A stillbirth is the loss of a baby during or before delivery. Both miscarriages and stillbirth refer to pregnancy loss, but they are considered different because of the different times of the loss. Stillbirth refers to the loss of a baby after 20 weeks, and miscarriage is the loss of a baby before the 20th week. South Africa has a high stillbirth rate that has not declined in a decade. Stillbirth is further classified into three categories.
The most common signs of stillbirth are that mothers stop feeling their baby kicking and moving. They might also feel pain and cramps or experience bleeding from the vagina. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you notice these symptoms.
Knowing the cause of stillbirth is important for parents to consider in their next pregnancy. Typically, the most common causes are:
Your health provider will do an ultrasound scan to detect your baby’s heartbeat. A midwife or obstetrician will check whether your baby shows any sign of life.
If the baby is dead, removing the fetus from the body is essential, as the mother can have severe complications if the fetus is not removed. The mothery may experience vomiting, pain, fever, heavy bleeding, infection, blood clots, and diarrhoea. If you notice any sign of stillbirth, you need emergency medical care.
The treatment for a stillbirth depends on many factors such as the number of weeks gestation, the size of the fetus, and how long since the fetal heartbeat stopped. Treatment may include the following:
The mother can choose which treatment is suitable for them based on the risks for each option as explained by their physician. Common risk factors include uterine damage, infection, and heavy bleeding.
Generally, a stillbirth can’t be prevented by caring for your health and the baby throughout pregnancy. If you have any complications that might lead to stillbirth, your doctor will advise you to have regular ultrasounds or fetal heart rate monitoring. They might suggest you deliver the baby early to prevent stillbirth.