Study of Intrauterine Fetal Death after 22 Weeks of Gestation / 日本農村医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

　　We researched intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) after 22 weeks of gestation from 2009 to 2014 in our departments. During this period, there were 6236 childbirths and 35 cases (0.56%) resulted in IUFD. We researched the background and causes of IUFD in these 35 cases. The median age was 34 years and advanced maternal age accounted for 48.6% of cases, while elderly primipara accounted for 20%. There were 5 cases (14.3%) of pregnancy after fertility treatment. The median gestational age when IUFD was recognized was 30 weeks, but the gestational age in 4 cases was unclear because of lack of antenatal check-ups. The main risk factors for IUFD were maternal age over 35 (0.95% to 0.40%) and lack of antenatal check-ups (3.7% to 0.5%). The major causes of IUFD were umbilical cord abnormalities (n=10) and placental abruption (n=8), but IUFD of unknown etiology accounted for about 30% of cases. We should better inform mothers about the importance of antenatal check-ups and manage pregnancies carefully for those who have risk factors for IUFD. Furthermore, we should increase research into the causes of stillbirths.