Stillbirth: care and long-term psychological effects

Abstract

The article summarises the findings from a nationwide follow-up of women who gave birth to a dead child (n=314) or who delivered a live child (n=322). Three years after the delivery, stillbirth gave a slightly higher prevalence of anxiety-related symptoms, as compared with a live birth, but also a higher level of social satisfaction. Care during the hours before and after delivery decided the risk of long-term anxiety. It can be diminished by a short time between a diagnosis of death in utero and initiation of the delivery, allowing the mother to meet and say farewell to her child as long as she wishes and the collection of tokens of remembrance (hand- or footprint, lock of hair, photograph) of the dead child. The study also shows that dead and alive children were treated with equal respect, that mothers typically want to know the cause of their child's death, and that a stillbirth increases the satisfaction with the relation to the child's father, as compared with live birth. Suggestions for refined care during stillbirth are given.