Vim & Vigor - Summer 2020 - UVA - 50

When to
Talk to Your
Doctor

Don't let statistics about
stillbirth scare you.
Instead, use this information to empower you. The
most important thing is
to pay attention to your
baby's movement patterns and notice if there
is a decrease or change in
pattern. Tell your doctor
when you have concerns.
Your care team will be
able to reassure you or
intervene, if necessary.
Donald Dudley, MD, and
his colleagues at the
UVA Maternal and Fetal
Medicine Clinic specialize in caring for women
who have complications
during pregnancy. Learn
more at uvahealth.com/
pregnancy-experts.

Healing
After a
Baby Loss

Anyone who has been
affected by baby loss
is invited to receive
and give support at the
Pregnancy and Infant
Loss Support Groups
offered by UVA Health.
Six-week sessions are
held four times each year.
Email Maria Torrence at
mct3f@virginia.edu to
learn more.

It's a sweet dream that doesn't turn
into reality for all expectant moms.
One in every 100 pregnancies in the
U.S. ends in stillbirth. (The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
classifies stillbirth as death of a
baby before or during delivery
that occurs after 20 weeks.) More
babies die from stillbirth than sudden infant death syndrome, known
as SIDS.
"Fortunately, most of obstetrics
is a great field with wonderful
outcomes, but I deal with a lot
of tragedy," says Donald Dudley,
MD. "Worldwide, stillbirth is a
tremendous problem. Even in the
U.S., there are more stillbirths
than there are infant deaths. SIDS
gets all the press, but stillbirth is
more common."
In the Maternal and Fetal
Medicine Clinic at UVA Health,
Dr. Dudley cares for expecting
moms who have higher-risk pregnancies. He specializes in caring
for women who have recurrent
pregnancy loss, prior stillbirth or
prior preterm labor.
Stillbirth is traumatic. It can cause
long-term grief, disrupt relationships and spark mental health challenges. It's important for moms to
know that stillbirth is not their fault.

Warning Signs

The causes of most stillbirths are
unknown, but understanding the
signs that the baby is in distress
increases the odds that she can be
saved. Dr. Dudley recommends
all mothers pay close attention to
their bodies and their babies' movement habits.
"The vast majority of stillbirths
are preceded by a decrease in

1
100
in every

pregnancies
in the U.S. ends
in stillbirth
Source: Centers
for Disease
Control and
Prevention

movement," Dr. Dudley says. "The
best way to avoid stillbirth is to be
aware of what is going on in your
pregnancy. If you are concerned
about movement, you need to stop
everything and really pay attention.
Turn off the TV, turn off the radio,
get a piece of paper and a pen, and
focus on fetal movements."
Tally each kick and roll, and ask
yourself if your baby is behaving
differently than normal. Dr. Dudley
says to consider calling your doctor
if you don't feel at least five movements in 30 minutes. For those who
are considered high-risk, go straight
to your doctor's office or emergency

SUMMER 2020 VIM & VIGOR

FdVVSU2088_49-51_Stillbirth.indd 50

3/24/20 4:18 PM

PHOTOS BY GETTY IMAGES (TOP) AND UVA HEALTH

https://uvahealth.com/locations/profile/maternal-and-fetal-medicine-clinic https://uvahealth.com/locations/profile/maternal-and-fetal-medicine-clinic

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2020 - UVA

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