Stillbirth
Stillbirth is typically defined as fetal death at or after 20 or 28 weeks of pregnancy, depending on the source.: Overview tab, It results in a baby born without signs of life. A stillbirth can often result in the feeling of guilt or grief in the mother. The term is in contrast to miscarriage, which is an early pregnancy loss, and sudden infant death syndrome, where the baby dies a short time after being born alive.
| Stillbirth | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Fetal death, fetal demise |
| Ultrasound is often used to diagnose stillbirth and medical conditions that raise the risk. | |
| Specialty | Gynaecology, neonatology, pediatrics, obstetrics |
| Symptoms | Fetal death at or after 20 / 28 weeks of pregnancy: Overview tab |
| Causes | Often unknown, pregnancy complications |
| Risk factors | Mother's age over 35, smoking, drug use, use of assisted reproductive technology |
| Diagnostic method | No fetal movement felt, ultrasound |
| Treatment | Induction of labor, dilation and evacuation |
| Frequency | 1.9 million (1 for every 72 total births) |
Often the cause is unknown. Causes may include pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia and birth complications, problems with the placenta or umbilical cord, birth defects, infections such as malaria and syphilis, and poor health in the mother.: Causes tab, Risk factors include a mother's age over 35, smoking, drug use, use of assisted reproductive technology, and first pregnancy. Stillbirth may be suspected when no fetal movement is felt. Confirmation is by ultrasound.
Worldwide prevention of most stillbirths is possible with improved health systems.: Overview tab, Around half of stillbirths occur during childbirth, with this being more common in the developing than developed world.: Info panel, Otherwise, depending on how far along the pregnancy is, medications may be used to start labor or a type of surgery known as dilation and evacuation may be carried out. Following a stillbirth, women are at higher risk of another one; however, most subsequent pregnancies do not have similar problems. Depression, financial loss, and family breakdown are known complications.
Worldwide in 2021, there were an estimated 1.9 million stillbirths that occurred after 28 weeks of pregnancy (about 1 for every 72 births). More than three-quarters of estimated stillbirths in 2021 occurred in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, with 47% of the global total in sub-Saharan Africa and 32% in South Asia. Stillbirth rates have declined, though more slowly since the 2000s. According to UNICEF, the total number of stillbirths declined by 35%, from 2.9 million in 2000 to 1.9 million in 2021. It is estimated that if the stillbirth rate for each country stays at the 2021 level, 17,5 million babies will be stillborn by 2030.