Conditions Associated with Intrauterine Fetal Demise (IUFD) in Pregnant Women at King Abdulaziz University (KAUH). A Five-Year Experience

Abstract

Background: Intrauterine fetal demise is the death of the fetus after twenty week of gestation but before the onset of labor. In more than 50% of cases, the etiology of antepartum fetal death is not known or cannot be determined. Several factors attributed to the risk of IUFD. This study aimed to determine the incidence of IUFD, as well as associated conditions. Method: This retrospective study enrolled all pregnant women who attending at KAUH between 2011 and 2015. Results: During the last five years 248 verified IUFD cases were reported, the mean age was 30.59. Saudi nationality represented by 27 %. PET was represented 17.7% and congenital malformation was represented by 7.3% as risk factors. Regarding the mode of delivery SVD was 58.9% followed by CS 28.6. Conclusion: Stillbirth is an unfavorable event, there are several factors (maternal, fetal & placenta) associated with IUFD. Providing good level of antenatal care helped in reducing IUFD incidence.

Incidence and Causes of Stillbirth in Omdurman Maternity Hospital, Sudan: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study

“…In Italy, a 10-year retrospective study demonstrated an incidence rate of 2.8%. The latter study also showed a decline in the incidence of intrauterine fetal demise (IUDF) from 3.1‰ in 2005-2008 to 2.3‰ in the period 2013-2015 [ 9 ]. Our rate is comparable to Sub-Saharan and some Asian regions but it is definitively higher than that of developed countries.…”

“…There is a significant decrease in the incidence of stillbirths in high-income countries over the last decades [ 9 , 19 ]. However, most of this decline has occurred in pregnancies with advanced gestational age, mainly due to implemented health programs targeting this group at this gestational age.…”

“…There was a huge positive change in ANC over the past decades. Evidence indicates that early visits positively impact maternal and fetal health due to early diagnosis, intervention, and screening programs [ 9 ]. However, studies’ results have shown that fetal deaths can occur even in women who had adequate ANC [ 10 ].…”

Maternal Anxiety and Depression in Third-Trimester Intrauterine Fetal Death: A Case Report

“…The causes of fetal death can occur due to various factors, such as the mother, fetus, or placenta condition. 4 IUFD or stillbirth if we categorize based on gestational age, 20-27 weeks as early stillbirth, 28-36 weeks as of late stillbirth, and 37 weeks or more as term stillbirth. 5 Diagnostic criteria for fetal death in utero include: the pregnant uterus is no longer getting bigger, it is even getting smaller; fetal movement is no longer felt; no fetal heart sounds were found on examination; the shape of the uterus is not as firm as a normal pregnancy.…”

A Study on the Bangladeshi Mothers' Experiences with Intrauterine Fetal Death (IUFD)

“…For parents, a stillbirth-the death of the baby before or during delivery-is a traumatic experience. There are still a lot of occurrences of IUFD, which may be brought on by a variety of variables, including the mother, fetus, and placenta, despite a significant improvement in healthcare quality [2]. Fetal death is shown by the absence of signs of life, such as heartbeat, umbilical cord pulses, muscle contractions, and breathing efforts, following separation [3].…”