For parents who experience the tragedy of a stillbirth, the loss of their child can be a devastating blow. At times like these, it helps to be under the care of compassionate professionals like the physicians at Adefris & Toppin Women’s Specialists. At their office in Woodbury, Minnesota, you will receive the best care no matter which stage you’re at in your journey. Call today to schedule a consultation or book an appointment online.
Stillbirth happens when you’ve been pregnant for 20 weeks or more, but the baby dies before birth. Miscarriage is the loss of a baby before 20 weeks of pregnancy. About 26,000 babies are born still in the United States each year. Stillbirth is devastating for parents. Parents are then often deeply concerned about their prospects of future pregnancies, but the average chances of successful pregnancy in the future are over 90%.
The reason for the stillbirth can increase or decrease your likelihood of having a healthy baby if you want to try again, so finding out what caused the stillbirth could be helpful.
For about 50% of parents who experience the trauma of stillbirth, there are, unfortunately, no answers. Many seemingly healthy babies die in the uterus without there being any clear explanation of the reason.
Where a cause for stillbirth is identifiable, it may be due to:
A problem with maternal coagulation
Some birth defects are due to chromosomal abnormality, but not all are.
Umbilical cord problems can starve the fetus of oxygen before birth. A prolapsed umbilical cord is one that comes out of your vagina ahead of the baby and cuts off the oxygen supply. The cord can also knot itself around a leg or arm, or the baby's neck, cutting off blood flow and oxygen.
The placenta feeds your baby in the uterus. Placental abruption occurs when the placenta comes away from the uterine wall too soon, depriving the fetus of the nutrition it needs.
Other conditions that sometimes cause stillbirth include:
Your risk of stillbirth could also be higher if you have a personal or family history of blood-clotting conditions like thrombosis, thrombophlebitis, or pulmonary embolism.
Preventing miscarriage is not always possible however we strive to educate our patients on simple things they can do to aid in the prevention of such a loss.
Every parent’s wishes are taken very seriously, and the Adefris & Toppin Women’s Specialists team of physicians does everything they can to ensure you get the practical and psychological support you need during such a difficult time.
After a stillbirth, every effort is made to find out the cause of your loss so you can take steps to prevent the same thing from happening again. During your postpartum visit, the following is done:
Call Adefris & Toppin Women’s Specialists today to learn more about care for women who experience stillbirth, or book an appointment online.
We see patients for ultrasounds, pregnancy, birth control, and much more. We are located at 215 Radio Drive, Suite 200 Woodbury, MN 55125. Call us to book your appointment today.