Jon Mani | June 19, 2026 | Birth Injuries
Experiencing an intrauterine fetal demise, also known as a stillbirth, can be a devastating loss for expectant parents. It can sometimes occur as a result of natural causes, but it can also be the result of medical malpractice and other types of wrongful conduct. Learn more about intrauterine fetal demise and when it may be possible to start a claim to recover your losses.
Understanding Intrauterine Fetal Demise
Intrauterine fetal demise, which is sometimes called stillbirth, refers to a baby passing away in the womb at or after the 20th week of pregnancy. Any fetal loss before 20 weeks is a miscarriage.
Intrauterine fetal demise has three categories:
- Early Stillbirth: Happens between 20 and 27 weeks of gestation
- Late Stillbirth: Happens between 28 and 36 weeks of gestation
- Term Stillbirth: Happens on or after 37 weeks of gestation
Understanding these classifications can help families and healthcare providers identify when a fetal loss is considered a stillbirth under medical guidelines.
What Increases the Risk of Intrauterine Fetal Demise?
Intrauterine fetal demise can occur in any pregnancy, but certain factors may increase the risk.
Common risk factors include:
- Gestational diabetes
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- Advanced maternal age (35 and older)
- Previous miscarriages or stillbirths
- Multiple pregnancies
- Tobacco, drug, or alcohol use during pregnancy
While not every risk factor can be prevented, many require careful monitoring throughout pregnancy. If a healthcare provider fails to appropriately monitor the mother or baby, identify warning signs, or respond to developing complications, that failure may contribute to a preventable stillbirth or other birth injury.
Causes of Intrauterine Fetal Demise
It’s not always clear what could lead to intrauterine fetal demise. However, some of the most common causes include:
- Fetal genetic disorders
- Birth defects
- Placental insufficiency
- Maternal infection
- Placental abruption
- Umbilical cord problems
Some complications may be preventable with proper monitoring and timely medical care. Doctors can monitor infections and can spot problems with the placenta before they lead to this type of outcome. Mistakes like a failure to diagnose a condition in a timely manner or not addressing other problems, like hypertension, could result in intrauterine fetal demise.
Symptoms of Intrauterine Fetal Demise
Expectant mothers can experience several symptoms that could point to intrauterine fetal demise, including:
- Fever
- Cramping
- Vaginal bleeding
- Pain in the abdomen
- Overall discomfort
- Not feeling the fetus kicking or moving
Typically, the first sign you may notice is that the baby is not moving. That is why, after the 28th week, doctors recommend that expectant mothers count how often the baby moves in the womb. If you experience these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider or seek emergency medical care right away.
How Is Intrauterine Fetal Demise Diagnosed?
If a healthcare provider suspects intrauterine fetal demise, they will perform tests to confirm the diagnosis. In many cases, an ultrasound is used to determine whether the baby’s heart is still beating. A provider may also listen for the fetal heartbeat using a Doppler device and review the mother’s symptoms and medical history.
After a stillbirth, doctors may recommend additional testing to help identify the cause. Depending on the circumstances, this may include examining the placenta and umbilical cord, genetic testing, or other laboratory studies. Understanding what caused the loss may help guide future pregnancies and determine whether medical negligence played a role.
Contact the Columbus Birth Injury Attorneys at Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers for Help Today
Intrauterine fetal demise is a devastating loss, and families may be left wondering whether proper medical care could have changed the outcome. While not every stillbirth is preventable, some cases may involve missed warning signs, poor monitoring, delayed diagnosis, or other medical errors.
The Columbus birth injury lawyers at Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers can review the circumstances of your loss, explain your legal options, and help determine whether you may have a claim. Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation.
We proudly serve clients throughout Franklin County from our Columbus, OH, office and throughout Kanawha County from our Charleston, WV, office.
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About the Author
Jon Mani is a founding partner and personal injury attorney at Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers. With over 20 years of experience representing injured individuals in West Virginia and Ohio, Jon focuses on complex cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, nursing home abuse, catastrophic injuries, medical malpractice, and wrongful death. He is known for his strategic, hands-on approach to litigation and has held leadership roles within the legal community, including serving as President of the West Virginia Association for Justice. Click here to see some of the firm’s most notable case results.
Locations: Charleston, WV, and Columbus, OH
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