Intrauterine fetal demise: A retrospective study in tertiary care center

Abstract

Aim: To establish the possible components of stillbirths or intrauterine foetal demise.Methods: The current study included all pregnant women who were delivered at the hospital with Intrauterine Fetal Demise or Still Birth at or after 24 weeks of pregnancy. Maternal age, parity, probable cause for Intrauterine Fetal Demise, booked/unbooked case, route of delivery (vaginal/LSCS), and maternal complications-early were among the variables examined. Results: The mean age of women was 27.19±4.93 (20-39) years with majority in 20-25 years age group (48.2%). Most of the intra-uterine death was between women with primigravida (3.7%), 1-2 gravida (16.4%), 2-4 gravida (41.1%) and Gestational age of 28-30 weeks (14.2%), 30-32 weeks (22.4), 32-34 weeks (8.1). Normal delivery was among 62.3% and Emergency LSCS was done for 27.1% and elective LSCS for 7.1%. Distribution were 49.4% male and 50.6% female babies with 76.5% low birth weight babies. The factor contributing to intra-uterine death were Pregnancy induced hypertension (29.0%), Antepartum hemorrhage (21.8%), Anemia (14.5%), Fetal growth retardation (10.9%), congenital malformation (9.4%), Prematurity (3.5%) and Unknown (5.9%).Conclusion: The causes of IUFD are multifactorial, and they can be avoided via community education, effective obstetric care, and prompt medical intervention to prevent stillbirth and improve India's perinatal mortality rate.