‘Never So Few Lost’: Stillborn Deaths Lowest Ever

BornBorn.Photo: pixabay.com

Since record-keeping began 50 years ago, Norway has seen a steady decline in child stillbirth death rates. Last year, Norway suffered 180 stillborn child-deaths; the lowest stillborn death-rate ever recorded.

 

Never before have there been so few young souls lost within a year’s time. In 1967, 14 potential births were declared stillborn per 1000 live births. Last year, Norway saw only three stillborn-deaths per every thousand children delivered.

National Institute of Public Heath (Folkehelseinstituttet) Birth Registry senior physician Dr. Kristine Marie Stangenes commented upon the historical lows of reported stillborn deaths in Norway, saying; “Although the incidence of birth defects in Norway is much lower, having a stillborn child is obviously a huge tragedy for those afflicted families.”

Doctor Stangenes adds that prenatal monitoring and regular health check-ups during the nine months of pregnancy are critical in the early detection of risks & abnormalities possible during pregnancy.

These proactive health measures, along with proper nutrition, abstinence from drugs, tobacco & alcohol, and better home safety all contribute to help reduce stillborn rates.

Norway’s birth rate has also decreased steadily for seven year in a row. A birth rate of 2.1 children per woman are needed to keep population numbers steady, but Norway’s birth rate is now down to an average of 1.71 children per woman of child-bearing age.

The Medical Birth Registry defines Stillborn or Stillbirth as children who may have died before birthing commenced or who’ve died during the birthing process.

Nordic countries are considered the world’s “Gold Standard” of neonatal survival rates.

 

© NTB scanpix / #Norway Today