It was already known that women exposed to second-hand smoke during pregnancy have an increased risk of donating birth to a stillborn child. A new study, published in the British Medical Journal explains that this risk of stillbirth is four times higher in women who have given birth to a stillborn child in a previous pregnancy.
Stillbirth, the death of the fetus after 20 weeks of pregnancy, occurs in about one in 160 pregnancies, most often before childbirth. Poor fetal growth, placental problems (such as placental abruption), birth defects or chronic illnesses of the expectant mother are the main reasons for the death of the fetus in utero.
But to better understand the reasons for stillbirth, researchers at the University of Aberdeen (Scotland) analyzed data from 13 cohorts involving more than 3 million women from the United States, Australia, Scotland, from Denmark, Israel, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands. Of these women, 0.7% (24,541) had a stillbirth during their first pregnancy. By analyzing the number of stillbirths during a second pregnancy, they noticed that this affected 2.5% of women who had already experienced this tragedy during a previous pregnancy but only 0.4% of those who had given birth without problems before.
According to the study authors, obstetricians should consider a history of stillbirth to better counsel women who have a new birth. desire for pregnancy.
Read also :
Sudden infant death syndrome: a matter of the inner ear?
Antidepressants: no increased risk of stillbirth
