It is now less clear how parents should be advised
In Australia, stillbirth is defined as the loss of a fetus of at least 20 weeks’ gestation, or 400 g birth weight if gestational age is unknown. Every year in Australia there are 1750 stillbirths.1 Several studies have reported that stillbirth, regardless of how it is managed, can have long-lasting detrimental psychological effects on the mother. Factors such as young maternal age, more recent loss and lower education level result in greater anxiety and depression in mothers after experiencing a stillbirth.2 Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has also been reported in higher levels in mothers following a stillbirth.3 Furthermore, various factors in immediate management following a stillbirth can impact on outcomes for the parents; these include the contentious issue of parental contact with a stillborn child.
The full article is accessible to AMA members and paid subscribers. Login to read more or purchase a subscription now.
Please note: institutional and Research4Life access to the MJA is now provided through Wiley Online Library.
- 1. SANDS Australia. Miscarriage, stillbirth and neonatal death support. http://www.sands.org.au (accessed Oct 2011).
- 2. Cacciatore J, Rådestad I, Frederik Frøen J. Effects of contact with stillborn babies on maternal anxiety and depression. Birth 2008; 35: 313-320.
- 3. Hughes P, Turton P, Hopper E, Evans CD. Assessment of guidelines for good practice in psychosocial care of mothers after stillbirth: a cohort study. Lancet 2002; 360: 114-118.
- 4. Brabin P. To see or not to see: that is the question. Challenging good-practice bereavement care after a baby is stillborn: the case in Australia. Grief Matters 2004; 7: 28-33. http://www.sands.org.au/research.htm (accessed Oct 2011).
- 5. Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand Perinatal Mortality Group. Psychological and social aspects of perinatal bereavement. Section 3. In: PSANZ clinical practice guideline for perinatal mortality. Second ed, version 2.2, Apr 2009. http://www.psanz.com.au/special-interest-groups/pnm.aspx (accessed Jan 2012).
- 6. Turton P, Evans C, Hughes P. Long-term psychosocial sequelae of stillbirth: phase II of a nested case-control cohort study. Arch Womens Ment Health 2009; 12: 35-41.
- 7. Rådestad I, Surkan PJ, Steineck G, et al. Long-term outcomes for mothers who have or have not held their stillborn baby. Midwifery 2009; 25: 422-429.
- 8. Surkan PJ, Rådestad I, Cnattingius S, et al. Events after stillbirth in relation to maternal depressive symptoms: a brief report. Birth 2008; 35: 153-157.
- 9. Nicol MT, Tompkins JR, Campbell NA, Syme GJ. Maternal grieving response after perinatal death. Med J Aust 1986; 144: 287-289.
- 10. Rand CS, Kellner KR, Revak-Lutz R, Massey JK. Parental behavior after perinatal death: twelve years of observations. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 1998; 19: 44-48.
No relevant disclosures.