Management of stillbirth and perinatal loss

Stillbirth is variably defined across countries and regions. It is particularly common in low and middle income countries where the causes are still believed to be supernatural and/or due to the mother's sins and misdemeanors. These mothers are grief-stricken and stigmatised, and their babies are neither counted nor recognized in any official document and therefore the global burden of stillbirth is largely unknown. Infections are the commonest causes in low income countries whilst fetal growth dysregulation contributes most in resource rich countries. Wherever it occurs, the management should aim to support the family, treat any precipitating maternal disease, find the cause and plan subsequent pregnancies with a view to preventing recurrence. Affected women display anxiety during subsequent pregnancies and this should be recognised and managed sensitively.