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Objectives: To investigate the risk of stillbirth in relation to (1) a previous caesarean delivery (CD) compared with those following a vaginal birth (VB); and (2) vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) compared with a repeat CD., Design: Population-based cohort study., Setting: The Swedish Medical Birth registry., Population: Women with their first and second singletons between 1982 and 2012., Methods: Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the association between CD in the first pregnancy and stillbirth in the second pregnancy and the association between VBAC and stillbirth. Sub-group analyses were performed by types of CD and timing of stillbirth (antepartum and intrapartum)., Main Outcome Measures: Stillbirth (antepartum and intrapartum fetal death)., Results: Of the 1 771 700 singleton births from 885 850 women, 117 114 (13.2%) women had a CD in the first pregnancy, and 51 755 had VBAC in the second pregnancy. We found a 37% increased odds of stillbirth (aOR 1.37; 95% CI 1.23-1.52) in women with a previous CD compared with VB. The odds of intrapartum stillbirth were higher in the previous pre-labour CD group (aOR 2.72; 95% CI 1.51-4.91) and in the previous in-labour CD group (aOR 1.35; 95% CI 0.76-2.40), although not statistically significant in the latter case. No increased odds were found for intrapartum stillbirth in women who had VBAC (aOR 0.99; 95% CI 0.48-2.06) compared with women who had a repeat CD., Conclusions: This study confirms that a CD is associated with an increased risk of subsequent stillbirth, with a greater risk among pre-labour CD. This association is not solely mediated by increases in intrapartum asphyxia, uterine rupture or attempted VBAC. Further research is needed to understand this association, but these findings might help healthcare providers to reach optimal decisions regarding mode of birth, particularly when CD is unnecessary., (© 2024 The Authors. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Stillbirth is a devastating adverse pregnancy outcome that may occur without any obvious reason or may occur in the context of fetal growth restriction, preeclampsia, or other obstetric complications. There is increasing evidence that women who experience stillbirths are at greater risk of long-term cardiovascular disease, but little is known about their risk of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease. We conducted the largest study to date to investigate the subsequent risk of maternal chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease following stillbirth., Objective: To identify whether pregnancy complicated by stillbirth is associated with subsequent risk of maternal chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease, independent of underlying medical or obstetric comorbidities., Study Design/methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study using nationwide data from the Swedish Medical Birth Register, National Patient Register, and Swedish Renal Register. We included all women who had live births and stillbirths from 1973 to 2012, with follow-up to 2013. Women with preexisting renal disease were excluded. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for associations between stillbirth and maternal chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease respectively. We controlled for maternal age, year of delivery, country of origin, parity, body mass index, smoking, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and small for gestational age deliveries. Women who had a history of medical comorbidities, which may predispose to renal disease (prepregnancy cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, lupus, systemic sclerosis, hemoglobinopathy, or coagulopathy), were excluded from the main analysis and examined separately., Results: There were 1,941,057 unique women who had 3,755,444 singleton pregnancies, followed up over 42,313,758 person-years. The median follow-up time was 20.7 years (interquartile range, 9.9-30.0 years). 13,032 women (0.7%) had at least 1 stillbirth. Women who had experienced at least 1 stillbirth had a greater risk of developing chronic kidney disease (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-1.45) and end-stage renal disease (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.55-3.25) compared with women who only had live births. These associations persisted after removing all stillbirths that occurred in the context of preeclampsia, and small for gestational age or congenital malformations (for chronic kidney disease, adjusted hazard ratio, 1.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-1.57; for end-stage renal disease, adjusted hazard ratio, 2.95; 95% confidence interval, CI 1.86-4.68). There was no significant association observed between stillbirth and either chronic kidney disease or end-stage renal disease in women who had preexisting medical comorbidities (chronic kidney disease, adjusted hazard ratio, 1.13; 95% confidence interval, 0.73-1.75 or end-stage renal disease, adjusted hazard ratio, 1.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.78-2.85)., Conclusion: Women who have a history of stillbirth may be at increased risk of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease compared with women who have only had live births. This association persists independently of preeclampsia, and small for gestational age, maternal smoking, obesity, and medical comorbidities. Further research is required to determine whether affected women would benefit from closer surveillance and follow-up for future renal disease., (Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To compare causes of stillbirth in preterm and term pregnancies., Design: Cohort study., Setting: All delivery wards in Stockholm, 1998-2009., Population: Stillbirths from singleton pregnancies of gestational age ≥22(+0) (n = 1089) extracted from a web-based database including all stillbirths in the major Stockholm area since 1998., Methods: The parents of the stillborns were all offered an extensive standardized investigation. The causes of death were assigned in a perinatal audit using the Stockholm classification of stillbirth. Singleton stillbirths were divided into preterm (gestational week 22(+0) -36(+6) ) and term/post-term (gestational week ≥37(+0) ). The term/post-term group was subdivided into term (gestational week 37(+0) -40(+6) ) and post-term stillbirths (gestational week ≥41(+0) )., Main Outcome Measure: Causes of stillbirth at different gestational ages., Results: A higher proportion of placental abruption and preeclampsia/hypertension was seen in preterm stillbirths compared with term/post-term stillbirths, which instead had a higher proportion of umbilical cord complications and infection. Infection was more common in post-term than term stillbirths (46.5 vs. 19.8%, p < 0.001)., Conclusion: Increased knowledge of causes of stillbirth in different gestational ages may be valuable in developing strategies for prevention of fetal death. The high proportion of infection in post-term stillbirths could be clinically important and warrants further studies., (© 2013 Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare placental findings from early preterm stillbirths with gestational week-matched liveborn infants. The main focus was to investigate the differences in the presence and distribution of inflammatory signs in the placentas of these two groups, especially referring to histological acute chorioamnionitis (CAM)., Methods: A case-control study of preterm stillbirths, between 22 and 32 weeks gestation, here referred to as early preterm, (cases, n = 112) and gestational week-matched liveborn infants (references, n = 166) in Stockholm. Relevant clinical data were collected from a web-based database (for cases) and delivery records (for references). Macroscopic and histological examinations of placentas were performed according to a structured protocol (placental weight relative to gestational age, accelerated villous maturation, infarction, intervillous thrombosis, foetal thrombosis, chronic villitis and CAM (polymorphonuclear leucocytes in the chorion/amnion), with and without foetal inflammatory responses (FIRs) (vasculitis in placental and/or cord vessels and funisitis). Statistical analyses were performed using a multivariable logistic regression., Results: Small for gestational age (AOR: 2.13, CI: 1.26-3.62) and CAM without a FIR (AOR: 2.44, CI: 1.10-5.41) were associated with an elevated risk of preterm stillbirth., Conclusions: Histological acute CAM without a FIR is associated with a higher risk for stillbirth in early preterm pregnancies.

Objective: To elucidate differences in the frequency and severity of acute chorioamnionitis (CAM) and chronic villitis in placentas from stillborns compared with liveborns at term and to evaluate other risk factors and placental findings., Design: Case-control study., Setting: All delivery wards in major Stockholm area. Population or Sample. Placentas from stillborn/case (n = 126) and liveborn/control (n = 273) neonates were prospectively collected between 2002 and 2005., Methods: CAM was assessed on a three-grade scale based on the presence and distribution of polymorphonuclear leucocytes in the chorion/amnion. The presence of vasculitis and funisitis was recorded separately. Chronic villitis was diagnosed by the presence of mononuclear cells in the villous stroma. Relevant clinical data were collected from a specially constructed, web-based database. The statistic analyses were performed using multivariable logistic regression., Results: CAM (especially severe, AOR: 7.39 CI: 3.05-17.95), villous immaturity (AOR: 7.17 CI: 2.66-19.33), villitis (<1 % AOR: 4.31 CI: 1.16-15.98; ≥ 1 %, AOR: 3.87 CI: 1.38-10.83), SGA (AOR: 7.52 CI: 3.06-18.48), and BMI >24.9 (AOR: 2.06 CI: 1.21-3.51) were all connected to an elevated risk of term stillbirth., Conclusions: We found that CAM, chronic villitis, villous immaturity, SGA, and maternal overweight, but not vasculitis or funisitis are independently associated with risk for stillbirth at term.

Objectives: To investigate the risk of stillbirth in relation to (1) a previous caesarean delivery (CD) compared with those following a vaginal birth (VB); and (2) vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) compared with a repeat CD. Design: Population‐based cohort study. Setting: The Swedish Medical Birth registry. Population: Women with their first and second singletons between 1982 and 2012. Methods: Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the association between CD in the first pregnancy and stillbirth in the second pregnancy and the association between VBAC and stillbirth. Sub‐group analyses were performed by types of CD and timing of stillbirth (antepartum and intrapartum). Main outcome measures: Stillbirth (antepartum and intrapartum fetal death). Results: Of the 1 771 700 singleton births from 885 850 women, 117 114 (13.2%) women had a CD in the first pregnancy, and 51 755 had VBAC in the second pregnancy. We found a 37% increased odds of stillbirth (aOR 1.37; 95% CI 1.23–1.52) in women with a previous CD compared with VB. The odds of intrapartum stillbirth were higher in the previous pre‐labour CD group (aOR 2.72; 95% CI 1.51–4.91) and in the previous in‐labour CD group (aOR 1.35; 95% CI 0.76–2.40), although not statistically significant in the latter case. No increased odds were found for intrapartum stillbirth in women who had VBAC (aOR 0.99; 95% CI 0.48–2.06) compared with women who had a repeat CD. Conclusions: This study confirms that a CD is associated with an increased risk of subsequent stillbirth, with a greater risk among pre‐labour CD. This association is not solely mediated by increases in intrapartum asphyxia, uterine rupture or attempted VBAC. Further research is needed to understand this association, but these findings might help healthcare providers to reach optimal decisions regarding mode of birth, particularly when CD is unnecessary. Linked article: This article is commented on by Pisake Lumbiganon et al., pp. 1062‐1063 in this issue. To view this mini commentary visit https://doi.org/10.1111/1471‐0528.17795. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Our study evaluated how a history of stillbirth in either of the first two pregnancies affects the risk of having a stillbirth or other adverse pregnancy outcomes in the third subsequent pregnancy. Material and Methods: We used the Swedish Medical Birth Register to define a population‐based cohort of women who had at least three singleton births from 1973 to 2012. The exposure of interest was a history of stillbirth in either of the first two pregnancies. The primary outcome was subsequent stillbirth in the third pregnancy. Secondary outcomes included: preterm birth, preeclampsia, placental abruption and small‐for‐gestational‐age infant. Adjusted logistic regression was performed including maternal age, body mass index, smoking, diabetes and hypertension. A sensitivity analysis was performed excluding stillbirths associated with congenital anomalies, pregestational and gestational diabetes, hypertension and preterm stillbirths. Results: The study contained data on 1 316 175 births, including 8911 stillbirths. Compared with women who had two live births, the highest odds of stillbirth in the third pregnancy were observed in women who had two stillbirths (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 11.40, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.75–47.70), followed by those who had stillbirth in the second birth (live birth–stillbirth) (aOR 3.59, 95% CI 2.58–4.98), but the odds were still elevated in those whose first birth ended in stillbirth (stillbirth–live birth) (aOR 2.35, 1.68, 3.28). Preterm birth, pre‐eclampsia and placental abruption followed a similar pattern. The odds of having a small‐for‐gestational‐age infant were highest in women whose first birth ended in stillbirth (aOR 1.93, 95% CI 1.66–2.24). The increased odds of having a stillbirth in a third pregnancy when either of the earlier births ended in stillbirth remained when stillbirths associated with congenital anomalies, pregestational and gestational diabetes, hypertension or preterm stillbirths were excluded. However, when preterm stillbirths were excluded, the strength of the association was reduced. Conclusions: Even when they have had a live‐born infant, women with a history of stillbirth have an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes; this cannot be solely accounted for by the recurrence of congenital anomalies or maternal medical disorders. This suggests that women with a history of stillbirth should be offered additional surveillance for subsequent pregnancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To elucidate differences in the frequency and severity of acute chorioamnionitis (CAM) and chronic villitis in placentas from stillborns compared with liveborns at term and to evaluate other risk factors and placental findings. Design. Case-control study. Setting. All delivery wards in major Stockholm area. Population or Sample. Placentas from stillborn/case (n = 126) and liveborn/control (n = 273) neonates were prospectively collected between 2002 and 2005. Methods. CAM was assessed on a three-grade scale based on the presence and distribution of polymorphonuclear leucocytes in the chorion/amnion. The presence of vasculitis and funisitis was recorded separately. Chronic villitis was diagnosed by the presence of mononuclear cells in the villous stroma. Relevant clinical data were collected from a specially constructed, web-based database. The statistic analyses were performed using multivariable logistic regression. Results. CAM (especially severe, AOR: 7.39 CI: 3.05-17.95), villous immaturity (AOR: 7.17 CI: 2.66-19.33), villitis (<1 % AOR: 4.31 CI: 1.16-15.98; ≥ 1 %, AOR: 3.87 CI: 1.38-10.83), SGA (AOR: 7.52 CI: 3.06- 18.48), and BMI > 24.9 (AOR: 2.06 CI: 1.21-3.51) were all connected to an elevated risk of term stillbirth. Conclusions. We found that CAM, chronic villitis, villous immaturity, SGA, and maternal overweight, but not vasculitis or funisitis are independently associated with risk for stillbirth at term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To design and validate a classification system for audit groups working with stillbirth. The classification includes well-defined primary and associated conditions related to fetal death. Design. Descriptive. Setting. All delivery wards in Stockholm. Population. Stillbirths from 22 completed weeks in Stockholm, Sweden. Methods. Parallel to audit work, the Stockholm stillbirth group has developed a classification of conditions related to stillbirth. The classification has been validated. Main outcome measure. The classification and the results of the validation are presented. Result. The classification with 17 groups identifying underlying conditions related to stillbirth (primary diagnoses) and associated factors which may have contributed to the death (associated diagnoses) is described. The conditions are subdivided into definite, probable and possible relation to the death. An evaluation of 382 cases of stillbirth during 2002-2005 resulted in 382 primary diagnoses and 132 associated diagnoses. The most common conditions identified were intrauterine growth restriction/placental insufficiency (23%), infection (19%), malformations/chromosomal abnormalities (12%). The 'unexplained' group together with the 'unknown' group comprised 18%. Validation was done by reclassification of 95 cases from 2005 by six investigators. The overall agreement regarding primary diagnosis was substantial (kappa=0.70). Conclusions. The Stockholm classification of stillbirth consists of 17 diagnostic groups allowing one primary diagnosis and if needed, associated diagnoses. Diagnoses are subdivided according to definite, probable and possible relation to stillbirth. Validation showed high degree of agreement regarding primary diagnosis. The classification can provide a useful tool for clinicians and audit groups when discussing cause and underlying conditions of fetal death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]