Midwives...a question

[Genesis]

I haven't gotten to this part in my studies yet, so I am unsure...What are a few reasons for a baby to be stillborn full term, before labor even begins(maybe even weeks before mom goes into labor)?

It just seems odd to me, and so sad , that a healthy unborn baby can go to full term (or almost to full term) and then be stillborn.

Michele

[olive&pimiento]

More common causes:
Cord accidents such as true knots and multiple nuchal cords
Infections
Diabetes
Pre-eclampsia
Low amniotic fluid
Uteroplacental insufficiency
Congenital anomalies

I also read that from 12-50% are of unknown etiology. I got a lot of info with a google search. This is such a sad topic...

[pamamidwife]

I think that the true knots and nuchal cords are less likely to be a cause of death - and more a reason that's given because it seems that doctors want to give *some* reason to "help" parents with their grief. Nuchal cords cannot kill a baby in utero - babies do not breathe, so there's no "choking" involved. Unless there is something seriously abnormal with the cord (very little wharton's jelly), knots should not put a baby in such danger that it could die.

Placental abruption from high blood pressure, an eclamptic seizure, etc. could. I seriously question the "low amniotic fluid", though. If there is uteroplacental insufficiency that is causing the low amniotic fluid that is one thing. But low fluid at term is normal.

[cathicog]

Another cord accident that isn't necessarily nuchal, is a cord wrapped around the body and a limb or two that, as the baby drops down into the pelvis, severly compromises his O2 supply. Normally the Wharton's jelly keeps it pliable and stretchy, but it can only stretch but so far. This is very rare though.

[MsBlack]

I recently did a google search on this very topic.

What I read in various articles is that at least 50% of such cases are called 'cord accident', only because there is no certain cause of death. Signs of hypoxia are present (inadequate 02), no other problems can be seen even on autopsy w/cellular studies, so cord accident is the bucket into which all 'unknown cause' deaths are placed. Probably a certain amount of these really are cord accidents--who knows how many.

Yes--even a healthy-LOOKING baby can have internal anomalies (absent or non-viable organs). All other causes named by Oliveandpimento were also what I saw in my reading.

And yes, it seems the cruellest thing of all, to never really know the cause of such losses. Yet this is the way it is. Some bereaved parents (and care providers!) get whatever relief or comfort there is to be had in knowing that their child carried anomalies incompatible with life--at least might be able to forgo guilt for 'not doing something right' with their pregnancy'. Still...I don't know if grief is any less for most parents who have lost a child, just to know what happened.

Some babies don't make it. There are no guarantees, and that's just the way it is.