Chicago Stillbirths and Death
Stillbirths are devastating, and nobody should ever have to go through this type of loss. In some circumstances, a healthcare provider’s negligence may be the cause of the stillbirth. It is important to seek advice from a Chicago stillbirths and death lawyer about filing a claim.
What is Stillbirth in Chicago?
What is a stillbirth? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a stillbirth is a term that refers to “the death or loss of a baby before or during delivery.” It is important to understand that there is a distinction between stillbirth and miscarriage. Generally speaking, miscarriages happen before the twentieth week of a person’s pregnancy, while a stillbirth occurs after 20 weeks or more of pregnancy. Depending upon how far along the pregnancy was at the time of the stillbirth, it will be classified as being “early, late, or term,” as the CDC explains. An early stillbirth is one that involves the death of a fetus between 20 and 27 weeks of pregnancy, while a late stillbirth happens between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. A term stillbirth occurs when the mother is full term at 37 weeks or more.
Getting the Facts About Chicago Stillbirths
How often do stillbirths occur, and who is at greater risk of a stillbirth? The following facts come from the CDC and from the Cleveland Clinic:
- Approximately 1 out of every 160 births is a stillbirth;
- Around 24,000 babies are stillborn in the U.S. annually;
- About 10 times as many stillbirths occur as deaths from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS;
- Prenatal care has reduced the overall risk of stillbirth, and the incidence rate is significantly lower than it was in previous decades for late and term stillbirths, but the rate of early stillbirths has largely remained constant;
- Maternal health quality has a substantial effect on the likelihood of a late or term stillbirth; and
- Risk factors for a stillbirth include being 35 or older during pregnancy, smoking cigarettes during pregnancy, having medical conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, obesity in the mother, being pregnant with multiples like twins or triplets, having a previous history of stillbirth, and being of a low socioeconomic status.
Common Causes of Chicago Stillbirths
What are the most common causes of a stillbirth? The Cleveland Clinic identifies the following as the most likely causes of a stillbirth, many of which may occur as a result of medical negligence:
- Placenta problems during pregnancy;
- Umbilical cord issues during pregnancy, especially problems that affect the baby’s ability to get blood and oxygen, as well as nutrients;
- Mother having preeclampsia, which can increase the risk of a stillbirth by two times;
- Mother who has lupus;
- Clotting disorder in the mother, especially a condition like hemophilia;
- Improperly managed medical condition in the mother, like diabetes, heart disease, or thyroid disease;
- Infection in the mother during pregnancy, such as B streptococcus, E. coli, Lyme disease, and sometimes even the flu;
- Mother using alcohol or recreational drugs during the pregnancy;
- Birth defects in the baby; and
- Trauma to the fetus, such as in an accident.
Contact Our Chicago Stillbirth Attorneys
If you experienced a stillbirth, our Chicago stillbirth lawyers may be able to assist you with a claim against a negligent healthcare provider. Contact Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, LLC for more information.
