Neonatal death is when the baby dies within the first 28 weeks of life. This can be very difficult to understand. Your health care provider can help you understand what went wrong.

What are the causes of neonatal death ?

Some of the common causes of neonatal death include the following:

• premature birth
• low brith weight
• birth defects
• problems during pregnancy such as preeclampsia
• problems with placenta, umbilical cord and amniotic sac
• infections like sepsis
• asphyxia which is when a baby doesnt get enough oxygen before or during childbirth

Why are premature babies more likely to die after birth than other babies ?

Some premature babies develop complications that can result in death. This include the following :

• respiratory distress syndrome RDS  : Babies with this condition don’t have a protein called surfactants  that keep small air sacs in the lungs from collapsing
• Intraventricular hemorrhage  IVH :  This is bleeding in the brain. The most severe one can cause problems for the baby
• Necrotizing enterocolitis NEC : This is problems with the baby’s intestines which can result in feeding problems, a swollen belly and diarrhea
• Infections : Infections such as meningitis, sepsis and pneumonia can result in death of a premature baby

What birth defects most often cause neonatal death ?

The most common birth defects that cause neonatal deaths include the following :

• heart defects
• lung defects
• genetic conditions
• brain conditions like anencephaly

Your healthcare provider can use prenatal tests  to detect birth defects. These tests include

• amniocentesis – check for birth defects and genetic conditions
• chorionic villus sampling – check for genetic conditions like Down syndrome
• ultrasound – it helps detect birth defects like heart defects, spinal bifida and anencephaly

Would you need an autopsy for your baby ?

You can ask your health care provider about what killed your baby. However choosing to have an autopsy or not is your decision to make. An autopsy is a surgical exam of your baby’s body after death to help find the cause of death and any diseases or injuries. Most insurance companies don’t pay for a baby’s autopsy. However some hospitals and states may pay for it. Families usually have to pay for an autopsy so ask your doctor or hospital about it.

If you choose not to have an autopsy, your health care provider may use other tests to find out more information about what killed your baby.

If your baby died of a genetic defect , you may need a genetic counsellor. He will help you understand how genes, birth defects and medical conditions runs in families.

NOTE

Talking about  your feelings may help you deal with the grief of your baby’s death.