Thinking of all of my friends near and far
as we honor their babies today on
Stillbirth Remembrance Day.
I wish you all a gentle day of love and peace
as you celebrate your baby(ies) who passed too soon.
What is stillbirth?
According to Statistics Canada: Stillbirth (fetal death). Death prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy; the death is indicated by the fact that after such separation the fetus does not breathe or show any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles. Only fetal deaths where the product of conception has a birth weight of 500 grams or more or the duration of pregnancy is 20 weeks or longer are registered in Canada.
In Quebec (as well as in Saskatchewan prior to 2001 and in New Brunswick prior to November 1996), only fetal deaths (stillbirths) weighing 500 or more grams must be reported, regardless of the gestation period.
Because of these differences in reporting requirements, fetal death (stillbirth) data are presented for two gestation periods: 20 or more weeks of gestation (including fetal deaths or stillbirths with unknown weeks of gestation), and 28 or more weeks of gestation (excluding unknown weeks of gestation).
What are the statistics?
The recorded number of stillbirths in Canada in 2009 was 3234 which means that every day in Canada 9 babies are reported born still.
_________
My issue: (not with the day but with the definition)
My issue: (not with the day but with the definition)
I hate to rant and rave but I feel the need to get this off of my chest as it has been burning there for almost 3 years!
The above stated definition according to Statistics Canada rubs me the wrong way. What I have issue with is that it states: "irrespective of the duration of pregnancy", but then goes on to only include that "a birth weight of 500 grams or more or the duration of pregnancy is 20 weeks or longer are registered in Canada."
Umm.. am I the only one that sees where this doesn't add up?
It hurts because Claire was born at 17 weeks gestation...
I was induced...
I labored...
I gave birth to her....
She was born.
In my charts she is classified as a second trimester miscarriage. When I go to the doctor and they review my history they see second trimester miscarriage, or second trimester fetal demise. So clinical which I know it has to be but it hurts.
She is my baby.
I gave birth to her wee. still. body.
Doesn't that make her stillborn?
Born still = Still born
I totally agree!! Thanks for saying it out loud. I always say Noah was born still. I say it that way to try to not step on toes of other BLMs who had "stillbirths" per the definition.
ReplyDeleteClaire and Noah were born still. We know exactly what our children looked like at birth. wee. still. bodies. I just wish the rest of society, even some BLMs, could understand that.
(((hugs)))