Stillbirth is the premature delivery of a deceased baby after the 20th week of gestation. This is often a painful and emotional experience for the parents, and it usually comes with questions of what went wrong in the pregnancy. There are quite a few known causes of stillbirth, but in some cases it is never determined why the fetus was unable to survive. Knowing the causes of stillbirth can be helpful in the healing process.
Birth Defects
Birth defects are one of the most common causes of stillbirth. Birth defects account for about 15 to 20 percent of the stillborn incidents. Many of these babies have more than one birth defect, and 20 percent of these cases are found to be chromosomal disorders. The remainder of the birth defects are caused by genetics, environment or other unknown causes.
Poor Fetal Growth
Poor fetal growth is another of the common causes of stillbirth. Poor fetal growth is the term that is used to describe babies who are growing too slowly, which automatically puts the babies at risk of being stillborn. Forty percent of babies that are stillborn had poor fetal growth. In some cases maternal smoking or high blood pressure can contribute to poor fetal growth.
Placental Problems
Problems with the placenta are responsible for 25 percent of stillbirths. The most common placental problem leading to stillbirth is placental abruption. This is a condition where the uterus breaks away from the uterine wall before delivery. In this case the fetus often does not have enough oxygen to support life, which is why the otherwise-healthy fetus is stillborn. This condition can also put the mother at risk because of heavy bleeding.
Infection
Maternal infection is responsible for 10 to 25 percent of stillbirths. Infection is a more common contributor to a stillbirth before 28 weeks of pregnancy, although it can impact the pregnancy at any time. Unfortunately, many infections that can cause a stillbirth do not have any symptoms, so the mother is unaware that there is a potential threat to the pregnancy. Problems such as urinary tract infections and the parvovirus are often the cause of a stillbirth.
Umbilical Cord Problems
Umbilical cord accidents may be responsible for as many as two to four percent of stillbirths. Problems with the umbilical cord may include knots in the cord or even an abnormal placement of the cord. When this happens the fetus is not able to get the oxygen that is needed to sustain life.
