Why do stillbirths happen

While we continue to learn more about stillbirth, much work remains. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. What is Stillbirth? Minus Related Pages. Stillbirth: A Healthcare Professional's Role. Problems with the umbilical cord may lead to about 10 in stillbirths 10 percent. Grief is all the feelings you have when someone close to you dies.

Having a stillborn baby is a painful loss for a family. But there are things you can do to help you grieve, heal and remember your baby. After birth, do what feels right for you and your family.

You may want to spend time alone with your baby and other family members. You can name your baby, hold your baby, bathe and clothe her and take part in cultural or religious traditions, like baptism. Some families take pictures of their baby, make footprints or save locks of hair. You may be able to keep things from the hospital, like blankets, that were used with your baby. Keepsakes like these can help you and your family remember your baby.

Parents who have a stillbirth need time to grieve. You and your partner may cope with grief in different ways, and you may need help dealing with others as you grieve. You may need help learning how to deal with these situations and the feelings they create. Or your hospital may have a loss and grief program for families.

Getting counseling can be really helpful to you and your family. Talking about your feelings with other parents who have had a stillbirth may help you deal with your grief.

Visit shareyourstory. Sharing your story may ease your pain and help you heal. Having a stillbirth may make you at risk for postpartum depression also called PPD. PPD is a kind of depression that some women get after having a baby. Tell your provider if you have signs or symptoms of PPD, like feeling depressed most of the day every day, having little interest in things you normally like to do, or having trouble eating or sleeping.

Get expert tips and resources from March of Dimes and CDC to increase your chance of having a healthy, fully-term pregnancy and baby. March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. We support research, lead programs and provide education and advocacy so that every family can have the best possible start. Building on a successful year legacy, we support every pregnant person and every family. March of Dimes, a not-for-profit, section c 3.

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You've saved this page It's been added to your dashboard. In This Topic. What is stillbirth? Who is at risk for stillbirth? BMI is a measure of body fat based on your height and weight. To find out your BMI, go to www. If you can't contact your doctor or midwife go to the nearest GP or maternity hospital. If you think it is an emergency, phone triple zero for an ambulance. An obstetrician or midwife will let you know if your baby is not showing any signs of life and will support you while they give you this news.

You will need to give birth to your baby and this, along with the news that the baby has died, is an extremely traumatic time for parents. You may be able to go home for a day or 2 before coming back to the hospital to give birth to your baby.

Your midwife or obstetrician will discuss with you the best way for you to give birth. In most cases, they will suggest inducing a vaginal birth rather than a caesarean. Vaginal birth of a stillborn baby may take longer than with a live baby. You will be able to have pain relief as well as the full support of your care team. Your feelings are important as well as your decisions about the birth. Your care team will also discuss with you some options for after the baby is born.

You can call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on to speak to a maternal child health nurse about any concerns you have. If you have experienced a stillbirth you can get support from SANDS Australia by calling , 24 hours a day.

Still Aware is an Australian stillbirth awareness organisation, providing education and support to parents and health professionals. Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content. Stillbirth Stillbirth is defined as the tragic loss of a baby from 20 weeks gestation or g of body weight, if gestation is unknown. Read more on Gidget Foundation Australia website.

Read more on Sands Australia website. Have you experienced a miscarriage or stillbirth? Find articles and videos about coping with the grief of losing a pregnancy or having a stillbirth.

Read more on raisingchildren. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Giving birth to a stillborn baby is a fear that many people have when they are pregnant. If it happens to you, it's natural to want to understand what caused the stillbirth.

Unfortunately, doctors do not always have an answer to this question. A stillbirth is a fetal loss that happens after 20 weeks of pregnancy. A fetal loss before 20 weeks is typically referred to as a miscarriage. Stillbirths can be further categorized as early 20 to 27 completed weeks , late 28 to 36 completed weeks , or term 37 weeks or more. The cause of stillbirths can vary based on gestational age and underlying risk factors, though in some cases the cause is not known.

A study found that in approximately one-quarter of stillbirths, there is no known probable or possible cause. Here is an overview of the common causes of pregnancy loss after 20 weeks. Chromosomal abnormalities are known to cause the majority of miscarriages , but certain chromosomal problems and birth defects can also increase the risk of stillbirth.

Chromosomal abnormalities , especially those associated with anatomic abnormalities or birth defects, account for a high percentage of stillbirths.