Can anything be done to prevent a Stillbirth?

Up to 50% of stillbirths occur in pregnancies that had seemed problem-free. In more than a third of cases, the stillbirth is unexplained. "There often are no physical symptoms to alert you to a potential stillbirth," says Bruce Flamm, M.D., a Parents advisory-board member and a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California.

"You should be aware of your unborn baby's movement, but not consumed by it." After your 26th week, if you notice fewer than ten kicks every two hours, feel that your baby is moving less than usual, or experience any vaginal bleeding, call your doctor immediately. Tests such as an ultrasound or fetal-heart-rate monitoring can help assess your baby's well-being.

The practice of “counting kicks” – fetal movements – is a low-tech test women can do at home on a regular basis. By monitoring her baby’s rate of activity she can identify any sudden change and immediately have her baby evaluated. Sudden changes are often a sign that the baby is in some form of distress, generally involving the umbilical cord. (The National Stillbirth Society has published a brochure entitled “Kicks Count” which you can download here.

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