Home > Medical Articles > Articles beginning with S > Stillbirth > Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

Medical References

Diseases & Conditions

Women's Health

Mental Health

Men's Health

Medical Web Links

MOL Site Map

Sites

Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
Read more health news

Stillbirth

Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

Stillbirth is a term used to describe a baby that dies before delivery but after 20 weeks of pregnancy. It is slightly different than a miscarriage. Miscarriage describes a fetus that dies before 20 weeks of pregnancy.

What is going on in the body?

The death of a stillborn infant occurs while it is still inside the mother's womb, or uterus. It can occur due to several different and often unknown causes. A stillbirth can be emotionally devastating to the parents.

What are the causes and risks of the condition?

Some of the known causes of stillbirth include:

infections in the mother or baby, such as fifth disease or the toxoplasma infection, also called toxoplasmosis \ \other infections, such as hepatitis B, syphilis, and herpes zoster, the virus that causes chickenpox \ \ rubella, the virus that causes German measles\ \ cytomegalovirus, or CMV\ \ herpes simplex virus, the cause of genital herpes \ ',CAPTION,'TORCH Infections');" onmouseout="return nd();">TORCH infections. These include toxoplasmosis, other infections, rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes.

placenta or umbilical cord problems. The placenta and umbilical cord connect the baby to the mother's womb. The placenta may separate from the womb too early or bleeding from the cord or placenta may occur.

trauma or injury, usually to the mother's abdomen

high blood pressure in the mother, which may or may not be related to the pregnancy

diabetes in the mother

birth defects in the child affecting the lungs, heart, brain, or kidneys

Rh incompatibility, which may occur when the mother and baby have different blood types

an autoimmune disorder in the mother, a condition in which a person's immune system attacks his or her own body

Other causes are also possible. In at least 50% of the cases, the cause is not known.

Home • Sitemap • Contact Us • Advertising • Press Room • Give Us Your Feedback • Read Our Terms & Conditions and Our Disclaimer • Privacy Statement