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Volume 12 Supplement 1

Proceedings of the Stillbirth Summit 2011

  • Oral presentation
  • Open Access

Concluding remarks

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth201212 (Suppl 1) :A14

https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-12-S1-A14

©  Mitchell; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2012

  • Published:

Keywords

  • Conceptual Model
  • Risk Model
  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Critical Event
  • Specific Risk
This forum allowed for the discussion and exploration of a number of issues relating to stillbirth that have either been given minimal attention, or are emerging hypotheses. Research has identified many risk factors that may contribute or are associated with stillbirth. These risk factors have odds ratios between 2 and 3 indicating that it is unlikely that any of these are the definitive cause of stillbirth, rather they might be additive or interact together resulting in a stillbirth particularly if the fetus is somehow vulnerable. Two of the authors (EM & JW) presented conceptual models at the conference which were adapted from the SIDS triple risk model (Figure 1 and 2 respectively) [1–3]. Both models are more applicable to unexplained stillbirths rather than when there is a single clear cut cause. These show that that stillbirth may occur when there are prevailing risk factors, especially intrauterine or maternal disposition, accompanied by a stressor or critical event if the fetus is vulnerable.
Figure 1
Figure 1

Conceptual model for the mechanism of stillbirths (developed by EM).

Figure 2
Figure 2

Conceptual model for the mechanism of stillbirths (developed by JW) [2] and adapted from Rognum and Saugstad [3].

These conceptual models were endorsed by the researchers, and suggestions for improving them were made, including adding specific risk factors such as maternal diabetes, placental abruption, maternal smoking and maternal age.

There was healthy and robust debate, both between the presenters and the attendees and between the researchers themselves, which brought a richness to the meeting. Alongside the energy and passion to see a real change in the devastating number of babies that die before birth, there was a moderating voice from a number of the researchers for the need for robust, peer reviewed evidence to be generated before significant recommendations for change in practice, or public health campaigns are launched.

Declarations

Acknowledgement

We thank the Star Legacy Foundation who organised and funded the meeting. We also sincerely thank the many parents who attended. They ensured the meeting had energy and focus, and reminded us that stillbirths cause so much grief. Professor Ed Mitchell is supported in part by Cure Kids.

Star Legacy Foundation ~ 11305 Hawk High Court * Eden Prairie, MN 55347

http://www.starlegacyfoundation.org/

Organising committee: Sherokee Ilse, Shauna Libsack and Lindsey Wimmer

Authors’ Affiliations

(1)
University of Auckland, New Zealand

References

  1. Filiano JJ, Kinney HC: A perspective on neuropathologic findings in victims of the sudden infant death syndrome: the triple-risk model. Biol Neonate. 1994, 65: 194-197. 10.1159/000244052.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
  2. Warland JE: Is maternal hypotension during pregnancy and/or posterior located placenta associated with increased risk of stillbirth? A case-control study. PhD thesis. 2007, 168-(accessed 11 Jan 2012), [http://hdl.handle.net/2440/37872]Google Scholar
  3. Rognum TO, Saugstad OD: Biochemical and immunological studies in SIDS victims. Clues to understanding the death mechanism. Acta Paediatr Suppl. 1993, 82 (Suppl 389): 82-85.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar

Copyright

© Mitchell; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2012

This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

ISSN: 1471-2393

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