The WHO draws the distinction between a miscarriage and a stillbirth by the weight of the baby at birth. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), a baby who does not exhibit signs of life and is born weighing less than 500 grams is classified as being born via miscarriage. The WHO identifies babies born not exhibiting signs of life and weighing more than 500 grams as being born via stillbirth.
Other countries claim a different system of classifying babies as being born via stillbirth or miscarriage, using gestational ages instead of size. Looking at the disparities there, though, it's confusing to say the least. A baby born at 24w 2d would be considered born via stillbirth in Denmark, France, the UK and the Netherlands. That same baby would be considered born via miscarriage in Italy and Switzerland. In the US, the ACOG uses a 20w1d point of distinction, with babies born at 19w7d or earlier being born via miscarriage and babies at 20w1d being born via stillbirth.
In the end, none of this matters. What matters is that we get to the heart of the matter. Your baby matters, now and always. We have to stop battling each other, or saying one distinction is more or less significant than the other. If you want support with a birth at any gestational age, know that it is available to you. In Metro Detroit, you can go to the Our Mourning Sickness webpage (link in comments) or you can visit Stillbirthday here or in other parts of the world, to get in touch with a Stillbirthday doula near you. If your baby has already been born, still get in touch with a SBD doula! There are so many resources available to you and healing is a real, genuine possibility. Don't be afraid to reach out for support.
There are many, many options for support and many places to go to for information. When you reach out and ask for assistance or go to do some research, please make sure you are seeing help in safe, reliable places. So many people are out on the internet professing their knowledge or experience in a specific area yet they don't have the credentials to support that claim. Look for relationships with organizations you know and trust; don't be afraid to verify those claims by contacting the organization to verify the relationship. I am proud to identify as a Stillbirthday certified doula, and proudly claim the initials SBD behind my name. You can contact Stillbirthday to verify my certification with them as both a birth and a bereavement doula. Knowing who you are working with is so important to protect your heart and to make sure you get accurate, relevant information from a knowledgeable source.
Other countries claim a different system of classifying babies as being born via stillbirth or miscarriage, using gestational ages instead of size. Looking at the disparities there, though, it's confusing to say the least. A baby born at 24w 2d would be considered born via stillbirth in Denmark, France, the UK and the Netherlands. That same baby would be considered born via miscarriage in Italy and Switzerland. In the US, the ACOG uses a 20w1d point of distinction, with babies born at 19w7d or earlier being born via miscarriage and babies at 20w1d being born via stillbirth.
In the end, none of this matters. What matters is that we get to the heart of the matter. Your baby matters, now and always. We have to stop battling each other, or saying one distinction is more or less significant than the other. If you want support with a birth at any gestational age, know that it is available to you. In Metro Detroit, you can go to the Our Mourning Sickness webpage (link in comments) or you can visit Stillbirthday here or in other parts of the world, to get in touch with a Stillbirthday doula near you. If your baby has already been born, still get in touch with a SBD doula! There are so many resources available to you and healing is a real, genuine possibility. Don't be afraid to reach out for support.
There are many, many options for support and many places to go to for information. When you reach out and ask for assistance or go to do some research, please make sure you are seeing help in safe, reliable places. So many people are out on the internet professing their knowledge or experience in a specific area yet they don't have the credentials to support that claim. Look for relationships with organizations you know and trust; don't be afraid to verify those claims by contacting the organization to verify the relationship. I am proud to identify as a Stillbirthday certified doula, and proudly claim the initials SBD behind my name. You can contact Stillbirthday to verify my certification with them as both a birth and a bereavement doula. Knowing who you are working with is so important to protect your heart and to make sure you get accurate, relevant information from a knowledgeable source.