Fetal Death

Chapter 22 - Fetal Death

from Section 3 - Late Prenatal – Fetal Problems

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 November 2017

Uma M. Reddy and

Edited by

Bernard Gonik and

David James: Affiliation:
University of Nottingham
Philip Steer: Affiliation:
Imperial College London
Carl Weiner: Affiliation:
University of Kansas
Bernard Gonik: Affiliation:
Wayne State University, Detroit
Stephen Robson: Affiliation:
University of Newcastle

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Summary

The US National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) defines fetal death as “death prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from the mother of a product of human conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy and which is not an induced termination of pregnancy.” This definition is subcategorized by the gestational age at which the demise occurred: embryonic death at ≤ 12+6 weeks, early fetal death at 13–19+6 weeks’ gestation, intermediate fetal death at 20–27+6 weeks’ gestation, and late fetal death at ≥28 weeks’ gestation. The NCHS recommends reporting fetal deaths at ≥ 20 weeks’ gestation or, should the gestational age be unknown, a fetal weight of ≥ 350 grams, which represents the 50th percentile of weight at 20 weeks. Excluded from the definition of fetal death and associated statistics are losses due to induction after previable premature rupture of membranes or terminations/inductions for lethal fetal anomalies.

Type: Chapter
Information: High-Risk Pregnancy
Management Options
, pp. 567 - 578

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108349185 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

First published in: 2017

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