Human Stillbirth

Causes

The causes of a large percentage of human stillbirths remain unknown, even in cases where extensive testing and autopsy have been performed. A rarely used term to describe these is sudden antenatal death syndrome or SADS, a phrase coined by Cacciatore & Collins in 2000.

In cases where the cause is known, some possibilities of the cause of death are:

-bacterial infection

-birth defects, especially pulmonary hypoplasia

-chromosomal aberrations

-growth retardation

-intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

-maternal diabetes

-high blood pressure, including preeclampsia

-maternal consumption of recreational drugs (such as alcohol, nicotine, etc.) or pharmaceutical drugs contraindicated in pregnancy

-postdate pregnancy

-placental abruptions

-physical trauma

-radiation poisoning

-Rh disease

-umbilical cord accidents

by: Noreen Natonton