Most stillbirths happen before labour starts and can usually be detected with an ultrasound scan. An ultrasound scan uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of your baby, which will show whether or not your baby’s heart is beating.
If your baby’s heartbeat cannot be found, a doctor will usually be asked for a second opinion. There may also be other signs to suggest that your baby has died.
Sometimes, after the baby’s death has been confirmed, a mother may still feel her baby moving. This is called passive foetal movement and can happen when the mother changes position. Sadly, it does not mean that the baby is still alive.
Finding out that your baby has died is devastating. The healthcare professionals who are with you should offer you support and explain your options to you (see getting help after a stillbirth).
Induced labour
If a baby dies before labour starts, labour is nearly always induced (started by using medication). This is because labour is safer for the mother than having a caesarean section (see below).
It may sometimes be necessary to induce labour immediately. This is usually the case if the:
- mother has severe onset pre-eclampsia: a problem with the placenta
- mother has a life-threatening infection: which makes her immune system (the body’s natural defence against infection and illness) overreact, causing blood clotting and widespread inflammation
- the bag of waters around the baby (the amniotic sac) has broken
If the mother is otherwise healthy, labour can be delayed for a little while if that is what the mother prefers.
The labour is induced by inserting a pessary (tablet), or gel, into the vagina, or by swallowing a tablet. Sometimes, medication is given through a drip into the mother’s arm. About 9 out of 10 women will give birth within 24 hours.
Caesarean
In a very few cases, a caesarean section will be necessary. A caesarean is a surgical procedure where the baby is delivered through a cut in the mother’s abdomen. The cut is usually made just below the bikini line.
