding The Difference Between Miscarriage And Stillbirths

This article will explain the key distinctions between miscarriage and stillbirth, how they contrast in terms of gestational timing, and the essential care required for the mother after such a loss.
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Stillbirth is a medical condition in which the baby is either born dead or dies at the moment of birth. Women with diabetes or high blood pressure may be at a higher risk of stillbirth.

What is it?

A stillbirth is the death of a baby in the womb after the 20th week of pregnancy. Stillbirths occur in about 1 in 200 pregnancies. A stillbirth is a tragic and heartbreaking experience. In many cases the loss is completely unexpected, because it ends a pregnancy that was seemingly problem-free. About 14 percent of these deaths occur during labour and delivery, and the rest occur before labour begins.

What are the causes?

Stillbirths may be due to maternal factors, fetal factors, or uterine factors. Injuries, illnesses (such as toxemia), infections, or catastrophic events (such as haemorrhage, or cardiac arrest) would affect both mother and child. Birth defects and growth abnormalities of the fetus can occur. Uterine factors (such as placental detachment, placental obstruction, or restricted uterine growth) can prove dangerous to the fetus. If one is pregnant, the usage of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco, can cause stillbirth, and infant death.

What are the symptoms?

Usually the first sign of a problem that a pregnant woman notices is that her baby has stopped moving around and kicking. Stillbirth is usually diagnosed before birth by an ultrasound, and labour is generally induced. After delivery the baby and placenta are examined to help determine the cause of death; even with exhaustive testing, however, in up to one-third of cases the cause of stillbirth cannot be determined.

How is the diagnosis made?

An ultrasound examination can confirm that the baby has died. The doctor will do some blood tests on the pregnant woman which also may help determine why the death occurred.

What is the treatment?

If there is no medical reason for immediate delivery, the couple can decide when they want to deliver the baby. In most cases, a woman will go into labour within two weeks after the death. There generally is little risk to a woman's health if she chooses to wait for labour to begin. However, because of the emotional trauma of carrying a dead baby, most women choose to have labor induced. If the woman’s cervix has not begun to dilate in preparation for labour, she will be given vaginal suppositories to help prepare her cervix, followed by the hormone oxytocin (which is given through a vein) which stimulates uterine contractions. Generally, a cesarean is recommended only if a woman develops problems with labor and delivery. If labour has not begun after two weeks, doctors recommend inducing labor because there is a small risk that the woman can develop dangerous blood-clotting problems after this time.

What are the prevention?

Over the past twenty years, stillbirths have declined significantly. This is largely due to better treatment of certain conditions, such as maternal high blood pressure and diabetes, which can increase the risk of stillbirth. An incompatibility between the blood of mother and baby, was an important cause of stillbirth, can now usually be prevented (by giving an Rh-negative woman an injection of immune globulin at 28 weeks of pregnancy, and again after the birth of an Rh-positive baby).Women with high-risk pregnancies are carefully monitored during late pregnancy. Tests that monitor the fetal heart rate often can tell if the baby is in trouble. This can allow treatment, sometimes including early delivery, which can be lifesaving. Today, women with well-controlled diabetes and high blood pressure face little increased risk of stillbirth.Doctors often suggest that both high-risk and low-risk pregnant women do a daily "kick count" starting around 26 weeks of pregnancy. If a woman counts fewer than 10 kicks in a day, or if she feels that the baby is moving less than usual, her doctor may recommend tests of fetal well-being (such as fetal heart rate monitoring and ultrasound. If the tests show that the baby could be in trouble, steps often can be taken to help prevent deaths.Women should not smoke, drink alcohol or use drugs, all of which can increase the risk of stillbirth and other pregnancy complications. Women should report any vaginal bleeding to their health care provider immediately. Vaginal bleeding during the second half of pregnancy can be a sign of placental abruption. When the fetus is in trouble due to an abruption, a prompt cesarean delivery can be lifesaving. A woman who has had a stillbirth in a previous pregnancy should be monitored carefully, so that all necessary steps can be taken to prevent another death.

DoctorNDTV Team