General
A stillbirth is a very hard event for any parent. Your doctor will try to find the cause of death by examining your baby. Your placenta will be checked, blood tests done, and an autopsy will be done on the baby. ‚
If you have had a stillbirth, you may worry that you will have another one. For most people, the chance of having another stillbirth is low. Your chances may be higher if a health problem like high blood sugar or high blood pressure caused problems with your pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you have these problems. Your doctor may suggest you see a genetic counselor. This is helpful if the stillbirth was caused by a genetic problem. ‚
Parents who have a stillbirth may have many emotions. You need time to grieve your loss. A counselor who deals with pregnancy loss may be able to help you. ‚
You may also want to join a help group where you can share your feelings with others who have lost a baby. ‚
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Belly pain
- Vaginal bleeding
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you how I will deal with my loss.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have belly pain or vaginal bleeding.
Where can I learn more?
March of Dimes ‚
http://www.marchofdimes.com/search-results.aspx?search-text=stillbirth&search-chunk=1 ‚
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ‚
http://www.cdc.gov/preconception/careforwomen/history.html ‚
International Stillbirth Alliance ‚
www.stillbirthalliance.org ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚