No woman or parent would ever want to go through it. But it’s a difficult topic that needs to be discussed for more people to gain awareness. Learn about the signs of stillbirth in this article.
Stillbirth: Why This Discussion Needs to Happen
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are 2.6 million cases of stillborn babies every year. Stillbirth is referred to as the death or loss of a baby (more than 28 weeks in the womb) before or during delivery. It’s even possible that the number is bigger than what was mentioned earlier. Why? Guilt is a big part of it.
Many women are ashamed to share that they experienced it during their pregnancy journey. It can be because of the cultures and beliefs in their religion.
However, there is no reason for mothers who experienced having stillbirth to feel shame or guilt. Because they’re not alone. In fact, 98 per cent of these cases occur in low and middle-income countries. And one of the common culprits is the lack of antenatal care or medical support.
Meanwhile, in high-income countries, stillbirth is usually caused by underlying health conditions of the mother, as well as substandard prenatal care received during pregnancy.
Thus, women should not have to take the blame for experiencing this heartbreaking loss. Doing so will just lead to mental health issues after losing their baby.
Image Source: iStock
Why Stillbirth Happens
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are various reasons why pregnancy can lead to stillbirth, including:
- Underlying medical conditions like obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure
- Multiple pregnancies
- A liver condition called intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy or ICP
- Infection of the placenta
- Pregnancy complications like premature birth, preeclampsia or fetal growth restriction
- Having experienced stillbirth or miscarriage from previous pregnancy
- Maternal age (less than 20 years old or more than 35 years old)
- Vices like alcoholism, smoking or drug abuse
- Being exposed to pollution or harmful chemicals during pregnancy
If the mother experienced one or any of these conditions, it does not equal pregnancy loss. However, her risk of having stillbirth increases.
Signs of Stillbirth
While it can be heartbreaking for a woman to learn the possibility that something is wrong with the baby in utero, it is still important to recognise the signs of stillbirth to prevent further medical complications.
- Decrease or lack of foetal movement
- Vaginal cramps
- Vaginal bleeding
Contact your doctor without delay if you experience any of these symptoms.
Pregnant woman holding her belly
Do You Know How to Count Kicks
Counting foetal movement or kicks is an important step that pregnant women should learn to recognise any signs of distress with their unborn baby. Check out our article on this to learn how to monitor foetal movement accurately.
How is Stillbirth Diagnosed
The only way to confirm if it is indeed stillbirth or pregnancy loss is through an ultrasound scan. This is to check the baby’s condition inside the uterus.
If, unfortunately, the pregnancy loss has been confirmed, what will happen next depends on what stage the pregnancy is in. Labour can be induced or a caesarean delivery can take place to get the lifeless baby out of the mother’s womb. Waiting for natural labour to occur can also be an option.
Once the baby is out, it can undergo some tests to find the cause of death, including:
- Amniocentesis to check if the reason was a genetic condition or infection
- An autopsy to check the baby’s organs and confirm the baby died due to birth defects or other medical conditions.
Pregnancy loss is something that no one would really like to experience, yet it can happen to anyone. No woman would have to bear this on their own. That’s why it’s very important that they get support from people around them to help them recover physically, cope with the emotional trauma and hopefully move forward when they’re ready.
It is still possible for women to have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies after experiencing stillbirth. But they need to inform their healthcare provider about it so they can prevent it from happening again.
How to Prevent Stillbirth
- Attend your prenatal checkups regularly and be in constant communication with your healthcare provider throughout your pregnancy
- Get the appropriate treatment if you have any underlying medical condition
- Monitor your weight during pregnancy or if you plan on getting pregnant
- Avoid unhealthy vices like smoking, taking illegal drugs and alcohol abuse
- Contact your doctor right away if you notice anything strange or concerning with your health throughout your pregnancy.
Image Source: iStock
Republished with permission from theAsianparent Philippines.
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