Stillbirths--ten years experience at Toa Payoh Hospital

An analysis of 287 consecutive stillbirths associated with 47,171 deliveries in Toa Payoh Hospital between 1978 and 1987 was undertaken. The incidence of stillbirths was 6.1 +/- 1.26 per 1,000 total births. 149 out of 287 cases (51.9%) had known causes of death. Intrauterine anoxia and congenital malformations are the commonest diagnosis. In contrast, in 48.1% (138/287) of the stillbirths, we were unable to determine the underlying causes because of maceration and a low autopsy rate. Among the 287 stillborn infants, 54% were born prematurely, and 64.2% were born with birth weights of less than 2,500 g. 8.4% of the mothers had a past history of one to three abortions, and 5.6% of the mothers had a past history of one or more stilbirths. This study showed that the stillbirth rate in this hospital has not changed significantly in the last ten years.