Stillbirth – why does it happen and what can you do?

What is stillbirth?

A stillbirth is when a baby is born with no sign of life after week 24 (or 28) of pregnancy. Before this point, the loss of a baby is known as a miscarriage. The vast majority of miscarriages happen in the first trimester – before 12 weeks, and are usually unavoidable due to genetic problems with the developing foetus. In most cases, the body realises early on that the baby will not be able to grow and develop normally and as a result, miscarriage occurs. Miscarriages after 12 weeks are less common and between 14 and 24 weeks, they’re known as ‘late miscarriages’.

Losing a baby later in pregnancy is made even more devastating as the pregnant woman will need to go through birth. Many parents choose to have a funeral or memorial service to help them come to terms with this experience and loss.

Is stillbirth preventable?

Some causes include congenital conditions, problems with the placenta or infections. But 30 per cent of stillbirths are inexplicable. You can reduce your risk factors in pregnancy by not smoking or drinking (alcohol) while pregnant, avoiding undercooked food and unpasteurised cheeses. Older and overweight mums-to-be are statistically at a higher risk of losing their baby but this is often countered by more regular check-ups and scans by their medical team.

If you’re at all concerned, speak to your doctor or midwife about taking extra precautions and any extra monitoring that may be available.

Yahoo Lifestyle