When a neonate or infant is found dead, certain findings can help determine if the baby was a stillbirth or died after delivery.
Parameter |
Stillbirth |
Live Birth |
skin |
maceration and/or diffuse erythema |
|
umbilical cord |
long and intact |
sloughing or absent |
lungs |
immature or unexpanded; sink in water |
mature and expanded; float on water |
external appearance |
blood or birthing fluids |
evidence of being cared for |
documentation at delivery |
no breathing and no pulse |
breathing and pulse, crying |
stomach |
empty of food |
food may be present, stress ulcers present |
wounds |
|
evidence of bleeding or bruising |
hands |
|
clenched hand clutching clothing or bedding |
where:
• Attempts to resuscitate a dead infant at delivery can result in aeration of the lungs.
• Body weight and size may be an unreliable sign of live birth if there was intrauterine macrosomia.
• A stillborn fetus can be washed and dressed in a hospital as part of the maternal mourning program.
If the infant is older than a newborn then it is presumed to have had a live birth.
Specialty: Clinical Laboratory, Pedatrics
ICD-10: ,