A stillbirth occurs in every 100 to 200 live births, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the world, approximately four million stillbirths occur annually. The National Stillbirth Society defines a stillbirth as intrauterine death followed by delivery of an infant beyond 20 weeks of gestation. If a medical professional is not able to determine the age of the fetus, the CDC notes a baby weighing 350 grams or more is a stillbirth. The causes of stillbirths differ in each situation and sometimes are unknown.
Women with High Risk Factors
Approximately 10 percent of the causes of stillbirths occur due to chronic health conditions in the mother to include hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease and blood clotting disorders, according to the March of Dimes. African American women with high blood pressure are prone to developing preeclampsia during the later terms in pregnancy. Other risk factors include women who are age 35 years or older, smoke or obese. Continually monitoring during pregnancy when diagnosed with medical conditions is important to minimize the risk of a stillbirth.
Uterine Problems
Placental detachment, poor placental function and intrauterine growth restriction are common causes of uterine problems during pregnancy that lead to stillbirths, according to MedlinePlus. With intrauterine growth restrictions, having multiple pregnancies or a fetus weighing less than the 10th percentile group for gestational age proves a common problem with women who have a smaller uterus. However, if the placenta breaks or leaks, insufficient oxygen and nutrients becomes a contributing factor of a stillbirth, according to the American Pregnancy Association.
Birth Defects
According to the March of Dimes, 15 to 20 percent of the causes of stillbirths have one or more birth defects. In addition, approximately 20 percent of stillbirths have some type of chromosomal disorder. The American Pregnancy Association reports that genetic, environmental and idiopathic causes contribute to structural malformations in babies that are not due to chromosomal abnormalities. The malformations can inhibit the structural formation of developing organs and tissues.
Infections
Infections during pregnancy account for 10 to 25 percent of stillbirths, generally before 28 weeks of pregnancy, according to the March of Dimes. The causes of stillbirths from infection include rubella, cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis and syphilis. These infections increase the risk of lower birth weights and malnutrition. According to the American Pregnancy Association, bacterial infections during the 24 and 27 week of gestation are a risk factor in fetal death, which often go unnoticed.
