Causes of fetal fading in the early stages. How to determine a frozen pregnancy? Frozen pregnancy: symptoms in the later stages

IN last years Doctors increasingly began to state the fact non-developing pregnancy. Real statistics is striking - the percentage of missed pregnancies at the beginning of the gestation period averages approximately 20%.

Why is fetal growth retardation in the early stages so common? How to spot signs of missed pregnancy? How does the embryo come out during a missed pregnancy? How to know what to do next for more later dates? How to prevent miscarriage and avoid possible complications?

The main causes of missed pregnancy

Missed pregnancy is a pathological condition in which the fetus stops growing, but is still in the woman's stomach. This situation often occurs during unsafe periods of the 1st trimester - at 3-4 and 7-11 weeks. At this time, all organs and systems of the fetus are formed. A high percentage of cases of pregnancy fading also occurs at 16-18 weeks.

To date, not a single gynecologist gives a clear answer, because of what and why the embryo can freeze. Scientists identify a number of predisposing causes and situations that provoke a halt in fetal development.

Genetic abnormalities in the development of the fetus

According to statistics, 80% of cases of fetal fading are directly related to deviations in genetic level. Chromosomal abnormalities in the development of the embryo arise as a result of a violation of the quantitative and quality parameters chromosomes. Causes of quantitative problems in missed pregnancy:

• divergence of a paired chromosome during the separation of chromosomes - associated with trisomy, monosomy;
• the formation of a polyploid embryo, provided that several sperm and one egg are involved in the fusion process.

If violations occurred in the first divisions, the embryo will die before the 21st day of existence. When they occur in the following divisions, the risk of having a child with mosaicism increases.

Qualitative problems are usually present in one of the spouses. Translocation is the most common cause early fading fetus or birth of a baby congenital anomalies. Such mutations are:

• mutual, when chromosomes exchange identical sections;
• assimilation with the loss of a genetic sample;
• with a change in the structure of female sex chromosomes;
• in the form of duplication, inversion and other types of mutations.

In a situation where pregnancy freezes and does not develop, natural selection occurs. A child who could be born with such anomalies would not be able to lead a normal life, so nature terminates an undeveloped pregnancy at an early stage. Common causes of genetic disorders, mutations and chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus are bad habits(smoking, drugs, and excessive alcohol abuse by one of the parents).

Diseases associated with hormonal failure

Non-developing pregnancy occurs when there is a deficiency of progesterone in the body of the expectant mother. Among the causes of a missed pregnancy is hormonal imbalance caused by an excessive amount of androgenic hormones. In order to prevent fetal fading, it is recommended to undergo a general examination and pass the required hormone tests for another early stage baby planning. Thus, it is possible to stabilize the hormonal background in a timely manner and prevent the development of pathological pregnancy.

Autoimmune pathologies

The root cause of non-developing pregnancy may be autoimmune lesions. In the presence of autoimmune diseases, a woman's body produces antibodies that suppress not other people's cells, but their own. Since the embryo is endowed with only 50% of the mother's chromosomes, her cells attack the fetus, leading to its intrauterine death. One of the most common autoimmune diseases is chronic autoimmune endometritis. Illness causes pathological process inflammatory nature in the endometrium of the uterus, which is complicated by destruction and fibrosis of the affected areas.

Bad habits of a pregnant woman

Tobacco, drugs and drinks containing alcohol very often affect the state of the chromosomes of one of the partners, so bad habits are among the possible causes of pregnancy fading. Experts recommend that a woman avoid alcohol and drugs at least 6 months before the intended conception. In order to avoid a frozen pregnancy, the patient should also refuse to work in a harmful environment.

Medications and external factors

Self-medication, uncontrolled use of pharmaceuticals, non-compliance with the dosage - not the whole list of reasons that harm the embryo and cause non-developing pregnancy. Other conditions that increase the risk of miscarriage include:

• unacceptable lifestyle of the patient in position (poor diet, constant overwork, stress, etc.);
• age (at the age of 22–27, women in labor are much less likely to experience a sudden release of the fetal egg than after the age of 30 years).

What are the symptoms of a missed pregnancy in the early and late stages?

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The sensations of a woman very often cannot be distinguished from the usual, so the patient can walk for weeks with a frozen pregnancy. At this time, a slow process of decomposition of the tissues of the embryo takes place in the uterus, which eventually manifests itself in the form of symptoms of general intoxication of the body, and in the worst case, bleeding that is life-threatening for a woman.

A specialist can determine the pathological condition, so a pregnant woman should not be neglected by a planned examination by a district obstetrician-gynecologist.

Some signs of a missed pregnancy can be recognized independently at home without a doctor. Common signs of non-developing pregnancy are:

• discharge with bloody patches;
• lethargy, chills;
• temperature from 37.5 degrees;
• dull pain that is localized in the abdominal cavity;
• abrupt cessation of vomiting and nausea (in the presence of toxicosis);
• absence discomfort in the mammary glands;
• no signs of fetal life (movements).

1 trimester

Many patients are interested in when a frozen pregnancy occurs on early dates gestation, what causes the appearance of a pathological condition and what are the main signs of a missed pregnancy in the early stages. Indeed, the 1st trimester is considered to be the most dangerous, since it is mainly between the terms of 3–5 or 8–10 weeks that pathology manifests itself. Frozen pregnancy signs in the first trimester:

• Pain and discharge. If the patient has a stomach ache, she is worried about the discharge with bloody patches, she should immediately call an ambulance.
• Temperature increase. If the pregnancy is frozen, the woman feels a general malaise. Most often, it is due to the fact that the temperature during a missed pregnancy rises to subfebrile values ​​​​(37.5-38 degrees) due to the development of inflammation associated with the decomposition of the tissues of a dead fetus.

2nd and 3rd trimesters

Starting from the 12-15th week, the expectant mother is waiting for the first movements of the fetus. If no movement is felt before the 20th week, this should not be a concern during the first pregnancy. An unscheduled consultation with a doctor is necessary if there is no movement after this time.

The patient should see a gynecologist if the baby's movements suddenly stop (the first sign of a missed pregnancy at a later date). A slight fever without symptoms of a cold also signals to the patient that she should see a doctor immediately.

Diagnostic methods

For diagnosis and exclusion medical error the woman needs to undergo additional examination. You can confirm or refute the fact of fetal death through the following research methods:

• Inspection. Includes uterine measurements, evaluation general condition women and the nature of the discharge, if any. The doctor may make a mistake by confusing a frozen pregnancy with placental abruption.
• ultrasound. A specialist can determine the fetal heart rate for a period of 5 weeks. The absence of any signals during an ultrasound scan may indicate a missed pregnancy. In a shorter period, an ultrasound specialist may make a mistake.
• Blood test for chorionic gonadotropin. A gynecologist cannot make an accurate diagnosis, starting only from the results of a standard examination, therefore, if a pathological condition of a pregnant woman is suspected, she is recommended to be tested for hCG level several times with a certain time interval. This is necessary in order to track the dynamics of the growth or fall of hCG.

What to do after confirmation of the diagnosis?

When the diagnosis is confirmed, many women become nervous, not knowing what might happen next. First of all, a woman should remove the fetal egg from the uterine cavity. Up to 8-10 weeks, the treatment of a missed pregnancy involves the appointment of special tablets or suppositories, with the help of which it is possible to provoke a contraction of the muscles of the organ for the release of the fetal egg.

For a period of more than 12 weeks, patients are recommended a vacuum mini-abortion. The procedure is carried out using local or general anesthesia through a special vacuum suction. If the ultrasound examination revealed the remains of fetal tissues in the uterine cavity, curettage is performed with a second examination of the woman after 14 days.

Recovery period

If the fetus is frozen, the woman will a long period rehabilitation, including:

• Regular visits to the attending gynecologist.
• Passing all necessary examinations. A detailed diagnosis is required to clarify the reason why the baby froze in the womb. A woman needs to be tested for hidden infections, contact an endocrinologist for diagnosis possible pathologies from the side endocrine system. In addition to blood sampling, the patient should take a urogenital smear for microflora, do an ultrasound of the pelvic organs and thyroid gland.
• Women's adherence to principles proper nutrition, use vitamin complexes, moderate exercise.
• Stabilization of the psycho-emotional state. Many patients are very afraid that STD can happen again. Against the backdrop of fear, all their attempts to get pregnant end in failure. In this case, a woman needs psychological support, primarily from her husband and loved ones.
• subsequent therapy. After cleaning the uterus, doctors resort to prolonged complex treatment, which includes hormonal agents to restore the structure and functionality of the endometrium of the uterus, antibacterial and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as physiotherapy techniques.

All of the above rehabilitation measures will help to exclude a stop in the development of the embryo during the second pregnancy. Many women are interested in the attending gynecologist if it happens that they manage to get pregnant 2 months after the embryo freezes.

In medical practice, there are such cases, conception can occur after 1.5 months. Recovery menstrual cycle signals the readiness of the egg for fertilization.

Despite this, a woman does not need to rush. Experts say planning next conception possible not earlier than 4–6 months after the previous failed attempt. Full recovery body, including the physical and psycho-emotional aspects, occurs only after six months.

If a woman's embryo froze in the womb, the first six months after this situation, it is recommended to use combined oral contraceptives. To enhance the effect, doctors most often prescribe drugs based on calcium levomefolate.

Consequences for a woman

Basically, serious consequences of a missed pregnancy occur in patients who turned to a specialist late. How long is it allowed to walk with an undeveloped pregnancy? Doctors cannot give a definite answer to this question. Some women can go for several weeks with a non-developing embryo in the womb, not attaching importance to their condition. However, if the fetus is 2 to 4 weeks behind in development, and the woman ignores the warning signs, she puts herself at risk of developing dangerous complications. The consequences include:

• the spread of the infection;
• the risk of sepsis;
• development of DIC.

Frozen pregnancy or miscarriage- this is a condition when the fetus stops developing and dies for up to 28 weeks.

The concept of "frozen pregnancy" came from the fact that future child already died, and his expulsion from the uterus did not occur. Frozen pregnancy is one of the options for miscarriage.

Meets similar condition, as it is not regrettable to realize this, quite often, from 10 to 20% of all (both those who want to give birth and those who want to terminate) pregnancies. Moreover, the risk of "fading" pregnancy increases with the age of the woman.

Threatened deadlines

Pregnancy can “freeze” at any time. But especially often this happens in the first trimester, that is, up to 13 weeks. Experts identify the most dangerous periods of pregnancy for "fading" (however, they also coincide with the terms of the threat of interruption):

• 3-4 weeks
• 8-11 weeks
• 16-18,
• 22-24,
• 28-30 weeks.

Especially dangerous is the period of 8 weeks of pregnancy.

Attention! You can read about ways to terminate a missed pregnancy in the early stages in our special article.

Causes of fading

The reasons that lead to the state of "frozen pregnancy" are very numerous. These include:

Hormonal imbalance

The lack of the pregnancy hormone - progesterone - inhibits the progression of pregnancy, which ultimately leads to the death of the fetus.

Androgens, or rather their excess or hyperandrogenism, may also be guilty. Accordingly, diseases such as ovarian sclerocystosis, thyroid and adrenal diseases, and other endocrine pathologies can lead to intrauterine death of the embryo/fetus.

Genetic disorders

Chromosomal aberrations of the fetus or the inheritance of an abnormal gene from one of the parents leads to the formation of a karyotype of the unborn child, with whom life is impossible. That is, nature itself eliminates defective embryos.

infections

Sexually transmitted infections (chlamydia, ureaplasmosis, herpes and others), as well as common infectious diseases (rubella, influenza, toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus infection) in the early stages lead to the death of the fetus, and in the later stages to gross malformations. It is to identify infections and reduce the risk of pregnancy fading in women that swabs are taken three times for flora.

Often, after IVF, the pregnancy “freezes”, which is most likely due to the reasons that prompted the woman to turn to this method of getting pregnant.

Age

The older the woman, the higher the likelihood of a missed pregnancy. The risk of this condition is especially high in nulliparous women older than 35 years.

Autoimmune conditions

Antiphospholipid syndrome, in which the amount of antibodies to blood phospholipids increases, leads to thrombosis, including in the uterus, as a result of which the fetus receives less oxygen and nutrients and dies.

Immunological factor

The fetus inherits equally genetic material from the father and from the mother, due to any condition, the mother's body perceives the unborn child as a foreign agent and kills him.

Unfavorable environment

Symptoms of a missed pregnancy

Early terms (I trimester)

In the early stages, the following signs may alert a woman about a missed pregnancy:

• early toxicosis. The sudden disappearance of all signs of early toxicosis (nausea, intolerance to odors, vomiting, drowsiness) up to 10 weeks indicates a missed pregnancy
• Breast. The chest stopped hurting, there is no feeling of engorgement of the mammary glands.
• basal temperature. decline basal body temperature up to 37 degrees and below indicates both the threat of interruption and the death of the embryo.
• Pregnancy test. The pregnancy test began to show weakly positive or negative result(decrease in hCG).
• Pain. Aching or pulling constant pain in the lower abdomen and / or lower back.
• Minor bloody issues from the genital tract are usually dark.

Late terms (II-III trimester)

• Absence of fetal movements (main symptom);
• Pain in the lower abdomen of a pulling nature;
• Slight to moderate bleeding.

Diagnostics

First of all, in the diagnosis of missed pregnancy plays a role gynecological examination.

In the early stages, the doctor determines the discrepancy between the size of the uterus and the gestational age (it is for this purpose that a vaginal examination is performed in the first trimester at each appointment).

In later terms, the circumference of the abdomen and the height of the fundus of the uterus lag behind the normal, corresponding this deadline. In addition, the fetal heartbeat is not heard.

The second stage of diagnosing a frozen pregnancy is coming Ultrasound of the uterus and determination of hCG in the blood.

In the early stages, ultrasound does not determine the fetal heartbeat, the size of the embryo does not correspond to the norm, or anembryony is diagnosed ( membranes present, but no embryo).

The level of hCG in the blood decreases or does not increase. In the later stages, in addition to ultrasound, cardiotocography is performed, which confirms the absence of a fetal heartbeat.

Consequences of a frozen pregnancy

Consequences after a frozen pregnancy are possible, but their probability is extremely low.

The risk of complications increases with an increase in the number of missed pregnancies in history.

Almost all women after a failed miscarriage give birth to normal and healthy children in the future.

Possible consequences:

Infection of a woman

With a long-term undiagnosed missed pregnancy or if a woman does not go to a doctor, the fetus in the uterus begins to decompose and undergo aseptic inflammation. For the time being, this does not threaten the health and life of a woman, until an infection joins the aseptic inflammation. In this case, the infected dead fetus is a powerful source of bacteria and toxins, which, penetrating into the woman's blood, lead to her infection and the development of sepsis. In addition, the development of DIC is possible, which is fraught with massive and intractable bleeding. Both sepsis and DIC can be fatal.

Depression

Any termination of pregnancy, especially a missed miscarriage, leads to a breakdown in emotional and mental strength and can cause long-term depression.

Fetal mummification

A similar phenomenon occurs in multiple pregnancy, when one fetus develops normally, and the other dies, while turning into a "mummy" or paper fruit.

Lithopedion

A lithopedion is a petrified fetus, that is, a dead fetus undergoes calcification (deposition of calcium salts). This phenomenon is very rare, today only 300 cases are known. Lithopedion can exist in a woman's body for years, although the "pregnant" woman herself does not suspect it.

Prevention

In order to prevent a failed miscarriage, it is necessary to carefully prepare for pregnancy not only for those women who have had this complication, but also for everyone else:

• quitting smoking, drinking alcohol and drugs for both sexual partners at least 3 months before the planned pregnancy;
• do necessary vaccinations(rubella, hepatitis, influenza and others) no later than 3 months before the expected pregnancy;
• take swabs for sexually transmitted infections and, if necessary, undergo appropriate treatment (plan pregnancy 3 months after recovery);
• treat and correct chronic extragenital diseases;
• to investigate and, if necessary, normalize the hormonal background;
• refusal of abortions;
• maintaining a balanced diet (with the obligatory use of fresh vegetables and fruits);
• genetics consultation (women over 35 years of age and the presence of hereditary diseases);
• reception folic acid 12 weeks before the planned pregnancy (prevention of malformations neural tube fetus).

Some research on pregnancy

A frozen or developed pregnancy is an intrauterine death of the fetus, which does not show clear signs of termination of pregnancy. Pathological condition occurs up to 28 weeks of gestation. Most often, the fading of pregnancy occurs in the early stages in the first trimester before the 16th week of the child's development. The period before is especially dangerous, when the organs and systems of the embryo are being laid, and the placenta has not yet been formed. After diagnosing a missed pregnancy, the embryo is removed from the woman's uterus. In some cases it happens spontaneous abortion.

Symptoms of a missed pregnancy in the early stages

The danger of an undeveloped pregnancy in the early stages of development is that the pathology can proceed without clinical manifestations. The delay of a dead embryo in the uterus leads to the gradual decomposition of its tissues. Toxic decomposition products are absorbed into the blood of a woman, causing poisoning of the body and the development of severe complications.

Explicit Clinical signs can occur 6-7 weeks after the death of the fetus, which indicate a violation in the work of the woman's body. A late pregnancy in the 2nd trimester is detected faster - the fetal movement stops, which should alert the woman. Doctors warn that a planned visit to the gynecologist can eliminate not only the development of intoxication and other undesirable consequences in a pregnant woman, but also in some cases to prevent fetal death.

Clinical signs of non-developing pregnancy, if they appear, are rather weak. A woman may not attach any importance to this. It is necessary to know the symptoms of intrauterine fetal death in the early stages in order to respond in a timely manner and visit the doctor of the antenatal clinic, where the pregnant woman is registered with the dispensary.

Symptoms of a missed pregnancy:

In the event of complications associated with poisoning of the body with toxic decomposition products of fetal tissues, obvious clinical signs occur.

1. Fever up to 40 degrees.
2. Chills, increased sweating.
3. Headache.
4. Intensive pain syndrome in the lower abdomen.
5. Constant nausea, repeated.
6. Uterine, epistaxis, internal bleeding.

Prolonged intoxication can lead to the development of sepsis (bacteremia, general infection of the body) and DIC (impaired blood clotting, massive bleeding).

Signs of a missed pregnancy in the early stages

A gynecologist can diagnose a non-developing pregnancy by specific features which are characteristic of intrauterine fetal death. The specialist also prescribes additional methods surveys that confirm the disappointing verdict. Only after contacting the antenatal clinic will it be possible to say with certainty that the embryo died, and the pregnancy stopped development. Before visiting a specialist, one should not draw premature conclusions.

You can suspect a frozen pregnancy at home by changing. To do this, you need to measure the temperature in the rectum with a thermometer in the morning after sleep, without getting out of bed. The female sex hormone is responsible for maintaining pregnancy, which causes an increase of 0.3-0.5 degrees.

The normal course of intrauterine life corresponds to the temperature in the rectum at the level of 37.2-37.5 degrees. A decrease in this indicator indicates a violation of the course of pregnancy and possible death of the fetus. It must be remembered that low rate- is not an absolute sign of a missed pregnancy. If a basal symptom is detected, it is necessary to seek advice from a gynecologist.

At the appointment, the doctor collects the woman's complaints, conducts an examination, including on the gynecological chair, prescribes laboratory and instrumental methods of examination. In the early stages of gestation, the most informative is ultrasound diagnostics of the embryo and laboratory analysis to detect concentrations (human chorionic gonadotropin) in peripheral blood.

Causes of missed pregnancy

In most cases, it is possible to identify the cause of a non-developing pregnancy and, with further planning of conception, take a course preventive treatment. Sometimes doctors cannot determine the cause of intrauterine fetal death. This does not cause concern in the case when such a pathology occurs once. Repeated miscarriage indicates a severe pathology in the body of a woman, which requires a thorough examination and adequate therapy. According to statistics, intrauterine fetal death is rare and does not have a habitual character - for 200 normally occurring pregnancies, there is one case of embryo death in the womb.

Causes of missed pregnancy.

Habitual miscarriage often causes a combination of several adverse factors. Identification of the cause of the pathology is an important link in planning pregnancy and birth healthy child.

What diagnosis of a missed pregnancy will be the most accurate?

Non-developing pregnancy in the early stages is detected using laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods. Before the appointment of the examination, a gynecological examination of the pregnant woman is carried out.

1. Examination on a gynecological chair - allows you to determine the condition of the cervix, the compliance of the size of the uterus with the gestational age. If a discrepancy is found or pathological changes appoint ultrasound diagnostics.
2. Ultrasound examination of the uterus and fetus exact method detection of intrauterine fetal death in the early stages of development. Signs of a missed pregnancy: uneven contours and deformation of the fetal egg, localization of the embryo in the lower parts of the uterine cavity. In case of a doubtful result, a second ultrasound examination is performed after 5-7 days. Stopping the growth of the fetal egg or poor visualization of the embryo is evidence in favor of a non-developing pregnancy.
3. Blood test for content - effective method diagnosis of intrauterine fetal death at the earliest stages of pregnancy (up to 8-10 weeks), when ultrasound examination is not informative. In the first weeks of pregnancy, the level of the hormone doubles every 24-48 hours. The absence of an increase in the blood or a decrease to 5 mIU / ml (typical for non-pregnant women and men) speaks in favor of intrauterine fetal death. In some cases, the membranes of the fetal egg are formed and synthesized, and the embryo does not develop - hormone indicators will give false negative result and diagnosis becomes ineffective.

The appointment of a method for diagnosing a missed pregnancy and the interpretation of the results of the examination is carried out by a gynecologist. The specialist will correctly assess the risk of pregnancy pathology and determine the tactics of treatment.

What to do if a missed pregnancy is detected?

After confirmation of a missed pregnancy, a dead embryo is removed from the uterine cavity. In some cases, the body independently rejects the fetus in the process of spontaneous abortion. In case of a failed miscarriage, a pregnant woman is prescribed medical procedures and surgical interventions that are aimed at removing the embryo and its membranes.

Methods for terminating an undeveloped pregnancy.

1. Medication - intravenous administration of drugs that increase the tone of the uterus and cause contractions. The embryo leaves the uterine cavity naturally through the cervix and vagina.
2. Curettage - cleaning the uterine cavity with special surgical instruments. It is carried out under anesthesia. The cervix is ​​dilated, then instruments are inserted into the organ cavity. The embryo and the inner lining of the uterus are scraped out. The technique is dangerous for the development of complications: bleeding, inflammation, infertility. This method cannot be considered sparing in early pregnancy and is prescribed if other methods are contraindicated.
3. Vacuum suction - gentle surgical intervention through vacuum suction. Used for abortion in early pregnancy. A tip is inserted into the cervix without the use of dilators vacuum apparatus and, under pressure, suck the contents of the organ, removing the embryo and mucous membrane.

After the termination of a frozen pregnancy, a woman should be under the supervision of a gynecologist. Carry out outpatient or inpatient treatment, depending on the type of permission from the burden, the general condition of the woman, the risk of complications. Treatment includes antibiotics a wide range actions, hemostatic agents, vitamins. It is recommended to refrain from planning conception for six months.

To identify the cause of intrauterine fetal death for histological examination take the mucous membrane of the uterus (endometrium) and tissue of the embryo. When identifying chromosomal abnormalities prescribe genetic counseling of parents to establish compatibility. Mandatory examination of the woman's blood for a condition hormonal background, smear analysis for flora and the presence of genital infections. Identification of the cause of a missed pregnancy helps prevent intrauterine fetal death during further planning of motherhood.

A frozen pregnancy is a tragic event in a woman's life, but not a sentence. If the cause of the pathology is identified, it is possible to prevent the death of the embryo, preserve the vital activity of the fetus throughout the entire period of development, and give birth to a healthy child.

Hello dear blog guests! Today we have not the most pleasant topic of the article, but it cannot be ignored. Every mother-to-be should know this information.

Any woman can face a missed pregnancy, regardless of age and the number of previous conceptions, childbirth. This is one of the most severe pathologies for the female psyche, since the fetus dies right in the womb. Greatest Danger in that the symptoms of stopping the development of the embryo are not immediately felt. This threatens the onset of severe inflammation in the body. What causes a frozen pregnancy? How to recognize its signs? What are the consequences? These are the questions you will find answers to below.

Most dangerous period for a frozen pregnancy - the first trimester. That is why it is very important to immediately register with the antenatal clinic and undergo regular examinations. In the second trimester, the risk of pathology decreases, but still some risk will be present up to 28 weeks.

Many worried mothers will probably be interested in the question of how often a frozen pregnancy happens among ladies “in position”. According to statistics, 1 out of 180 women faces the problem. A large proportion of "frozen embryos" falls on age group women over 35 years of age. Among young people, the pathology is less common. That is, it cannot be said that the problem is very common. But everyone should know about it.

Causes

Fetal death is a serious process that definitely has good reasons. In many cases, doctors are unable to establish an accurate diagnosis, since maceration of the tissues of the embryo occurs in the womb (non-putrefactive necrosis). This happens when pregnant for a long time did not know about the stoppage of embryonic development. Dead tissue is no longer amenable to qualitative analysis and it can be difficult to give an absolutely confident conclusion.

Nevertheless, there are a number of factors that most often cause missed pregnancy, especially in the early stages. Let's consider them in more detail.

• Bad habits. Alcohol in large quantities, an unmeasured number of cigarettes smoked, drugs - all this can easily cause the death of a born child. Up to 12 weeks, the fetus is not protected by the placenta and such poisons are especially detrimental to him.

• Infections. Each pregnant woman, having come to an appointment with a doctor, will receive a referral for tests, among which there will definitely be a test for torch infection. They are the ones who pose the greatest danger. The catch is that viruses can stay in human cells for a very long time, show no symptoms, and, in fact, pose no danger. But during conception, “metamorphoses” occur in the body and the “infection” can be activated. Alas, it is detrimental to the fetus. That is why the patient is sent for such an analysis in the first place.

Torch infections include:

1. - chlamydia;
2. - toxoplasmosis;
3. - rubella;
4. - cytomegalovirus;
5. - herpes.

• Hormonal disorders. A severe deficiency of progesterone or insufficient production of estrogen leads to the fact that the uterus does not receive the right amount of nutrients that the embryo needs for development and growth. As a result, the fetus dies. reasons hormonal imbalance there is also a lot: stress, past illnesses, chronic inflammation, excessive thinness or fullness, chemical poisoning, diseases of the thyroid gland and ovaries.

• Immune disorders. Strong the immune system- it's always good. But sometimes he plays cruel jokes with the body. The fact is that the zygote tissue contains 50% of third-party information received from the father. The mother's immunity perceives such cells as foreign, hostile. He just starts attacking them. That is why pregnant women have toxicosis. The body's main defender is trying to get rid of the alien. In rare cases, this leads to the death of the child in the womb.

• Chromosomal disorders. In the case of an unsuccessful combination of the genes of the father and mother, the fetus is a certain period may stop developing. The main problem is that if the parents have genetic incompatibility, then the next joint conception risks leading to the same result. Why this happens, scientists can not yet say. Usually such couples have to resort to donor materials for the birth of children in the family.

• Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). It is this disorder, belonging to the category of autoimmune, that is the most common cause frozen pregnancy. In the blood there is a sharp increase in antibodies to plasma phospholipids. The result is deep vein thrombosis, capillaries. The flow of the right amount of blood and oxygen to the placenta is blocked, and it begins to die. If APS is detected in a patient, appropriate therapy is offered to her. If you notice the syndrome in time and lie down for preservation, then there is a high probability of enduring the pregnancy and giving birth to a healthy baby.

• External factors. It is extremely rare, but it still happens that some external influences become the cause of pregnancy fading. It may be too much exposure to the sun; flight by plane sharp drop pressure threatens the fetus with asphyxia; an unsuccessful fall or impact can also lead to the death of the embryo; visiting the sauna, solarium in the early stages is very dangerous.

Other reasons include:

1. — unfavorable environmental conditions;
2. — constant contact with harmful chemical and toxic substances;
3. - oligohydramnios or, conversely, polyhydramnios;
4. - hypertension;
5. - chronic anemia;
6. - multiple pregnancy (sometimes only one embryo dies, less often all);
7. - pathology of the placenta;
8. - taking certain medications.

Symptoms

The longer a dead fetus is in a woman's womb, the more it threatens her health. In the most advanced cases, there is a possibility of death. But the difficulty is that sometimes this process proceeds completely asymptomatically. The practice of doctors shows that some women walked with a dead embryo in their stomach for up to 3 weeks. At the same time, they retained all the signs of a normal pregnancy.

The most common symptoms include the following:

• Spotting (the most common and first sign of a frozen pregnancy).
• pulling, aching pain in the lower abdomen, in the lumbar region.
• Slight rise in temperature.
• Abrupt and sudden cessation of toxicosis.
• A sharp deterioration in well-being (this symptom can be confused with toxicosis).
• Decrease in basal body temperature.
• The cessation of swelling of the mammary glands and the decline pain in this area.
• In the second trimester, the cessation of fetal movement.

In the early stages, a woman may experience a spontaneous abortion a few days after the death of the fetus.

What to do

If a pathology is detected, the patient is immediately sent for cleaning the uterus. The method depends on the duration of pregnancy and the condition of the woman. At a very early date, the doctor may even prescribe a gentle method - vacuum aspiration. Later surgery is used.

Recovery takes from a few days to a couple of weeks. After 2-3 weeks, it is necessary to undergo a control ultrasound to ensure the favorable healing of the uterus. As a rule, a month and a half after the removal of the fetus, the menstrual cycle is restored in the body.

Consequences

A frozen pregnancy removed in time does not have serious consequences. And the trauma experienced does not mean at all that there is no chance to conceive and bear a healthy child in the future. To a greater extent, failed mothers find it difficult to endure precisely psychological side Problems. It’s not even worth talking about how hard it is morally to come to terms with the idea that the fetus inside the abdomen grew and developed, and then died.

Physically, most patients bounce back very quickly, but some need the help of a psychologist.

If you are faced with such a situation, do not neglect to contact a specialist. A psychologist will help you quickly recover from an injury and look to the future. Relatives should surround a woman with understanding and care.

When can you get pregnant again

Only a doctor should answer this question. Everything is very individual and depends on the factors that caused the development of the pregnancy to freeze. If the exact cause is identified, then the first step is to eliminate it.

On average, the next pregnancy is recommended no earlier than six months later. To reduce the risk of recurrence of the pathology, it is better to undergo a thorough examination before a new conception. Statistics show that a favorable outcome of pregnancy after an unsuccessful one is 80-90%. The most important thing is to get rid of fears before planning conception.

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Fetal fading can occur in a woman at any age. This pathology means the death of the fetus and develops with a combination of several factors.

Before planning a pregnancy, every woman should know possible risks, as well as be able to recognize the signs of any pathology and consult a doctor in a timely manner.

Frozen pregnancy is quite rare, among doctors given state called a failed miscarriage, since the death of the embryo passes without obvious signs termination of pregnancy. The fetus can die at any time, regardless of the age of the woman, although most often the pathology develops among women in labor over 40 years old. Pregnancy fading in most cases occurs for up to 13 weeks, the causes of the pathology are a variety of factors: chronic diseases, infections, genetic disorders, etc. However, the fetus may die without obvious reasons, but in any case, fetal fading poses a threat to a woman’s health, in particular, it can lead to infertility.

Causes of fetal fading

Fetal fading is provoked by many factors, and a combination of several circumstances is often observed. It is not always possible to establish the exact cause of such a pathology, since after the death of the fetus tissue necrosis occurs, which makes the study quite difficult.

Among the causes of fetal death are hormonal disruptions, chromosomal abnormalities, infections, etc. The most common cause of pregnancy fading is alcohol and cigarettes. Herpes, chlamydia, toxoplasmosis, etc. can also lead to the death of the fetus, so doctors recommend that you undergo an examination before planning a pregnancy and cure all existing diseases.

The reasons why the fetus stops developing and dies are not well understood, but experts identify several main factors:

• hormonal imbalances can lead to a deficiency of progesterone, due to which the fetus does not receive the necessary nutrients, which ultimately provokes a halt in development and death of the fetus. Usually such a reason provokes fading in the first trimester. In addition, thyroid disease, polycystic disease and other ovarian dysfunctions can cause fading.
• immunological factor, which Lately viewed more and more often. female body the fetal egg is perceived as a foreign body, since it contains about half of the genetic information of the future father, in connection with this, the body begins to produce antibodies that prevent the development of the fetus. In other words, the woman's immune system kills the embryo.
• autoimmune disorders associated with a large number of antibodies to plasma phospholipids - antiphospholipid syndrome. This pathology leads to fetal fading in almost 5% of cases. The risk of fading in a second pregnancy increases to 42%. The cause of antiphospholipid syndrome is mainly heredity, this pathology leads to the formation of blood clots and over the course of pregnancy, the risk of complications may increase, in addition, antiphospholipid syndrome can affect childbirth and the postpartum period.
• infectious diseases, both chronic and acute. The most common diseases that can lead to fading are herpes, mycoplasmosis, chlamydia, etc., which may be present before pregnancy, however, with a decrease in immunity, the disease begins to manifest itself more aggressively.

Cytomegalovirus can provoke pregnancy fading in the first trimester, if infection occurs at a later date, this can lead to serious defects development. Syphilis, gonorrhea also pose a danger to the health and life of the child.

• chromosomal disorders. During the development of the embryo, various developmental disorders may occur, for example, pathology of the zygote, abnormal development of the placenta.
• stress, abuse medicines especially antidepressants.
• bad habits (drugs, alcohol, cigarettes)
• external influence(air travel, gravity, exposure, excessive sun exposure)
• causes of an unknown nature. The fading of pregnancy has not yet been sufficiently studied, and in some cases it is impossible to determine why the development of the fetus has stopped.

Why does fetal fading occur?

It is quite difficult to single out the main reasons why the fetus freezes, since several factors can lead to this pathology at the same time. For example, hormonal disruptions and chromosomal changes in the embryo or infection.

Also, the use of drugs, alcohol, smoking during pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases can cause intrauterine death of the fetus.

How to provoke fetal fading?

Fetal fading in some cases can be provoked by the woman herself. Smoking, drinking alcohol, drugs, drug abuse can cause the development of the embryo to stop. In addition, frequent nerve strain or stress, coffee, a sedentary lifestyle disrupt the normal development of the fetus, lead to insufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients to it.

Signs of fetal freezing

Fetal freezing has several symptoms that a woman can determine on her own. Most often, fading occurs in the first trimester, often this pathology is detected during a routine examination or ultrasound. In this case, fading can be detected several weeks later than the death of the embryo occurred.

In the early stages, an abrupt cessation of toxicosis, a decrease in basal temperature, and soreness of the chest can indicate the death of the embryo.

In some cases, these signs are ignored or are perceived as a natural manifestation of pregnancy.

At a later date, it is possible to determine that the death of the fetus has occurred because the child has stopped moving, also severe pain in the abdomen or open bleeding may indicate a pathology.

The first signs of fetal fading

It is rather difficult to determine the fading of the fetus in the early stages on its own, since in each case the pregnancy proceeds individually. For example, some women do not have toxicosis or other manifestations of pregnancy (dizziness, weakness, cravings for salt, etc.). In the first trimester, an abrupt cessation of signs of pregnancy (provided that they were) can indicate the death of the embryo. If a woman initially felt well, then it is possible to detect fading when visiting a doctor or on an ultrasound scan.

At a later date, pathology may be indicated by the fact that the child stops moving. In most cases, when fetal death occurs, the woman begins miscarriage. But in some cases, a woman can walk with an already dead fetus inside her for several days and even weeks. The fact that the fetus is dead and the decomposition process has begun can be indicated by pulling or severe pain in the abdomen, spotting.

Fetal freeze at 8 weeks

The eighth week of pregnancy is a rather early period at which the umbilical cord and placenta have not yet formed, the main purpose of which is to protect the fetus from external negative factors. At this time, the embryo is extremely vulnerable, and an infection or hormonal disorder can provoke malformations that are incompatible with life. Fetal fading at such an early stage is quite common and in most cases ends in spontaneous miscarriage.

Fetal freeze at 16 weeks

Fetal fading most often occurs for up to 13 weeks, however, it happens that the fetus dies in the second trimester. At the 16th week of pregnancy, the risk of pregnancy fading is extremely high and several factors can contribute to this.

Intrauterine fetal death can occur due to infection, chromosomal developmental disorders, conflict between the Rh factors of the child and mother, and abortions in the past.

To identify the fading of pregnancy at week 16 allows monitoring the growth of the uterus and ultrasound. Signs of a missed pregnancy (moving the baby, pain in the lower abdomen, spotting, etc.) do not always indicate the death of the fetus, confirm this diagnosis Can only specialist and ultrasound.

After confirming the death of the fetus in the womb, the doctor prescribes an emergency operation (cleaning) to remove the fetus from the uterus, otherwise it can lead to inflammation, infection, severe bleeding.

After cleaning, the woman is observed for several days and spent full examination to determine the causes of fetal fading.

After the pregnancy fades, it is advisable to plan the next one at least six months later.

Fading of one fetus with twins

During a twin pregnancy, the death of one of the embryos occurs once in a thousand pregnancies. Fetal freezing can occur different reasons, often one fetus dies due to developmental anomalies, improper blood circulation, developmental disorders of the placenta, umbilical cord. Also, the death of one of the embryos in twins can be facilitated by a mechanical factor, for example, an acute lack of oxygen in a single placenta and one fetal sac.

The death of one of the embryos leads to serious health problems of the second, as well as death. According to statistics, in the event of the death of one of the embryos in the first trimester, the probability normal development and the birth of the second reaches 90%. If one fetus stops developing for up to three weeks, then the embryo completely resorbs or softens and dries out (“paper fruit”).

If the death of one fetus with twins occurred at a later date, then the second may develop a severe lesion of the central nervous system, internal organs or death.

If one of the embryos dies, the woman may not feel any symptoms. Usually, the pathology is detected on ultrasound (lack of heartbeat, movement). One dead fetus with twins in the second and third trimester can lead to a large loss of blood in a living child. Through the connecting vessels, blood from a living fetus enters a dead one, and since the heart does not work, a dead body is able to absorb quite a lot of blood. Due to large blood loss in a living fetus, severe anemia can begin, which will lead to damage to the central nervous system and oxygen starvation.

The actions of the doctor directly depend on the period at which the death of one of the children occurred. On recent months pregnancy, the doctor may decide on an emergency delivery, despite the unavailability of a live fetus for birth. In this case, for a living child premature birth pose less of a risk than continuing to stay with dead organism and the less time passes from the moment of fetal death to artificial delivery, the better for the second child. With the timely detection of a missed pregnancy, the probability of a successful outcome for a living child is approximately 55%.

For the treatment of pathology in the second trimester, the termination of any relationship between the two organisms and the transfusion of blood to a live fetus are used if there is no possibility of delivery.

In the third trimester, only artificial childbirth is used, since a dead organism poses a strong threat not only to a living child, but also to the mother, since coagulation disorders (blood clotting) are possible.

How to determine the fading of the fetus?

Fetal freezing can occur without pronounced symptoms. Identification of pathology occurs after a visit to the doctor. If there is a suspicion of pregnancy fading (the uterus is not large enough, there are no movements of the child), then an ultrasound examination is always prescribed for a more accurate diagnosis.

You can also determine the fading of the fetus by analyzing urine and blood, which show deviations from the norm.

Fading of the fetus in the early stages

Often, the fading of the fetus in the first weeks of pregnancy is difficult for a woman to identify herself, since often the symptoms are hidden.

In most cases, the fading of pregnancy in the first trimester accompanies the disappearance of toxicosis, rapid fatigue, a decrease in basal temperature, the cessation of swelling and soreness of the mammary glands.

In most cases, these signs are ignored or attributed by the woman to her new condition. It is possible to identify the fading of pregnancy after some examinations.

The doctor prescribes an analysis for hCG, if the level of this hormone has dropped sharply or stops increasing, then the pregnancy is expected to fade.

In some cases, ultrasound may show that in fertilized egg no embryo.

Fetal fading in the second trimester

Fetal fading occurs most often in the first weeks of pregnancy. The death of an embryo before 18 weeks is usually due to various genetic disorders, and it is impossible to maintain such a pregnancy. Less often, pregnancy fades in the second trimester, as a rule, the reason for this is the flu, exacerbation of an infectious disease, hormonal disorders and so on. Only a specialist after an additional examination can determine the cause of pregnancy fading. In some cases, the cause of the fading remains unclear.

In the second trimester, the main sign of a violation of the course of pregnancy is the lack of fetal movement. At about 18-20 weeks (in those who give birth earlier), the fetus begins to move, if a woman notes that the child has not moved for more than a day, then this is a good reason for an urgent visit to the doctor.

During the examination, the doctor will determine the size of the abdomen, the ultrasound will listen to the fetal heartbeat, and placental abruption can also be diagnosed. In addition, pain or bleeding may indicate an abnormal development of pregnancy.

The fading of pregnancy in the second trimester is quite rare, the main cause of the pathology is serious illnesses maternal or genetic disorders. Also, intrauterine fetal death can occur as a result of trauma.

Fading of the fetus in the later stages

Fading of the fetus in the later stages can be determined by more pronounced signs. The main symptom of pathology is the lack of movement.

In addition, there are a number of signs that may indicate a fading pregnancy:

• the breast becomes softer, not swollen
• great weakness
• appetite changes (if it was absent before, it appears and vice versa)

The main examination of a woman is to undergo an ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs, smears to detect diseases, a urine test, a blood test, an analysis for infections, a thyroid gland test, tests for hormone levels.

Additional research methods are also possible, which the doctor can prescribe based on the woman's medical history and individual characteristics organism.

Fetal fading is not a sentence for a couple who dream of having a baby. In the early stages, the death of the embryo most often occurs due to a developmental anomaly that is incompatible with life. In the case of repeated pregnancy, the probability of fading is practically eliminated. Compliance healthy lifestyle future parents, the implementation of the doctor's recommendations, a complete examination before planning pregnancy and the treatment of all existing diseases will prevent the development of this pathology.