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Stillbirth > What Every Woman Should Know

By Joanne Caccitore, MISS Foundation
WA State statistics reports found & translated by Liz Allen, WA MISS Chapter

About Stillbirth

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 see http://www.missingangelsbill.org

WA State MISSing Angels

In ramping up to get the MISSing Angels bill passed here in WA State, Liz Allen did her research about the numbers of stillbirths here in the state. She got these numbers from the following PDF reports provided by the state:

Report 1

Report 2

And here are the numbers for 2001-2004:

2001:
105,985 total pregnancies
79,003 live-births
434 stillbirths (fetal death)
1/244 pregnancies end in stillbirth
1/182 babies born are still

2002:
104,883 total pregnancies
79,542 live-births
418 stillbirths (fetal death)
1/251 pregnancies end in stillbirth
1/190 babies born are still

2003:
106,086 total pregnancies
80,482 live-births
498 stillbirths (fetal death)
1/213 pregnancies end in stillbirth
1/162 babies born are still

2004:
Total Reported Pregnancies: 106,715
Induced Abortion: 24,568
Fetal Death (20 weeks gestation to birth): 432
Maternal Complications of Pregnancy: 74
Complications of Placenta & Membrane: 69
Cord Complications: 45
Other Perinatal Conditions: 151
Congenital Abnormalities: 85
All Other Causes: 8
Live Birth: 81,715
Infant Death (0 to 365 days): 451
Pregnancy complications: 189
Congenital Malformations: 120
SIDS: 53
External Causes: 29
Other Causes: 60
Neonatal Death (0 to <28 days): 273
<1 day: 164
1 day to <7 days: 43
7 to <28 days: 66
28 days to <6 months: 146
6 months to <12 months: 32
Child mortality (age 1-19): 430

MISS Foundation ~ Caring for Women and Their Babies

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