Stillborn

Stillbirth refers to the death or loss of a baby before or during delivery. Both miscarriage and stillbirth describe pregnancy loss, but they differ according to when the loss occurs. In the United States, a miscarriage usually refers to a loss less than 20 weeks after conception, while stillbirth refers to a loss 20 or more weeks after conception.

Causes

Stillbirth affects about 1 in 160 births, and each year about 24,000 babies are stillborn in the United States. That is about the same number of babies that die during the first year of life and it is more than 10 times as many deaths as the number that occur from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

There are several known causes of stillbirths including birth defects, placental problems, poor fetal growth, infections, and complications from twin or multiple pregnancies. However, in many cases, healthcare providers can't determine a cause.

Risk Factors

There are also several factors that may increase a woman's risk of having a stillborn baby. These include:

• Being African American
• Being 35 years of age or older
• Smoking cigarettes
• Being obese
• Having certain medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney disease
• Having multiple pregnancies
• Having a history of pregnancy complications

Prevention

There are several ways that might help reduce the risk of stillbirth. These include:

• Getting regular prenatal care
• Avoiding all tobacco smoke
• Keeping up-to-date on vaccinations
• Safely controlling any diseases you have
• Safely managing your weight
• Eating healthy foods
• Being physically active
• Avoiding alcohol and drugs

See Also

• Miscarriage
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
• Prenatal Care
• Birth Defects
• Placental Problems

Stillborn Resources
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