Why Was My Baby Stillborn?
A Look at the Causes of Stillbirth, Prevention and Grief Management
Jan 9, 2009
Fetal death is determined by ultrasound or a blood test. After the diagnosis is made, a decision is usually made about how to deliver the fetus. Some doctors may ask the patient to wait until labor naturally begins, usually within a few weeks of fetal death. Other practitioners may induce labor or perform a cesarean section to remove the fetus. Once removed, an autopsy is often performed to diagnose any genetic problems or other reason for the stillbirth.
Some Reasons That Babies are Born Stillborn
According to the March of Dimes, over half of stillbirth cases are of indeterminate cause. The other half may be due to:
- A birth defect, Down syndrome or other
- A placental problem such as placental abruption, in which the placenta peels away from the uterus before delivery and can cause the fetus to die from lack of oxygen
- Poor fetal growth
- Infections including urinary tract infections or fifth disease
- A health condition in the mother such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or a blood clotting disorder
- A knot in the umbilical cord that deprives the fetus of oxygen
- Physical trauma to the mother
- Rh disease
- Lack of oxygen during delivery
It should be noted that poor fetal growth and placental problems occur most often in mothers who smoke cigarettes while pregnant.
How to Prevent Stillbirth
While not all stillbirths are preventable, and some would occur despite a mother’s best efforts and intentions, many can be prevented by the following:
- Do not smoke, use drugs, or drink alcohol during pregnancy
- Get routine prenatal care, especially if the mother is of advanced maternal age
- Take a prenatal vitamin with folic acid and iron
- Have conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure carefully monitored
- Report any vaginal bleeding to a physician immediately
- Do a daily “kick count” starting around 28 weeks of pregnancy, to record how long it takes the fetus to make ten movements. If it takes longer than 2 hours or there is significantly less movement than usual, a woman should seek prompt medical attention.
Will it Happen Again?
According to the March of Dimes, the risk of having a subsequent stillbirth is fairly low, although women with diabetes or another genetic disorder may still be at risk. A physician should carefully monitor women who have had a previous stillbirth.
Coping With Grief
There is no formula or recipe for grief. Each family must take the time to grieve in their own way. Many honor the child they have lost by erecting a gravestone or a memory plaque. Some people may find the situation extremely difficult to talk about, while others may find they need to mourn more vocally.
It is normal for many women to feel jealous or envious of other pregnant women or women with newborn babies. It is normal to feel guilty or ashamed and to wonder what could have been done to save the baby. And it is normal to feel unwavering, overwhelming grief at the life lost.
It has been shown that receiving a high level of care from both doctors and properly trained nurses can help ease the burden of grief. In addition, spouses, extended family members, grief counselors, therapists, clergymen and friends can help by listening quietly or just being a positive presence for the family.
Both the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the International Stillbirth Alliance were established to study the causes of stillbirth and to educate families and physicians how to best prevent stillbirth. Babies may be saved by future research and education.
For information on retouched photographs of stillborns, please read Stillborn Baby Photo Restoration.
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