Pregnancy outcome after stillbirth

OBJECTIVE: To assess the subsequent pregnancy outcome in women with previous stillbirth. STUDY DESIGN: The study included all women (n = 54) who delivered a stillbirth between 1997 and 2001 in our department. A control group of women with live birth (n = 108) was matched for delivery within the same year, maternal age (+/- 3 years), parity (+/- 1) and gestational age at delivery (+/- 2 weeks). On February 1, 2004, the charts of these women were examined for subsequent pregnancies. RESULTS: Similar subsequent pregnancy rates were found in women with previous stillbirth and live birth (61.1% and 54.6%), respectively. There were no recurrences of stillbirth; gestational age at delivery, birth weight and Apgar score at 5 minutes were similar to those in the control group, and there was no statistically significant increase in abortion, induction or cesarean section rates. CONCLUSION: There is a favorable outcome in pregnancy following stillbirth. This information is useful for prepregnancy counseling of parents with previous stillbirth.