Stillbirth Materoto
In Aotearoa New Zealand, losing a pēpi (baby) after 20 weeks of pregnancy is called a stillbirth. Most stillbirths cannot be prevented, but there are some things you can do to reduce the risk.
Causes of stillbirth
Many stillbirths happen in otherwise healthy pēpi. It is not always possible to find out what has caused a stillbirth.
Possible causes include:
- problems with the placenta
- a medical condition the mother has such as diabetes, high blood pressure, an autoimmune disease or connective tissue disorder
- an infection in the pēpi or placenta
- abnormalities in the pēpi.
Most pēpi are stillborn in the womb, rather than die during birth.
Possible signs of a stillbirth
There may be signs that your pēpi is stillborn.
You may notice:
- your pēpi is not moving in the way it usually does
- vaginal bleeding
- vaginal discharge that is not normal for you
- blurred vision, a severe headache or swelling
If you notice any of these things, get help straight away by calling your midwife or doctor. Do not wait until the next day.
Confirming a stillbirth
You will have an ultrasound scan to check if your baby's heart is still beating.
After a stillbirth has been confirmed
You will still need to give birth to your pēpi. This is usually done by an induced vaginal delivery. Your midwife or doctor will talk you through what this involves.
Your breasts will start to produce milk after the birth. Your midwife will will give you information to help you manage this.
Finding the cause
After the delivery, you will be offered blood tests to try and find the cause of your baby's death.
You will also be offered a post-mortem examination of your pēpi. You and your whānau decide whether you want a post-mortem or not. The information in the link below is available te reo Māori, Hindi, Samoan and simplified Chinese.
Your wellbeing and the future
You and your partner may be offered an appointment with a specialist doctor (obstetrician) to discuss possible causes and plans for any future pregnancy. This will happen around 2 months after the post-mortem.
You may need help coping with your grief. There are several options for getting support for you and your whānau.
Support resources after a stillbirth — Whetūrangitiaexternal link
Support groups — Sands New Zealandexternal link
Registering the birth
All pēpi stillborn after 20 weeks of pregnancy (or weighing more than 400 g if the dates are uncertain), must have their birth registered. There is also a legal requirement to bury or cremate them.
Registering a birth — SmartStartexternal link
Reducing the risk of stillbirth
While most stillbirths cannot be prevented, there are ways to reduce the risk:
- go to all your antenatal appointments
- get to know the pattern of your baby's movements — if you are concerned about a change in your baby's movements, contact your midwife or doctor immediately
- sleep on your side
- eat well and keep active
- aim for a healthy weight gain during pregnancy
- if you smoke, quit
- avoid alcohol in pregnancy.