Abstract
Objective The aim of this study is to assess whether the risk of postpartum readmission within
6 weeks of giving birth differs for women who had stillbirths compared with live births.
Study Design Using data from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development in California,
we performed a population-based cohort study of 7,398,640 births between 1999 and
2011. We identified diagnoses and procedures associated with the first postpartum
hospital readmission that occurred within 6 weeks after giving birth. We used log-binomial
models to estimate relative risk (RR) of postpartum readmission for women who had
stillbirth compared with live birth deliveries, adjusting for maternal demographic,
prepregnancy, pregnancy, and delivery characteristics.
Results The rate of postpartum readmission was higher among women who had stillbirths compared
with women who had live births (206 and 96 per 10,000 births, respectively). After
adjusting for maternal demographic and medical characteristics, the risk of postpartum
readmission for women who had stillbirths was nearly 1.5 times greater (adjusted RR = 1.47,
95% confidence interval: 1.35–1.60) compared with live births. Among women with stillbirths,
the most common indications at readmission were uterine infection or pelvic inflammatory
disease, psychiatric conditions, hypertensive disorder, and urinary tract infection.
Conclusion Based on our findings, women who have stillbirths are at higher risk of postpartum
readmissions within 6 weeks of giving birth than women who have live births. Women
who have stillbirths may benefit from additional monitoring and counseling after hospital
discharge for potential postpartum medical and psychiatric complications.
Key Points
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Women who have stillbirths are at nearly 1.5 times greater risk of postpartum readmission
than women who have live births.
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Uterine infections and pelvic inflammatory disease, and psychiatric conditions are
the most common reasons for readmission among women who had a stillbirth.
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Women who have stillbirths may benefit from additional monitoring and counseling after
hospital discharge for potential postpartum medical and psychiatric complications.
Keywords
stillbirth - postpartum readmission - population health - maternal health
