The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

What’s the difference between miscarriage and stillbirth?

  • Written by Gita Mishra, Professor of Life Course Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland
What’s the difference between miscarriage and stillbirth?

What’s the difference?[1] is a new editorial product that explains the similarities and differences between commonly confused health and medical terms, and why they matter.

Former US First Lady Michelle Obama revealed[2] in her memoir she had a miscarriage. UK singer-songwriter and actor Lily Allen has gone on the record[3] about her stillbirth.

Both miscarriage and stillbirth are sadly familiar terms for pregnancy loss. They can be traumatic life events for the prospective parents and family, and their impacts can be long-lasting. But the terms can be confused.

Here are some similarities and differences between miscarriage and stillbirth, and why they matter.

Let’s start with some definitions

In broad terms, a miscarriage is when a pregnancy ends while the fetus is not yet viable (before it could survive outside the womb).

This is the loss of an “intra-uterine” pregnancy, when an embryo is implanted in the womb to then develop into a fetus. The term miscarriage excludes ectopic pregnancies, where the embryo is implanted outside the womb.

However, stillbirth refers to the end of a pregnancy when the fetus is normally viable. There may have been sufficient time into the pregnancy. Alternatively, the fetus may have grown large enough to be normally expected to survive, but it dies in the womb or during delivery.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare defines stillbirth[4] as a fetal death of at least 20 completed weeks of gestation or with a birthweight of at least 400 grams.

Internationally, definitions of stillbirth vary[5] depending on[6] the jurisdiction[7].

How common are they?

It is difficult to know how common miscarriages are as they can happen when a woman doesn’t know she is pregnant. There may be no obvious symptoms or something that looks like a heavier-than-normal period. So miscarriages are likely to be more common than reported.

Studies[8] from Europe and North America suggest a miscarriage occurs in about one in seven pregnancies (15%). More than one in eight women (13%) will have a miscarriage at some time in her life.

Around 1–2%[9] of women have recurrent miscarriages. In Australia[10] this is when someone has three or more miscarriages with no pregnancy in between.

Australia has one of the lowest rates of stillbirth in the world. The rate has been relatively steady over the past 20 years at 0.7% or around[11] seven per 1,000 pregnancies.

Who’s at risk? Someone who has already had a miscarriage or stillbirth has an increased risk of that outcome again in a subsequent pregnancy. Compared with women who have had a live birth, those who have had a stillbirth have double the risk[12] of another. For those who have had recurrent miscarriages, the risk of another miscarriage is four-fold[13] higher. Some factors have a u-shaped relationship, with the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth lowest in the middle. For instance, maternal age is a risk factor for both miscarriage[14] and stillbirth[15], especially if under 20 years old or older than 35. Increasing age of the male is only a risk factor[16] for stillbirth, especially for fathers over 40. Pregnant woman sitting on lap of man, man's arms around woman's belly An older dad can be a risk factor for stillbirth, but not miscarriage. Elizaveta Galitckaia/Shutterstock[17] Similarly for maternal bodyweight, women with a body mass index or BMI in the normal range have the lowest risk of miscarriage[18] and stillbirth[19] compared with those in the obese or underweight categories. Lifestyle factors such as smoking and heavy alcohol drinking while pregnant are also risk factors for both miscarriage and stillbirth. So it’s important to not only avoid smoking and alcohol while pregnant, but before getting pregnant. This is because early in the pregnancy, women may not know they have conceived and could unwittingly expose the developing fetus. Why do they happen? Miscarriage often results from chromosomal problems in the developing fetus. However, genetic conditions or birth defects account for[20] only 7-14%[21] of stillbirths. Instead, stillbirths often relate[22] directly to pregnancy complications[23], such as a prolonged pregnancy or problems with the umbilical cord. Maternal health[24] at the time of pregnancy is another contributing factor in the risk of both miscarriage and stillbirths. Chronic diseases, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), polycystic ovary syndrome, problems with the immune system (such as an autoimmune disorder), and some bacterial and viral infections are among factors that can increase the risk[25] of miscarriage. Similarly mothers with diabetes, high blood pressure, and untreated infections, such as malaria or syphilis, face an increased risk[26] of stillbirth. In many cases, however, the specific cause of pregnancy loss is not known. How about the long-term health risks? Miscarriage and stillbirth can be early indicators[27] of health issues later in life. For instance, women who have had recurrent miscarriages or recurrent stillbirths are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease[28] (such as heart disease or stroke). Our research[29] has also looked at the increased risk of stroke. Compared with women who had never miscarried, we found women with a history of three or more miscarriages had a 35% higher risk of non-fatal stroke and 82% higher risk of fatal stroke. Women who had a stillbirth had a 31% higher risk of a non-fatal stroke, and those who had had two or more stillbirths were at a 26% higher risk of a fatal stroke. We saw similar patterns in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD, a progressive lung disease with respiratory symptoms such as breathlessness and coughing. Our data showed women with a history of recurrent miscarriages or stillbirths were at a 36% or 67% higher risk[30] of COPD, respectively, even after accounting for a history of asthma. Woman of Asian heritage sitting in living room coughing, hand to mouth Long-term health risks of recurrent miscarriages or stillbirths include developing lung disease later in life. PRPicturesProduction/Shutterstock[31] Why is all this important? Being well-informed about the similarities and differences between these two traumatic life events may help explain what has happened to you or a loved one. Where risk factors can be modified, such as smoking and obesity, this information can be empowering for individuals who wish to reduce their risk of miscarriage and stillbirth and make lifestyle changes before they become pregnant. More information and support about miscarriage and stillbirth is available from SANDS[32] and Pink Elephants[33]. References^ What’s the difference? (theconversation.com)^ revealed (www.pbs.org)^ gone on the record (www.usmagazine.com)^ defines stillbirth (www.aihw.gov.au)^ vary (www.nhs.uk)^ depending on (www.cdc.gov)^ the jurisdiction (www.who.int)^ Studies (www.thelancet.com)^ 1–2% (www.thelancet.com)^ In Australia (miscarriageaustralia.com.au)^ or around (www.aihw.gov.au)^ double the risk (bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com)^ four-fold (www.thelancet.com)^ miscarriage (www.thelancet.com)^ stillbirth (www.thelancet.com)^ risk factor (link.springer.com)^ Elizaveta Galitckaia/Shutterstock (www.shutterstock.com)^ miscarriage (www.thelancet.com)^ stillbirth (www.thelancet.com)^ account for (www.thelancet.com)^ 7-14% (jamanetwork.com)^ often relate (www.thelancet.com)^ pregnancy complications (jamanetwork.com)^ Maternal health (www.nichd.nih.gov)^ increase the risk (www.nichd.nih.gov)^ increased risk (www.nichd.nih.gov)^ early indicators (www.thelancet.com)^ cardiovascular disease (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)^ research (www.bmj.com)^ 36% or 67% higher risk (thorax.bmj.com)^ PRPicturesProduction/Shutterstock (www.shutterstock.com)^ SANDS (www.sands.org.au)^ Pink Elephants (www.pinkelephants.org.au)

Read more https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-miscarriage-and-stillbirth-225660

Times Magazine

Building a Strong Online Presence with Katoomba Web Design

Katoomba web design is more than just creating a website that looks good—it’s about building an online presence that reflects your brand, engages your audience, and drives results. For local businesses in the Blue Mountains, a well-designed website a...

September Sunset Polo

International Polo Tour To Bridge Historic Sport, Life-Changing Philanthropy, and Breath-Taking Beauty On Saturday, September 6th, history will be made as the International Polo Tour (IPT), a sports leader headquartered here in South Florida...

5 Ways Microsoft Fabric Simplifies Your Data Analytics Workflow

In today's data-driven world, businesses are constantly seeking ways to streamline their data analytics processes. The sheer volume and complexity of data can be overwhelming, often leading to bottlenecks and inefficiencies. Enter the innovative da...

7 Questions to Ask Before You Sign IT Support Companies in Sydney

Choosing an IT partner can feel like buying an insurance policy you hope you never need. The right choice keeps your team productive, your data safe, and your budget predictable. The wrong choice shows up as slow tickets, surprise bills, and risky sh...

Choosing the Right Legal Aid Lawyer in Sutherland Shire: Key Considerations

Legal aid services play an essential role in ensuring access to justice for all. For people in the Sutherland Shire who may not have the financial means to pay for private legal assistance, legal aid ensures that everyone has access to representa...

Watercolor vs. Oil vs. Digital: Which Medium Fits Your Pet's Personality?

When it comes to immortalizing your pet’s unique personality in art, choosing the right medium is essential. Each artistic medium, whether watercolor, oil, or digital, has distinct qualities that can bring out the spirit of your furry friend in dif...

The Times Features

NSW has a new fashion sector strategy – but a sustainable industry needs a federally legislated response

The New South Wales government recently announced the launch of the NSW Fashion Sector Strategy, 2025–28[1]. The strategy, developed in partnership with the Australian Fashion ...

From Garden to Gift: Why Roses Make the Perfect Present

Think back to the last time you gave or received flowers. Chances are, roses were part of the bunch, or maybe they were the whole bunch.   Roses tend to leave an impression. Even ...

Do I have insomnia? 5 reasons why you might not

Even a single night of sleep trouble can feel distressing and lonely. You toss and turn, stare at the ceiling, and wonder how you’ll cope tomorrow. No wonder many people star...

Wedding Photography Trends You Need to Know (Before You Regret Your Album)

Your wedding album should be a timeless keepsake, not something you cringe at years later. Trends may come and go, but choosing the right wedding photography approach ensures your ...

Can you say no to your doctor using an AI scribe?

Doctors’ offices were once private. But increasingly, artificial intelligence (AI) scribes (also known as digital scribes) are listening in. These tools can record and trans...

There’s a new vaccine for pneumococcal disease in Australia. Here’s what to know

The Australian government announced last week there’s a new vaccine[1] for pneumococcal disease on the National Immunisation Program for all children. This vaccine replaces pr...