CAUSES AND PREVENTION OF STILL BIRTHS

Definition

The definition of “Stillbirth” recommended by WHO (World Health Organization) for international comparison is a baby born with no signs of life at or after 28 weeks’ gestation.

Incidence

Some 2.6 million stillbirths occurred worldwide in 2009, according to the first comprehensive set of estimates published in a special series of The Lancet. Every day more than 7200 babies are stillborn — a death just when parents expect to welcome a new life — and 98% of them occur in low- and middle-income countries.

The UK had about 4,100 stillbirths in 2009 and, with a rate of 3.5 per 1,000 births, was ranked 33rd in a list of 193 countries – down from 26th in 1995. Only France and Austria ranked lower among high-income nations. The research, in The Lancet, also points to wide regional variations – stillbirths were a third more likely in the East Midlands than the South west.

The little said about the agonies that families go through due to the loss of a baby the better. Some women without any proper support system end up in the psychiatric units or have a low self esteem throughout their lives. Many of these babies would have grown to become responsible citizens’ of the country, but unfortunately they end up nowhere. It is worth knowing that many of the causes of still births can be prevented through proven methods. Some of the causes and modes of prevention are listed below.

CAUSES OF STILL BIRTHS

• Placenta previa
• Placenta abruption
• Post maturity

The above conditions causes the blood that reaches the baby to be reduced and therefore they get a reduced supply of oxygen and in turn causing fetal hypoxia which results in still births.

Other causes of Stillbirth

• Unknown causes
• Infections, for example – urinary tract infections
• Uncontrolled consumption of alcohol and smoking during pregnancy
• Growth restriction due to nutritional causes or medical causes
• Trauma to the abdomen
• Chromosomal abnormalities
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes mellitus

How to prevent Stillbirths?

• Effective monitoring and antenatal checkups of pregnant women to detect possible abnormalities and correcting those abnormalities.
• Monitoring, recording, and interpreting fundal height of the fetus rightly to detect growth restriction.
• Screening of patients to rule out infections that can cause growth restrictions and possible treatments.
• Health education on nutrition, personal hygiene, danger signs to look out for, rest and exercise, etc. to promote healthy lifestyle among pregnant women.
• Taking medication only under Doctor’s prescription and supervision
• Providing skilled delivery to pregnant women to prevent and also reduce the risk of having a prolonged labor which can cause still births.
• Preconception care to expectant mothers and their partners.
• Performing fetal kick counts starting at 28 weeks of gestation.
• Calling your midwife when you experience any unusual symptom or sign
• Taking nutritional supplements to reduce the risk of chromosomal abnormalities, example folic acid, iron tablets
  

RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION

It is very evident that still births can be reduced drastically if measures are taken seriously. The more strong and healthy babies arrive safely and alive the better our world will be.

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References:

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-13068789

http://www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/epidemiology/stillbirth/en/

http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/maternal_perinatal/stillbirth/en/