Previous Stillbirth, Late Preterm, and Early-Term Birth

Subsequent pregnancies are emotionally traumatic for families with previous stillbirths. Such pregnancies have a 2– to 10-fold increase in the risk for stillbirth as well as an increased probability of other adverse obstetrical outcomes. These medical risks as well as anxiety on the part of families and care providers contribute to an increase in late preterm and early-term birth. However, delivery before 39 weeks' gestation has not been proven to reduce the risk of recurrent stillbirth or adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with previous stillbirths. This work reviews data regarding the optimal timing of delivery in subsequent pregnancies after previous stillbirth, as well as for patients at risk from stillbirth in general. Management recommendations from current data are presented and knowledge gaps are highlighted.