What Are the Symptoms of a Stillbirth?

A stillbirth—in which a baby dies before or during delivery at a later stage in pregnancy—can be a very emotionally distressing experience. When a baby is stillborn, this means there are no signs of life at all. As a mother, there are a number of physical symptoms you might experience before, during or after stillbirth. Some of these symptoms are very common and normal, but there are certain symptoms that might be more serious and require medical attention.

Stillbirth affects about 1 in 175 births, and each year about 21,000 babies are stillborn in the United States. But 1 in 3 stillbirths can't be explained, meaning each person's experience is different, which is also true for the symptoms of a stillbirth.

Sarah Welsh, a gynecologist in the United Kingdom and the co-founder of the sexual wellness brand Hanx, explained the symptoms of stillbirth, including what to expect before and after it happens.

What symptoms do people experience before a stillbirth?

Not everyone has noticeable symptoms before a stillbirth, as it can often be unexpected. But there are a few signs to look out for, according to Welsh.

First, you might not be able to feel the baby move as usual.

"Reduced fetal movements can be a sign that there is a serious problem with your baby, such as reduced placental functioning, abnormalities of the uterus, fetal growth restriction or tight nuchal cords," Welsh explained. "Sometimes reduced fetal movements can correlate with fetal demise and, occasionally, stillbirth."

Lack of fetal movements can also happen for less serious reasons, however. For example, the position of the placenta can affect how much fetal movement you experience—an anterior placenta, on the front of the pelvis, can make movements difficult to feel—or the fetus might be asleep.

"The most important thing to remember with reduced movements is that you know your body and baby best. If the pattern changes, or you're used to feeling movements and these stop or reduce, then it's important to see your midwife or local maternity unit," Welsh added.

Particularly from 28 weeks of pregnancy onward, you might want to get to know your baby's usual day-to-day movements so you can notice a difference if they change.

"Some people may find certain times of the day is when the baby is most active—often when you are going to sleep—and certain things can cause movements, such as having a snack, changing positions or gentle nudging," Welsh said. "If you haven't felt your baby move for a while and are a little concerned, then try moving around, eating a sweet snack or having a sweet drink to see whether it stimulates the baby to move."

Stillbirths often happen later in pregnancy, when most people should feel regular fetal movements.

"If you're in your third trimester and you are noticing reduced movements, sit down and concentrate on the baby's movements, trying the above tips to stimulate the baby to move," Welsh suggested. "As a rule of thumb, if you've not felt 10 movements in one hour, call your midwife or maternity unit. It's important, however, to know what's normal for you, so if you're concerned, then speak to a professional and get checked."

Another symptom people might experience before a stillbirth is an unusual discharge, particularly if there is any bleeding from your vagina.

"Increased discharge is normal in pregnancy," Welsh explained, adding that a few unusual aspects of discharge might be warning signs:

• Any odor or discoloration, such as green, yellow or brown, could be a sign of infection in your uterus, which is potentially dangerous for the baby.
• A leakage of fluid from your vagina could be a sign your waters have broken, in which case you should speak to your midwife straight away.

What symptoms do people experience after a stillbirth?

Many people find the aftermath of a stillbirth difficult to deal with mentally, and trauma, shock and grief are very common emotions. But there are also a number of physical symptoms you might experience after a stillbirth.

"After stillbirth, your body may continue to go through changes expected alongside birth, including sore breasts, lactation or vaginal bleeding," Welsh said.

Many people have sore breasts after a stillbirth and might also experience lactation, as well as noticing that their breasts look and feel larger. This occurs because your hormone levels decline after having a baby.

"This still happens after giving birth to a stillborn baby and can be very emotionally distressing," Welsh said. "Your breasts may feel very tight and sore when the milk comes in. This typically happens in the first few days after giving birth."

You can manage any pain in your breasts and try to suppress the breast milk by applying ice packs to your breasts, using pain relief medication, as well as having a warm shower.

"Some people also take medication to suppress breast milk, which is something you can discuss with your doctor to see whether they're suitable for you," Welsh recommended.

People who have had a stillbirth might also experience pelvic pain, which can feel similar to labor contractions, cramps or strong period pain. This pain occurs because after a stillbirth, your womb contracts back to its normal size and usual location.

Vaginal bleeding is another common symptom people experience after a stillbirth. This is completely normal, Welsh said. It's called lochia, which is your body's way of shedding the lining of your womb and blood from where your placenta was attached. But the bleeding should become lighter as time passes; heavy only during the first two weeks and becoming much lighter in the weeks following, potentially lasting until six weeks after the stillbirth.

"Straight after the birth, it may have some small clots in [it], and the color gradually changes from fresh red to pink then brown over the weeks," Welsh explained. "As long as the bleeding is reduced, be reassured that things are improving. However, if the bleeding keeps getting heavier or more painful, or you're concerned, then it's important to speak with your doctor, as this could be a sign of an infection or, potentially, some placental tissue being left inside the uterus."

You can wear a pad to absorb the blood, but avoid wearing tampons for the first six weeks after a stillbirth, as this could cause infection.

If you experience dizziness or have a high temperature after a stillbirth, it's a good idea to contact your doctor. And if there are any other unusual symptoms that you feel concerned about, speak to a medical professional.