Stillbirths in Auckland 1983-1986.

One hundred and ninety eight stillbirth deliveries occurred in three major obstetric departments of Auckland hospitals between July, 1983 and June, 1986. Post mortem examinations were performed in 74.7% of cases. The overall stillbirth rate was 5.92 per 1000 total births and the major causes of death were fetal abnormality, fetal anoxia and unexplained fetal death. Of normally formed stillbirths, about 60% occurred in uncomplicated pregnancies. Intracranial haemorrhage was common amongst Pacific Island patients while abruptio placentae occurred more commonly in caucasians. The study suggests that stillbirths occur more commonly in small for dates infants at earlier gestations, but this trend has disappeared by term. Cord problems were rare and occurred mainly in babies over 2500 g, and the absence of post mortem evidence of anoxia in the majority of these babies may suggest that the cord complications occurred as a post mortem phenomenon. Cardiotocographs were recorded 24 hours prior to death in 16 patients. The risk of stillbirth during each subsequent week of pregnancy is calculated and it is found that this risk increases sharply after 42 weeks gestation.