Audit into stillbirths in a district general hospital—five years experience

Summary

Summary

Ninety-one consecutive stillbirths were associated with 19 531 deliveries during 5 years in a busy district general hospital. Fifty-seven per cent of stillbirths were unexplained; the second commonest group was due to antepartum haemorrhage (16 per cent). Sixty-five per cent weighed ≤2499 g and 62·5 per cent occurred between 28 and 35 weeks of pregnancy. With optimal performance by the antenatal and intrapartum care providers, patient compliance with medical advice and attendance for antenatal care, the stillbirth rate might be decreased by 41 per cent. Subclassifications to the category of unexplained stillbirths in Cole et al.'s modification of the Aberdeen classification and categorisation of the avoidability of perinatal deaths are suggested.