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Stillbirth

By Krissi Danielsson, About.com

Updated October 26, 2007

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Definition:

A pregnancy loss after the 20th week in which the baby passes away before birth. (A loss before the 20th week is a miscarriage.)

Stillbirths have any number of causes, including chromosomal abnormalities and various medical conditions in the mother. Doctors cannot always find a cause for stillbirths. Normally, stillbirths are one-time occurrences and do not recur in subsequent pregnancies.

Also Known As: Fetal demise
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