Baylor Health Care System
 

Stillbirth

Definition

A stillbirth is when a fetus that was expected to survive dies during birth or during the late stages of pregnancy.

See also: Miscarriage

Information

Stillbirth can be caused by the following:

  • Birth defects
  • Illnesses
  • Infections
  • Injuries
  • Sudden severe blood loss (hemorrhage) in the mother or fetus
  • Stopping of the heartbeat (cardiac arrest) in the mother or fetus
  • Uterine problems (placental detachment, poor placental function, or intrauterine growth restriction)

Review Date: 8/17/2007
Reviewed By: Melanie N. Smith, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hosptial, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission. URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit.

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