Difference between Stillbirths and Miscarriages

Difference between Stillbirths and Miscarriages

When a woman learns she is pregnant, it is often one of the happiest moments of her life. However, for some women, that joy can be quickly replaced by heartache and sadness when they experience a stillbirth or miscarriage. Though the two terms are often used interchangeably, there is a distinction between stillbirths and miscarriages. It is important to understand the difference so that you can better support those who have experienced either tragedy.

What is Stillbirth?

Stillbirth is the death of a baby before or during delivery. Stillbirth happens in about 1 in 160 pregnancies. There are many different causes of stillbirth. The most common cause is problems with the placenta or umbilical cord. Other causes include infections, birth defects, and high blood pressure during pregnancy. Stillbirth is more common in twins and other multiple births, and in women who are age 35 or older. Stillbirth is also more common in women who have had a previous stillbirth, are obese, or have diabetes.

While there is no way to completely prevent stillbirth, there are things that can be done to reduce the risk, such as getting early and regular prenatal care, managing medical conditions such as diabetes, and avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol during pregnancy. If you are pregnant and have any concerns about stillbirth, talk to your healthcare provider.

What is Miscarriage?

Miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week. It’s also called spontaneous abortion or early pregnancy loss. Miscarriage is common. It occurs in as many as 1 in 4 known pregnancies. Most often, miscarriage happens so early in pregnancy that you may not even know you were pregnant. If you’ve experienced a miscarriage, you might feel guilty or blame yourself even though it isn’t your fault and you couldn’t have prevented it. Healing after a miscarriage can take time, but know that it’s OK to talk about your feelings and get support if you need it. Miscarriage is most common during the first 6 weeks of pregnancy.

It may also occur later in pregnancy due to health problems in the mother or baby, or from an injury to the abdomen during a car accident or fall. Miscarriage may cause physical symptoms such as bleeding from the vagina and cramping in the pelvic or abdominal area. These symptoms do not necessarily mean you are miscarrying, but they should be reported to your health care provider right away just in case.

Difference between Stillbirths and Miscarriages

  • Stillbirths and miscarriages are both types of pregnancy loss. Stillbirth is the term used when a baby dies in the womb after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Miscarriage is the term used when a baby dies in the womb before 20 weeks of pregnancy. Stillbirths are much less common than miscarriages. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 160 pregnancies end in stillbirth in the United States.
  • There are many different causes of stillbirth, including infection, problems with the placenta or umbilical cord, high blood pressure, diabetes, and birth defects. In about 1/3 of cases, the cause is unknown.
  • Miscarriages are also caused by a variety of factors, including infection, hormonal problems, birth defects, and damage to the cervix or uterus. However, the most common cause of miscarriage is chromosomal abnormalities in the developing baby.
  • There are several different ways to prevent both stillbirths and miscarriages. For stillbirths, it is important to get early and regular prenatal care, as well as to manage conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.

Conclusion

The main difference between stillbirths and miscarriages is that a miscarriage happens before the 20th week of pregnancy, while a stillbirth occurs after the 20th week. However, both are tragic events for families. If you have lost a baby due to either condition, know that you are not alone in your grief. There are many resources available to help you through this difficult time, including support groups and online forums.

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