Stillbirth: symptoms, causes, to medicine • hello healthy

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What is stillbirth?

Stillbirth is a condition when a baby dies in the womb or after being born. This condition generally occurs when the gestational age is over 20 weeks. Meanwhile, the death of a baby before the 20th week of pregnancy is called a miscarriage.

The definition recommended by the WHO for international comparisons says that a stillborn baby is a baby born without signs of life at 28 weeks' gestation or more.

If divided according to gestational period, classification of conditions stillbirth is:

• Gestational age 20 to 27 weeks: stillbirth early (early stillbirth)
• Gestational age 28 to 36 weeks: stillbirth end (late stillbirth)
• After 37 weeks: stillbirth

Having a healthy baby in the next pregnancy is something that is possible for most women who have experienced it stillbirth.

If the cause of the baby dying after birth is a specific chromosome problem or umbilical cord problem, there is little chance that stillbirth will occur.

Meanwhile, if the cause stillbirth is a chronic disease of the mother or genetic disorders in the parents, the risk is higher.

How common is stillbirth?

Still quoting from WHO, in 2015, the number of babies died in the womb (stillbirth) globally there are 2.6 million, with more than 7,178 deaths per day. The majority of these conditions occur in developing countries.

98 percent of the cases of infants dying in the womb or after birth in low and middle income countries.

Meanwhile, about half of all cases of infants dying in the womb occur in the intrapartum period (during labor to birth), which is the time of greatest risk.

It is estimated that the proportion of babies dying in utero that are intrapartum varies from 10 percent in developed regions to 59 percent in South Asia.

A baby dying after birth is a condition that can happen to anyone.

This can be overcome by reducing risk factors. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Stillbirth signs and symptoms

The symptom of a baby dying in the womb or after birth is the birth of a lifeless baby after the full 24 weeks of pregnancy. However, there is usually no prior sign of emergency stillbirth happen.

Symptoms that may occur before the baby dies in the womb include:

• Vaginal bleeding, especially during the second trimester of pregnancy.
• Babies do not move or experience changes in their normal activity levels while in the womb.

There may be signs and symptoms of the baby dying in the womb or stillbirth which was not mentioned above. If you have concerns about certain symptoms, consult your doctor.

When to see a doctor?

If you experience any of the signs or symptoms of a dead baby in the womb mentioned above, or have any questions, consult your doctor.

Everyone's body reacts differently. It is always better to discuss what is best for the situation with a doctor.

Causes of stillbirths

About 1 in 200 pregnancies can die before the baby is born at more than 20 weeks of gestation.

Not much different from the causes of miscarriage, stillbirths can also be caused by the condition of the mother or fetus.

Some of the things that cause babies to die in the womb or after being born are:

1. Birth defects with or without chromosomal abnormalities

Quoting from the March of Dimes, about 14 out of 100 cases of stillbirths (14 percent), have birth defects including genetic disorders, such as down syndrome.

In addition, chromosomal abnormalities are responsible for 15-20 percent of all stillbirths.

Sometimes, stillbirths also have structural abnormalities that are not caused by chromosomal abnormalities, but are caused by genetic, environmental, and unknown causes.

2. Problems with the umbilical cord

During childbirth, the baby's umbilical cord may come out before the baby comes out (umbilical cord prolapse), thus blocking the baby's oxygen supply before the baby is able to breathe on his own.

Babies are entangled in the umbilical cord before delivery, thus interfering with the baby's breathing.

Two incidents involving the umbilical cord are the cause of the baby dying in the womb. However, this is rarely the main cause of stillbirths.

3. Problems with the placenta

About 24 percent of problems with the placenta cause stillbirth. These placenta problems include:

• Blood clots
• Inflammation
• Problems with blood vessels in the placenta
• Placental abruption (the placenta detaches from the uterine wall prematurely)

Women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to develop placental abruption than women who don't smoke.

4. Maternal health condition

Pregnant women with this condition can cause stillbirths:

• Gestational diabetes
• High blood pressure during pregnancy
• Preeclampsia
• Lupus (autoimmune disorder)
• Obesity
• Trauma or accident
• Thrombophilia (a blood clotting disorder), and thyroid disease.

High blood pressure or preeclampsia during pregnancy increases the risk of placental abruption or stillbirth two times greater.

5. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)

IUGR puts the fetus at a high risk of nutritional deficiencies. Lack of these nutrients then disturbs the growth and development of the fetus.

The growth and development of the fetus which is very slow can put the fetus at risk of stillbirth.

Babies who are small or do not grow for their age are at risk of dying from asphyxia or lack of oxygen before or during birth.

6. Infections during pregnancy that can affect the mother, baby, or placenta

About 1 in 10 cases of stillbirth are caused by infection. Some of the infections that can cause stillbirths are:

• Cytomegalovirus
• Rubella
• Urinary tract infection
• Genital tract (such as genital herpes)
• Listeriosis (due to food poisoning)
• Syphilis
• Toxoplasmosis

Some of these infections may be asymptomatic and may also go undiagnosed until the mother has a more serious condition, such as premature birth or stillbirth.

What increases the risk of stillbirth?

Just like miscarriage, stillbirth is certainly not an event that all pregnant women want. Here are things that increase the risk of experiencing pregnant women stillbirth:

• Have a history of pregnancy with previous stillbirths or stillbirths
• Consuming alcoholic beverages or drugs
• Smoking while pregnant
• Obesity
• Pregnant under 15 years of age or over 35 years

Consult a doctor if you have any of the risk factors above.

How is stillbirth diagnosed?

The doctor will check the fetal heart rate to confirm the condition of your little one, this examination uses doppler or an ultrasound scan.

Meanwhile, if the baby dies in the womb and there is no immediate risk to health, usually pregnant women will be given time to think about what to do next.

The next step is to wait for the time for the birth to start naturally, or for the birth to start with medication (induction).

If the health of the pregnant woman is at risk, the baby should be delivered as soon as possible.

Usually, how to remove a dead baby in the womb is still a normal delivery. However, it could also be a caesarean section in certain conditions.

What are the treatments for stillbirth?

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

When a mother experiences the condition of the baby dying in the womb or after being born, the important thing to do is to give birth to the baby immediately.

Some mothers may be ready to be induced at that time to stimulate uterine contractions, so that they can give birth normally (vaginal).

This is a method that is often used to remove a dead baby in the womb.

If the mother's cervix has not widened, the doctor will give medicine to the mother's vagina to stimulate cervical dilation. Mothers will also be given an infusion of the hormone oxytocin to stimulate uterine contractions.

Some mothers with certain conditions will be advised to undergo a cesarean section, such as:

• The baby's position is not normal (the baby's head is not below the cervix)
• The mother has or has had placental abnormalities
• The baby is larger than the size of the mother's pelvis
• Had a cesarean section in a previous pregnancy
• Multiple pregnancy

Caesarean section is performed to avoid complications during childbirth, such as bleeding.

In addition to normal delivery or caesarean section, the process of removing stillbirths can also be done by means of dilation and curettage (D&C) or better known as curettage.

This procedure is performed if the mother's womb is still in the second trimester. Dilation and curettage have fewer complications than induction procedures in an attempt to achieve a normal delivery.

How does the body respond after giving birth to a dead baby?

After giving birth, of course the body also needs time for the recovery process. The mother may need to be hospitalized for several days.

A few days after childbirth, the mother will feel full in the breasts because they have produced milk. This is a normal thing to happen.

Over time, the milk production will stop and the milk will disappear, but the breasts may feel sore and sore for a while.

In addition to physical recovery, you also definitely need emotional recovery. This may be a long process.

It is not easy to accept the fact that you have lost. At this time, you need support from those closest to you, especially your partner and family.

After experiencing a loss, some mothers usually have a strong urge to get pregnant again.

Some women may want to try to get pregnant again immediately, but it's best to consult with a doctor first to prepare for a better pregnancy.

It's best to know the causes of the condition stillbirth, so that it can be prevented in the next pregnancy. In some cases stillborn babies may not be able to explain what caused it.