Dødfødt

Dødfødt, or stillbirth, refers to the birth of a baby who shows no signs of life at birth. In medical usage, the Norwegian term dødfødt is used to describe stillbirth, a loss occurring after fetal life has ceased in utero. Definitions vary by country, but most commonly a stillbirth is defined as the birth of a baby who is not breathing or showing other signs of life after a specified gestational age, typically around 20 to 28 completed weeks, or when the infant reaches a certain birth weight in some systems.

Causes of dødfødt are diverse and often multifactorial. They can involve placental problems that restrict oxygen and nutrients, fetal congenital anomalies, infections, or maternal medical conditions such as chronic hypertension, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, or anemia. Other contributing factors include smoking, illicit drug use, obesity, advanced maternal age, and complications in multiple pregnancies or intrauterine growth restriction. In many cases, no single cause is identified, and investigators may pursue placental analysis, fetal autopsy, genetic testing, and infection screening to determine possible factors and inform future pregnancies.

Diagnosis and investigation typically take place at delivery, when life signs are absent. Postmortem examinations, including placental pathology and genetic testing, are used to explore potential causes and to guide counseling for the parents. Prenatal care that emphasizes risk assessment, maternal health, infection prevention, and timely management of complications is important for reducing risk in some populations.

The occurrence of dødfødt has significant emotional and psychological impacts on families and communities, underscoring the importance of supportive care, counseling, and access to bereavement services.