Stillbirth (patient information)

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Editor-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S.,M.D. [mailto:mgibson@perfuse.org] Phone:617-632-7753; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S.

Synonyms and Keywords: Fetal death

Overview
A stillbirth is when a fetus that was expected to survive dies during birth or during the last half of pregnancy.

What causes Stillbirth?

 * Stillbirth can be caused by:
 * Birth defects
 * Chromosome abnormalities
 * Infection, in the mother or the fetus
 * Injuries
 * Medical conditions of the mother, such as diabetes, epilepsy, and high blood pressure
 * Placenta problems (placental detachment or poor placental function)
 * Sudden severe blood loss (hemorrhage) in the mother or fetus
 * Stopping of the heartbeat (cardiac arrest) in the mother or fetus
 * Umbilical cord problems


 * In about 15 - 35% of stillbirths, no explanation can be found.

Diagnosis

 * Stillbirth is becoming less common as care for pregnancy improves.


 * If you have a stillbirth, your health care provider may ask to carefully examine and test the fetus to determine the cause of stillbirth. This may help plan medical care for any future pregnancies. A full autopsy will be offered. You may decline this option if you wish.

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

 * Stillbirth is traumatic for the mother and her family.


 * It can cause grief and lead to an increased risk for postpartum depression.

Source
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002304.htm