Stillbirth is the death of a fetus after 20 weeks of pregnancy. It often happens before labor begins.
Stillbirth may be caused by:
In many cases, the cause is unknown.
Stillbirth is more common for women aged 35 years and older. Other things that raise the risk are:
An ultrasound exam may be done. The doctor will examine the baby and look for a heartbeat.
The ultrasound may show the cause of the stillbirth. After birth, other tests may be done to understand the cause.
Abdominal UltrasoundCopyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc. |
The fetus will need to be delivered. A vaginal birth is the safest option for most. Some may need a cesarean section. The doctor will talk about options.
Labor may be started with medicine. It may be given through the vagina, as pills, or by IV. Treatment may not be needed if there are other living fetuses.
Having a stillborn baby is traumatic. Parents will need time to grieve. A therapist or support group can help.
Not all stillbirths can be prevented. The risk may be lowered by:
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
http://www.acog.org
American Pregnancy Association
http://www.americanpregnancy.org
Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca
Women’s Health Matters
http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca
Hammad IA, Blue NR, et al. Umbilical cord abnormalities and stillbirth. Obstet Gynecol. 2020;135(3):644-652.
Pregnancy loss. American Pregnancy Association website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed February 19, 2021.
Stillbirth. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/stillbirth. Accessed February 19, 2021.
Hammad IA, Blue NR, et al. Umbilical cord abnormalities and stillbirth. Obstet Gynecol. 2020;135(3):644-652.
Pregnancy loss. American Pregnancy Association website. Available at: https://americanpregnancy.org/getting-pregnant/pregnancy-complications/pregnancy-loss. Accessed February 19, 2021.
Stillbirth. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/stillbirth. Accessed February 19, 2021.
Last reviewed January 2021 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Mary Beth Seymour, RN