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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

Stillborn Resources
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