Dr. Eleni Michailidis, 38, gave birth to a stillborn son, Alexander, in February. Stillbirth is not uncommon in the United States, affecting 1 in 160 pregnancies, but the experience is rarely discussed. Dr. Michailidis’s narrative has been condensed and edited for space and clarity.

My husband, Abraham, and I had planned out life with a baby and life without one. We just said whatever was meant to be would be, and we’d be O.K. with it.

We were surprised we got pregnant quickly. I was shocked and thrilled. I loved being pregnant. It was incredible sometimes what my stomach would do.

The baby had a pattern. He was active, especially about 10 at night. I’d sit down to relax at the end of the day, and he’d just be constantly moving and squirming.