Stillbirth
Stillbirth
A stillbirth is when a baby dies after the 24th week of pregnancy or during birth.
It is a devastating experience for parents, and it can affect you and your family in ways you may not expect.
How you might be feeling
Your emotions will likely be in turmoil. You might feel angry, guilty, sad and lonely, but also love and pride. There is no right or wrong way to feel.
If you already have children, think about how they might be feeling too, and what support they will need.
This is a very difficult time for you and everyone close to you, so it is important to support each other and to ask for help if you need it.
Common Symptoms
Symptom information is not available for this condition yet.
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
Causes
Stillbirth, or the death of a newborn baby, can happen for many reasons, and doctors do not yet know all of the causes.
Some are linked to problems with the placenta or the mother's health, and others to the baby's health or development. In some cases, though, the reason cannot be explained.
Although there are many reasons a stillbirth can happen, you can lower the risk by keeping a healthy lifestyle before and during pregnancy.
Read more about living a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy
Death during pregnancy
If your baby dies before birth, labour is usually induced. Going through labour and giving birth is the safest option for most women, even though it can be very distressing.
It is natural to want to know why this happened. It is not always possible to know why your baby died, and that can be hard to come to terms with.
Your midwife and obstetrician will be there to support you through it. They will tell you what to expect and give you whatever help you need.
Your midwife or doctor will ask if you would like to see or hold your baby. You might want to involve other members of your family too.
If you are worried about what your baby looks like, your midwife or doctor can describe them to help you decide. Many parents find it comforting to see, touch and hold their baby, and if you want to, you can bathe and dress them.
Your midwife can talk to you about a Cuddle Cot, a special cooling mattress inside a cot that can let you spend more time with your baby in the hospital or at home.
This gives you more time to say goodbye, with the support of family and friends.
If the hospital does not have a Cuddle Cot, there are other organisations that can arrange one for bereaved parents. Ask your midwife.
After a stillbirth
What you choose to do is very personal and individual, as is the way you grieve.
Specialist help and support is available for parents and families who have lost a baby. Your midwife, family nurse and health visitor can help you find the right support locally.
Registering a stillbirth
Your baby's stillbirth must be registered. Your midwife and the hospital staff can advise you on how to do this.
You cannot officially register a baby lost before 24 weeks of pregnancy, but some hospitals will give you a certificate in memory of your baby if you ask.
More about registering the death of a baby
Funeral arrangements
You will need time to think about what you would like for your baby's funeral. This could be a burial or cremation with a service in the style of your choice. Take as much time as you need to decide on the right way to say goodbye.
All hospitals in Scotland will offer a funeral service for your baby free of charge, or you may choose to make your own private arrangements, which can give you more choice and control.
More about funeral arrangements
Coping with the loss of a baby
Everyone reacts differently to the loss of a baby. Your emotions might be overwhelming, and you might feel physically drained too.
Take time to rest and look after yourself. It is important to know that you are not alone and that you have done nothing wrong.
More about coping with the loss of a baby
Post-mortem
If you lost your baby after 13 weeks, you will be offered a post-mortem (autopsy). This is a medical investigation to try to understand what happened and to find out if there are issues that could affect a future pregnancy.
Whether or not to have a post-mortem can be a difficult decision, and you will be given support and time to think it over. If you have questions or worries, ask the person who discusses the post-mortem with you.
Complications
After a stillbirth, you will need care from your midwife and doctor to make sure your body is recovering. Your midwife will guide you through the decisions you need to make and help you find the right support.
You do not have to cope with this on your own. Many parents find it helps to talk with others who have been through the loss of a baby. You, your baby's father or your partner, and your family are all likely to need time to grieve.
Remembering your baby
Some parents find comfort in doing something to remember their baby, such as:
- creating a space for them in the garden
- saying a prayer
- writing a poem
Others keep photographs, handprints or footprints, or a lock of their baby's hair in a memory box. Whatever stage of pregnancy your loss happened at, you can make a memory box. Ask your midwife about this. Some hospitals give parents special boxes for exactly this purpose.
Some parents do not want to do any of these things, and that is completely fine too. There is no right or wrong way to remember your baby.