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What is stillbirth? — A stillbirth is when a baby dies before it is born, in the second half of pregnancy (after 20 weeks) or during labor.
What causes stillbirth? — There are many reasons a stillbirth can happen. Some of them include:
●Problems with the placenta – The placenta is the organ inside the uterus that brings nutrients and oxygen from the mother to the baby. One problem that can happen with the placenta is called an "abruption" (also called "abruptio placentae"). This is when the placenta separates from the uterus before the baby is born. Another problem might be a placenta that doesn't give the baby enough nutrients or oxygen. When this happens, the baby grows slowly and is very small.
●Problems with the baby – This could include birth defects or an infection.
●Serious medical conditions in the mother – These include poorly controlled diabetes, kidney disease, or high blood pressure.
●Problems with the umbilical cord – In rare cases, problems with the umbilical cord cause stillbirth. For example, there can be a tight knot in the cord.
In about one-third of stillbirths, doctors do not know why the stillbirth happened.
What are the symptoms of a stillbirth? — The main symptom of stillbirth is not being able to feel the baby moving inside you.
Will I need tests? — If you don't feel the baby moving, your doctor or nurse will check for the baby's heartbeat and might do an ultrasound. If there is no heartbeat on the ultrasound, it means the baby has died.
What happens next? — If your baby has died inside the womb, your doctor or nurse will probably ask if you want labor "induced." That means that you will get medicines to start contractions, so you will have your baby in the next few days.
Some women prefer to wait until labor starts on its own, which usually happens 1 to 2 weeks after a fetus dies. But sometimes it is not safe to wait. Rarely, women need to have a C-section, which is surgery to get the baby out.
After the baby is delivered, the doctor will do tests to try to find out why the stillbirth happened.
Will I be able to have a normal pregnancy after a stillbirth? — Probably. Most women who have a stillbirth go on to have healthy pregnancies. But you should talk about the risk of another stillbirth with your doctor or nurse before trying to get pregnant again.
Your doctor might suggest that you wait several months before trying to get pregnant again. Before you start trying to get pregnant, see your doctor or nurse. They can help make sure you are as healthy as possible before and during any future pregnancies.
How do we cope with the loss of the baby? — It is normal to grieve the loss of the baby. What was a joyful time is now sad, confusing, and stressful. People react to the loss in different ways.
The people on your health care team will do what they can to help you cope. Your doctor will probably suggest that you talk to a counselor. Talking helps many people get through this difficult time.
Support groups might be helpful for some people. Support groups are groups of people who have gone through a loss such as yours and who get together to talk about their feelings. Your doctor, nurse, or counselor can help you find a support group if you would like to join one.
