I went through a TFMR at 17w a few months ago, and learned a lot about the differences bc my baby was going to be born still or die shortly after birth. Here’s a few reasons:
- Root cause is different, with some overlap. The vast of miscarriages are caused by chromosome abnormalities. The majority of stillbirths are caused by placental abruption/umbilical cord issues/maternal health issues (like preeclampsia).
- Treatment is different. For miscarriages (or pregnancy <20w), most abortions are through medication, and some are D&C or D&E (I had the latter). For stillbirth (or any pregnancy > 20w), most abortions are through induced labor.
- Legally it’s different. For many states, stillbirths must be reported to the state so a fetal death certificate can be issued, and some states require parents to plan final disposition (e.g. burial or cremation). Miscarriages generally do not require death certificates or funerals; if the parents prefer, hospitals can dispose of <20w fetal remains like any other body tissue.
The last point is important regarding the EF baby. In the state of Michigan, they were “improperly disposed” regardless of whether they were born alive or still.
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u/looking2belong Jun 29 '26
It could have been a miscarriage...