What Causes Stillbirths?
Fetal death, or stillbirth, is an extremely sensitive subject and can be devastating for couples who experience it. In America, almost 26,000 women experience stillbirths every year. In around every 200 pregnancies, one fetal death will occur. The medical definition of stillbirth is a baby that is born after 24 weeks with no sign of life. If the baby is born with no sign of life before the 24-week period, then it is termed a miscarriage. The fetus will die in the mother before it is delivered. The number of stillbirths that occur is extremely high. In around 50% of cases, the reason for death is unknown. There are some indications as to the possible causes of stillbirths, such as infection, accidents with the umbilical cord and genetic factors. Known causes include mothers with a history of diabetes and problems with blood pressure.
