Frozen pregnancy in the second trimester. Causes of fading pregnancy. Does a frozen pregnancy have symptoms that can clearly indicate it

Every woman dreams of becoming a mother. But the statistics are cruel and inexorable: every fifth pregnancy can suddenly end in a miscarriage or freeze. You can blame as much as you want on bad ecology and food, stress and viruses around us. But how not to provoke fetal fading and suspect a problem in time, all expectant mothers need to know.

Everything you need to know about missed pregnancy

Unlike Western clinics, where no one saves or supports pregnancy up to 12 weeks, in our country they fight for everyone. After all, this opportunity to become a mother may be the last for a woman. Only pregnancies with incompatible fetal pathologies are not prolonged. It is not even a single case of termination of pregnancy that is alarming, but its repeated repetition. After 2-3 times of fading, doctors already make a terrible diagnosis of miscarriage.

Doctors do not advise the first two or three weeks of missed menstruation to be perceived as pregnancy. After a couple of days, menstruation may come with the separation of denser blood clots. And it could be a pregnancy that the woman had no idea about.

Early pregnancy has a different outcome:

• anembryonic pregnancy, or anembryony - the formation of an empty embryonic fetal egg;
• spontaneous miscarriage or spontaneous termination of pregnancy before the fetus reaches a viable gestational age;
• a frozen or non-developing pregnancy is a pregnancy in which conception occurs, ending in spontaneous abortion and death of the fetus as a result of stopping its development.

The most critical periods of pregnancy:

• until the fifth week. If the embryo was rejected during this period, then it had genetic deformities or pathologies incompatible with life. And this deviation would not allow him to grow and develop further;
• up to the sixth week. If the embryo is not detected in the fetal egg up to six weeks during an ultrasound examination, then the doctors wait another one and a half weeks. Then the examination is repeated for a period of 8 weeks. If even then the embryo is not visualized, then we can say with a 100% guarantee that it will not appear. There is anembryony. The exception is women with irregular menstrual cycles, where doctors wait a little longer;
  It is possible to determine an empty fetal egg only with the help of ultrasound.
• until the eighth week. In 70% of cases, the presence of a problem indicates that there were genetic abnormalities in the development of the most important internal organs of the fetus, or hormonal disruptions occurred in the mother's body, which did not accept and pushed the fetus away like a foreign body;
  At the 8th week of its existence, the embryo reaches a weight of 10 grams, most of its organs are already formed, its heart resembles the heart of an adult in its shape and beats at a frequency of 112–136 beats per minute
• after nine weeks. During this period, the embryo is already called a fetus, its loss most often depends on the failure of the female body;
• from the ninth to the eleventh week and until the end of the first trimester. At this time, the risk of fading is maximum due to the rapid restructuring of the mother's body as a result of pregnancy and the rapid development of all systems and organs of the unborn child;
• sixteenth to eighteenth weeks. This is another dangerous period - a time when the fetus grows intensively, and various developmental failures are possible;
• until the twenty-second week. The causes of fetal fading can be sexual infections, viruses, poor nutrition, excessive exercise.

Later, the risk of fetal fading decreases several times, replaced by the risk of prematurity.

Causes of fetal fading

The causes of pregnancy fading are divided into 2 groups:

1. On the part of the fetus, this is primarily a genetic mutation, when the cells are formed with a defect, the internal organs are unable to develop normally, and their gradual death occurs. In this case, doctors regard the rejected pregnancy as a boon for the woman, because otherwise, if the body had not rejected the fetus immediately, as unviable, it would have happened later and harmed the woman more. The longer the gestation period, the stronger the changes in her body. And the more difficult it is then to restore strength and reproductive capabilities.
2. From the mother's side:
   • age after 35 years for nulliparous women;
   • previous abortions;
   • use of postcoital (emergency) contraception. You should not get carried away with this method of protection, because such extreme measures cause violations of the cycle;
   • use of reproductive technologies. For example, the use of IVF fertilization due to the immunological incompatibility of partners;
   • immunological reasons, when a woman's body capable of bearing culls the fetus as a foreign body and tries to reject it;
   • defects of the reproductive organs:
     • saddle shape of the uterus;
     • polycystic ovary syndrome - a gynecological disease in which multiple cystic tumors of a benign nature occur both outside and inside the ovaries;
   • bad work of the corpus luteum. The pregnancy hormone (progesterone) is secreted more than necessary;
   • untreated inflammation. For example, inflammation of the inner lining of the uterus can cause a fertilized egg to fail to attach;
   • TORCH infections and sexually transmitted infections: toxoplasmosis, chlamydia, herpes, rubella, cytomegalovirus, HIV, syphilis. Before pregnancy, they may not manifest themselves in any way, but due to a hormonal surge, they will again sharply declare themselves and push the fetus away;
   • acute viral diseases. It is especially dangerous to get sick in the first trimester of pregnancy. The development of a child in the womb requires a lot of effort, which will be spent on recovery from illness;
   • taking medication. Strong medications can adversely affect the development of the fetus. Even more dangerous is the uncontrolled use of drugs. It is mandatory to consult a gynecologist observing your pregnancy before starting to use any medication, even harmless herbs;
   • endocrinopathy. This is, first of all, the indigestibility of glucose in diabetes mellitus and disturbances in the functioning of the thyroid gland;
   • increased tendency to form blood clots - thrombophilia;
   • bad habits of the future mother, for example, smoking;
   • stress. As a result of strong emotional upheavals, a woman's body can reject a healthy fetus.

As a result of any of these many factors or their combination, the growth and development of the fetus stops, the pregnancy freezes, which is accompanied by special signs.

Video: gynecologist Tetruashvili about the myths around missed pregnancy

Symptoms of a missed pregnancy

In 90% of cases, the fetus freezes in its development precisely in the first third of pregnancy (from the first to the twelfth week) as a result of natural selection or its non-viability. The most important symptom is the disappearance of signs of pregnancy.

Table: signs of missed pregnancy in the first trimester

Symptoms in the second trimester

The second trimester is the period from the 13th to the 27th week, and for a period of 18-20 weeks, mothers begin to feel how the baby is pushing.

Table: signs of missed pregnancy in the second trimester of pregnancy

Diagnostics

Frozen pregnancy poses a real threat to the mother's body. In such a situation, further prolongation of pregnancy becomes impossible, the body begins to reject the unviable fetus, provoking spontaneous abortion. If a frozen pregnancy is not accompanied by a similar outcome, and the woman does not go to the doctor, if a dead fetus is in the womb for more than a month and a half, there is a high risk of developing DIC - disseminated intravascular coagulation, in which the bleeding that occurs is accompanied by a direct threat of death.

A frozen pregnancy requires immediate medical attention, since the dead fetus, while in the womb, begins to decompose, and toxic substances are absorbed into the mother's blood, leading to an increasing deterioration in her condition.

Analyzes and examinations before ultrasound

The doctor can quickly notice the warning signs and check his fears with the help of such measures:

1. Examination of a pregnant woman. On examination, a gynecologist may suspect fading if the size of the uterus does not correspond to the deadlines. The doctor notes this with the usual measurement of the abdomen with a centimeter tape. But the diagnosis of “frozen pregnancy” will not be made to you without an ultrasound.
2. Assessment of the fetal heart rate. With the help of a special funnel attached to the abdomen, the gynecologist checks the fetal heartbeat or its absence.
3. Laboratory research. To confirm or refute the suspicions, the doctor prescribes a set of tests, including:
   • laboratory testing of urine. The content of leukocytes (normal - 2000 per milliliter), protein (0.14 grams per liter - normal) is examined for the presence of inflammation due to rejection of unnecessary fetal membranes;
   • determining the level of progesterone. At the beginning of the term, it should be about 20.57 nmol / l, later it rises to 301 nmol / l. Without it, productive protection of the fetus is impossible. But there is also an inverse relationship: when the fetus dies for various reasons, the level of progesterone also drops, it simply does not need to be kept in excess anymore;
   • blood test for hCG levels. The level of chorionic gonadotropin significantly helps to track the dynamics of the development of the baby and the appearance of deviations:
     • this figure increases significantly with the onset of pregnancy. Its concentration in the blood doubles every two days, that is, it grows exponentially. This process largely explains why expectant mothers change their mood so dramatically, emotional breakdowns occur;
     • with a frozen pregnancy, hCG indicators are characterized by a low increase or remain at the same level, since hCG is produced not by the fetus, but by the placenta;
     • at the turn of the first and second trimesters, the hCG level approaches the upper bar and remains there, and then gradually decreases. Therefore, a significant, outwardly unmotivated drop in the concentration of this hormone will definitely alert a specialist.

Table: hCG norms during pregnancy at different times

Video: a gynecologist talks about the diagnosis of a missed pregnancy

ultrasound diagnostics

To clarify the diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe an ultrasound scan and only then make a final conclusion.

During ultrasound diagnostics, the following can be detected:

• anembryony - a fetal egg of a smaller size and is not visualized;
• retrochorial hematoma, or accumulation of blood inside the uterus, due to exfoliated membranes and a rejected embryo;
• the absence of a heartbeat in an embryo visualized inside the fetal egg;
• blurred contours of a deformed fetal egg;
• lagging behind the size of the uterus from the norm.

Is it possible to determine a frozen pregnancy at home

If you do not feel the baby moving for about 10 hours or more (after 18–20 weeks), be sure to consult a doctor, it may still be possible to correct, save the life of the fetus and prevent complications for the mother.

A woman without medical equipment and special knowledge can determine the presence of a problem at home using some techniques.

Repeat pregnancy test

A pregnancy test should be repeated every day if the woman is at risk for miscarriage. A negative test result can be considered a sign of a missed pregnancy.
The mechanism of all pregnancy tests is the same: they determine whether a woman’s urine contains the hormone chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which begins to be produced in the body after the embryo is attached to the uterus

Counting fetal movements per day

The fading of pregnancy at a later date is primarily determined by the absence of fetal movements. Do not ignore the "Method 10", according to which you must count at least 10 movements of the child from 9:00 to 21:00.

Charting a change in basal temperature

For your peace of mind, you can keep a schedule for recording basal temperature. If you notice a drop in temperature and 1 degree immediately, then this is a clear sign of a missed pregnancy.
For the convenience of plotting changes in basal temperature, use applications on your phone, such as WomanLog, P Trqcker (Period Tracker), my calendar

Frozen pregnancy is a pathology, the causes of which are not yet fully understood. A frozen pregnancy in medicine is called a failed abortion. The probability of developing a problem does not depend on the age of the woman, her social status and the number of previous pregnancies. The causes of pathology are still not fully understood. According to statistics, a missed pregnancy occurs in every 176th woman who plans to become a mother.

What is pathology?

Non-developing pregnancy - intrauterine death of the fetus associated with irreversible processes occurring in its tissues. Pathology does not have pronounced signs, such as, for example, a miscarriage. For this reason, it is important to know about the first signs of pathology in order to promptly seek help from a doctor.

Important! In gynecology, there is often such a thing as an empty fetal egg. The condition occurs when an egg is fertilized and attaches to the endometrium. However, the cell itself does not contain an embryo.

Causes of non-developing pregnancy

The most common cause of miscarriage is gene mutations. It is they who in 70% of cases are the cause of the death of the embryo for up to 8 weeks. Numerous factors can lead to genetic malfunctions in the body: chronic or hereditary diseases, drug use, alcohol consumption by future parents.

Important! During pregnancy, it is imperative to undergo screenings prescribed by a gynecologist and geneticist. This study will detect gene abnormalities in a child in the early stages.

The probability of a failed abortion increases if the expectant mother cannot give up bad habits: smoking, poor nutrition, drinking alcohol. Medications that a pregnant woman takes without the consent of a doctor are capable of provoking various deviations in the fetus.

Therefore, in the first trimester, potent drugs are prescribed only in extreme cases, for example, in severe infectious diseases. After 10 weeks of pregnancy, a strong placenta is formed, which protects the fetus from external negative influences. In this case, taking medication for him will not be so dangerous.

Other causes of missed pregnancy include:

1. Rh-conflict of mother and fetus. The problem is especially relevant for women who have had multiple abortions. Gradually, antibodies to the embryo accumulate in the woman's body, which reduce the likelihood of a successful pregnancy.
2. Severe infectious and viral diseases. Expectant mothers are vulnerable to pathogenic flora, so they quickly become infected during epidemics. Some diseases (rubella, chickenpox, measles) can not only provoke the death of the embryo, but also cause physical and mental abnormalities in the child in the future. In such cases, the mother may agree to an abortion or decide on the birth and upbringing of a special baby.
3. Hormonal disruptions. The cause of miscarriage may be a lack of prolactin or an excess of testosterone. If, before conception, a woman had irregular menstruation, this must be reported to the gynecologist.

Risk factors for the development of missed pregnancy:

• old-bearing women over 35 years of age;
• numerous abortions in the past;
• the presence of defects in the structure of the uterus;
• ectopic pregnancies previously diagnosed.

In the presence of at least one risk factor, a woman is put under special control to a gynecologist. The risk group for abnormal pregnancy also includes women who refuse to be observed by specialists.

Important! Every pregnant woman must register with a gynecologist at 7-8 weeks of pregnancy.

The timing of a missed pregnancy

The problem occurs at any stage of pregnancy (even a few days before delivery). Examining the statistical data, doctors noted several periods that are most dangerous for the formation of the fetus:

• 3rd and 4th weeks from the moment of conception;
• 7-11th week;
• 16-18th week.

After the 20th week, cases of stopping the development of the child are few. In the vast majority, the problem occurs for up to 14 gestational weeks. The cause of the anomaly in the first trimester is genetic abnormalities and hormonal disruptions, in the second or third trimesters - infectious diseases.

Symptoms of pathology in the early stages

A woman may not immediately notice a frozen pregnancy, especially if she does not show clinical signs. However, the condition poses a threat to the woman's life, as the decaying fetus poisons the body and harms the reproductive system. However, with a careful study of her condition, a woman may note the following signs characteristic of an undeveloped pregnancy:

1. Abnormal discharge. The woman's body tries to get rid of the fetus on its own after its death. Within 48 hours, she may have a whitish discharge of the usual consistency. After that, bloody streaks appear in the mucus. Gradually, the bleeding becomes more and more profuse.
2. Change in the intensity of toxicosis. After the implantation of the fetal egg, many women feel the urge to vomit. They are associated with increased production of hCG. If the fetus dies, then the production of the hormone stops. A day later, a woman can feel relief from the condition. 4-6 days after the death of the fetus, signs of toxicosis disappear altogether. This symptom does not always indicate pathological processes in the body. The intensity of toxicosis may decrease as a result of the woman's physiological addiction to the fetus.
3. Deterioration of general well-being. An embryo that decomposes in a woman’s body for a long time provokes intoxication of the body. Initially, the condition resembles a cold and is accompanied by fatigue, loss of strength. Two weeks later, more vivid signs of pathology appear: dizziness, anxiety, abdominal cramps, temperature.
4. Sudden changes in basal temperature. In pregnant women, the indicator is at a level exceeding 37 degrees. After the fetus dies, the mark on the thermometer drops to 36.7 degrees, and at the time of decomposition of the embryo rises to 37.5 degrees.

Symptoms of pathology in late pregnancy

From the second trimester, other manifestations join the listed symptoms of a missed pregnancy. A vivid clinical picture of the problem is due to the fact that the fetus is large.

The main manifestations of non-developing pregnancy in the second or third trimesters include:

• absence of fetal movements for more than 24 hours;
• drawing pains in the abdomen;
• leakage of water with an unpleasant putrefactive odor.

The lack of movement in the fetus can also signal an insufficient supply of oxygen to it. The situation occurs when the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck or torso of the child. If a woman consults a doctor in a timely manner, then the baby can be saved from suffocation.

One of the characteristic signs of late pregnancy fading is a change in breast size. If the ST appeared before the 25th week, then the breast returns to its previous size in a few days. At a later date, after the death of the fetus, colostrum may be secreted from the glands.

After the death of the fetus, not only the chest, but also the abdomen decreases in size. This is due to the fact that after the tragedy, the amount of amniotic fluid is reduced. The listed signs will be observed in a woman one to two days after the death of the fetus. In late pregnancy, the body tries to get rid of the dead child already on the 4-5th day.

Diagnosis of missed pregnancy

Examination during a frozen pregnancy includes the following types of procedures:

• visual examination by a gynecologist;
• blood sampling for hCG;
• basal temperature measurement

The first two methods are considered the main ones in identifying signs of a missed pregnancy, the rest are auxiliary.

Important! If until the 7th week there are suspicions of a missed pregnancy, then the abortion is postponed until a second ultrasound examination. It may happen that the device did not detect the vital functions of the embryo or the doctor made a mistake when calculating the timing of conception.

Signs of a missed pregnancy on ultrasound:

• early term - incorrect location of the fetal egg or its damage;
• late term - the absence of a heartbeat in the fetus and the discrepancy between its size and the term.

Ultrasound data is not enough to make a definitive diagnosis - ST. Due to hormonal disruptions and psychological stress in women, a delay in fetal development can be up to four weeks. In this case, a second ultrasound is performed in two weeks. If the fetus has not increased in size, then this means that it is dead.

Treatment of pathology

A popular way to free the uterine cavity from a dead fetus is medical abortion. In Russia, it is carried out for up to 9 weeks of pregnancy, in European countries - up to 12. Mifepristone and misoprostol are used for therapy. This method gives an effective result, but has a list of contraindications:

• blood clotting disorder;
• severe anemia;
• renal and liver failure;
• ectopic pregnancy.

If a missed pregnancy is diagnosed at the 13-22nd week, then they resort to artificial stimulation of labor through one of the methods:

1. Intramial. A 20% sodium chloride solution is injected into the fetal bladder using a thin needle.
2. Isolated. Insertion into the vagina of mifepristone or misoprostol with oral administration of one of the drugs.

If the above methods of removing the fetus did not bring results or have contraindications for carrying out, then doctors resort to imposing a load on the presenting section of the fetal bladder.

In the third trimester, the deceased fetus is disposed of through artificial birth. Performing a caesarean section in this case is prohibited, as infection of the blood can occur. The woman will have to give birth to a dead child without anesthesia on an emergency basis.

After the treatment, the woman will need to adhere to the following rules:

1. Take hormonal drugs for the speedy recovery of the endometrium.
2. Drink antibiotics to prevent infection of the endometrium. Macrolides or cephalosporins are prescribed.
3. Undergo physiotherapy procedures aimed at regenerating damaged uterine tissues.
4. Take drugs to strengthen the immune system.

Another way to remove the fetal egg is scraping. For up to 12 weeks, vacuum aspiration of the uterus is acceptable. The standard curettage procedure is carried out only in extreme cases, as it can lead to irreversible damage to the epithelium.

Indications for traditional scraping:

• ineffectiveness of drug therapy;
• cleansing the uterus from the remnants of the fetus after an incomplete miscarriage.

Curettage is prescribed for women after ultrasound, blood tests and electrocardiograms. A preliminary consultation with the doctor who will perform anesthesia is mandatory.

The course of the scraping procedure:

1. Anesthesia is administered intravenously to the woman, which begins to act within a few seconds.
2. The genitals are treated with antiseptic agents.
3. The doctor uses a mirror to fix the cervix with forceps and expands the cervical canal.
4. The cleaning procedure is performed with a curette equipped with a loop at the end. With the help of it, all the mucous membranes of the cervical canal and uterus are scraped out.
5. After curettage, drugs that stimulate contraction are injected into the uterine cavity. The treated area is disinfected with iodine solution.

After the end of the operation, all fixing gynecological instruments are removed. Cold is placed on the woman's stomach, which helps narrow the small vessels and tone the uterus. The menstrual cycle in a woman should be restored 6-7 weeks after curettage. The operation is allowed to be carried out until the second trimester (less often at later dates).

Consequences of a frozen pregnancy

Termination of pregnancy is stressful for the female body, regardless of the chosen method of treatment subsequently. It will be possible to fully recover after the operation only after 6 months. During this time, the woman will need to drink hormonal drugs.

Complications after a frozen pregnancy:

1. Psychological trauma associated with the fear of an unsuccessful course of the next pregnancies or the inability to conceive a child.
2. Infertility. To prevent the development of complications, it is necessary to follow the doctor's recommendations and be regularly examined by a gynecologist. Symptoms for an urgent visit to the gynecologist - fever, severe vaginal bleeding.
3. Inflammatory diseases of the uterine cavity. A complication often develops after traditional curettage. During the operation, the mucous membranes of the genital organ are removed, which makes it more vulnerable to pathogenic flora.
4. Adhesion processes. Inflammation of the uterus leads to the fact that its individual sections stick together. Deformation of the organ cavity in the future becomes the cause of infertility.

Prevention of non-developing pregnancy

Each couple planning a child must first undergo a set of studies, which includes a blood test for infections, ultrasound of the pelvic organs, and genetic tests. It is recommended to abstain from conception if less than 6 months ago one of the partners had been ill with rubella, chickenpox or severe influenza.

Other measures aimed at preventing missed pregnancy include:

• implementation of preventive vaccinations;
• visiting a geneticist;
• normalization of hormonal levels;
• maintaining a healthy lifestyle;
• abstinence from flights in the first months from the moment of conception.

With proper planning, the probability of a successful pregnancy is about 90%. This also applies to cases where a woman has suffered unsuccessful attempts to bear a child in the past. It is important not to ignore visits to multidisciplinary specialists who will draw up a competent treatment plan after a missed pregnancy.

Unfortunately, not every desired pregnancy ends with the birth of a baby - the fetus stops developing and freezes. With all the achievements of modern medicine, doctors are forced to admit that this is an irreversible process and it is impossible to help the baby in such a situation. Most often, the pathology develops at the beginning of pregnancy, but the expectant mother can hear a sad diagnosis later. Read more about the causes and symptoms of missed pregnancy in the second trimester.

According to statistics, out of 180 pregnancies, one ends with the fetal fading. The rest of the women become happy mothers. However, there is always a minimal risk of such a disastrous outcome of pregnancy, so it is important for every woman in position to know what can provoke the development of pathology and how to suspect danger in time. To protect the child from unforeseen complications, the expectant mother must register on time and carefully listen to the recommendations of the gynecologist.

What does a pregnancy frozen in the second trimester mean?

Not every woman, having seen two cherished strips on the test, knows what a frozen pregnancy is and what needs to be done in such a situation. To begin with, it is important to understand how dangerous it is - a serious pathology leaves no chance for the baby to grow and develop, which is why the fetus soon dies.

The slightest delay leads to tragic consequences for the woman herself: an extensive inflammatory reaction develops in her body, which can have an extremely negative impact on subsequent conception. Often, women who have experienced a frozen pregnancy are faced with the inability to conceive or bear a child in the future. To exclude such a scenario, it is important to respond to alarming symptoms in a timely manner and immediately contact a medical institution.

The situation of a woman during a frozen pregnancy is further complicated by the fact that the pathology does not manifest itself for a long time, until the state of health of the pregnant woman suddenly deteriorates sharply. Blood appears from the genital tract, contractions may begin, on the basis of which spontaneous abortion occurs.

Causes of a missed pregnancy in the second trimester

The successful development of the child equally depends on the external and internal factors that accompany pregnancy. External factors mean environmental conditions, which in most cases have a negative impact on the health of the expectant mother. Today, alas, not every woman in a position can afford the luxury of changing the situation and moving to an ecologically clean area, at least for the duration of her pregnancy.

Internal factors are physical and psychological indicators of the health of the expectant mother. If a woman, having certain chronic diseases, does not treat them properly, is constantly nervous and worried for any reason, this does not have the best effect on the condition of the fetus. In particular, the following diseases are directly related to the development of a missed pregnancy:

• acute and chronic infections;
• diabetes;
• hormonal imbalance in the body of a pregnant woman;
• violations that relate to the activity of the endocrine system;
• various renal pathologies;
• cardiovascular disease in a woman;
• chromosomal "breakage" in the development of the fetus;
• congenital anomalies of the fetus, incompatible with its further development.

Heavy physical activity, addiction to cigarettes and alcoholic beverages is also directly related to the development of severe pathologies during childbearing, including missed pregnancy.

Frozen pregnancy in the second trimester: risk group

Medical practice shows that at risk are women who have the following information in their medical history:

• medical abortion;
• miscarriage;
• ectopic pregnancy;
• chronic diseases of the reproductive system.

If a woman is perfectly healthy, but she is over 35 years old and her first pregnancy, she also runs the risk of hearing unpleasant news about a missed pregnancy to some extent.

Signs of a missed pregnancy in the second trimester

Of course, it is very difficult to understand and accept what happened. An undeveloped pregnancy in the second trimester is a real shock for the mother, who has already begun to collect dowry for her baby and, perhaps, gave him a name a long time ago. Unfortunately, even with very pronounced symptoms of a missed pregnancy in the second trimester, some women hesitate to visit a doctor, subconsciously not wanting to hear the terrible news. Meanwhile, a failed mother risks not only her health, but also her life. No matter how cruel it may sound, an undeveloped pregnancy is a pathology in which a woman needs to think only about herself, and not about the dead fetus.

At the initial stage of pregnancy, it is extremely difficult to recognize the problem without medical diagnosis, but if the child stops developing in the second trimester, the signs are quite specific, so they cannot be missed. The symptoms of a missed pregnancy in different women can vary dramatically, so do not draw conclusions ahead of time. An accurate diagnosis will be made only after the ultrasound procedure, the necessary tests and examination by a gynecologist.

If you have the following symptoms, you should go to the clinic immediately:

• the fetus does not announce itself by perturbations. Usually, the mother begins to hear the baby at 18 - 20 weeks, or even earlier - from 16 weeks. During the day, the child shows signs of life on average 10 times, so his prolonged silence is considered a very alarming sign. In any case, if the fetal movements seem to the mother not too active, you can and should consult a doctor. Some gynecologists even recommend that their patients record movements in a special diary. Of course, there is no urgent need for this if the pregnancy develops normally. However, if a pathology is suspected, such observations will help to respond to the fading of pregnancy in time;

• all the unpleasant sensations associated with toxicosis began to decline sharply. If in the first weeks of pregnancy you had a sensitive reaction to smells and were often overcome by nausea, then the complete absence of these symptoms may indicate that the fetus has stopped developing. However, the appearance of nausea in the absence of toxicosis in the first trimester should also be alarming;
• a sharp decrease in the sensitivity of the chest. The condition of the mammary glands during pregnancy can also tell a lot: if the chest is no longer tense and has become soft, and something similar to colostrum or milk oozes from the nipples, this indicates the fading of the fetus;

• sensations in the abdomen are very indicative. If the lower abdomen pulls and hurts in the first weeks after conception, then it is worth suspecting a miscarriage. At this stage of pregnancy, the baby can still be saved, since these signs are not typical for a missed pregnancy in the first trimester. However, if a suspicious pulling pain worries at a later date, then it may indicate, first of all, the death of the fetus;
• the appearance of bloody discharge from the genital tract. You may feel like you are about to start your period. At the same time, it does not stop smearing for quite a long time. Even one drop of blood on underwear indicates the process of rejection of the fetus - you need to see a doctor immediately.

For doctors, the so-called medical signs of an undeveloped pregnancy are also indicative. When everything is in order, the fetus develops systematically and increases in size, which is why the uterus increases in volume every month. If the parameters of the muscular organ do not correspond to a certain week of pregnancy, then there can be only two reasons for this: either the gestational age was incorrectly set at one time, or the child froze. The gynecologist will have more reason to suspect a miscarriage between two examinations of the patient. If during the time between visits the size of the uterus remains the same, then the child has ceased to develop.

Complications of non-developing pregnancy in the second trimester

If the fetus frozen in the second trimester is not removed on time, it begins to decompose, which causes an extensive inflammatory process in the womb of a woman. An even more serious danger to her health is the decay products that have penetrated into the blood - in this case, the body is subjected to severe poisoning. Immediate cleaning is required, otherwise the pregnant woman will die. Operative childbirth is carried out in a hospital, after which the patient remains in the hospital for another 2-3 days for observation.

Diagnosis of missed pregnancy in the second trimester

It is possible to identify and confirm that the pregnancy in the second trimester has stopped its development based on the information obtained in several ways: with the help of an examination by a gynecologist, by ultrasound and hCG analysis.

We have already mentioned the correspondence of the size of the uterus to the due date. The doctor also pays attention to the basal body temperature of the expectant mother: with a strong discrepancy or deviation from the norm, the woman is prescribed to undergo an ultrasound scan. The procedure will help to make sure that the fetus is alive, whether his heart is beating.

A hormonal blood test is performed to find out the level of the hCG hormone in the blood of a pregnant woman. Usually this indicator is very high - from 15,000 to 100,000 mIU / ml. If the figure obtained is much less than the norm, we can talk about a threatened abortion or missed pregnancy. However, even here it is not without nuances: if the fetal activity has stopped quite recently, the hCG level may remain high for some time, since the body does not react to the death of the fetus immediately, but some time later.

What to do with a missed pregnancy in the second trimester

As soon as laboratory tests and examinations confirm that the pregnancy has stopped, the fetus must be removed immediately. In case of delay, the development and outcome of the situation can be deplorable: a woman is threatened with spontaneous miscarriage, serious inflammation, bleeding and death. At home, such complications cannot be prevented.

Treatment options for non-progressive pregnancy are as follows:

1. Waiting. There is always a chance to avoid surgery: as a result of a decrease in placental hormones, the body cleanses itself by spontaneous abortion. Given this physiological property of the female body, with a frozen pregnancy, doctors take a wait-and-see attitude for some time.
2. Medical method. To eliminate a missed pregnancy, special medicines are used that provoke a miscarriage. However, this option is not suitable for a non-developing pregnancy of the second trimester, such medications only work for a gestational age of up to 8 weeks. At a later date, the drugs do not have the desired effect.
3. Abortion. With the surgical elimination of a frozen pregnancy, the uterus is scraped out. This procedure is regarded as a serious surgical intervention, after which the woman must undergo a course of antibiotic treatment. 2 weeks after the operation, the patient is prescribed an ultrasound scan to assess the condition of the organs of the reproductive system. Recovery after the completion of a non-developing pregnancy in this way takes about 1 month.

Prevention of the development of pathology after a missed pregnancy in the second trimester

Having important information on how to recognize a missed pregnancy in the second trimester, a woman can suspect a pathology in a timely manner and thereby protect her health from a serious blow in the form of inflammation or intoxication.

In addition, it is important to know how to prevent the development of pathology in a new attempt to plan offspring. A frozen pregnancy is not a sentence, and most of the women who survived this tragedy later become mothers of wonderful babies.

What happened only makes a woman take a closer look at her own health - it means that something is wrong, something requires close diagnosis and treatment. Only by eliminating all possible obstacles to the next pregnancy, you can count on success.

Preparation for conception after a missed pregnancy takes place taking into account the individual characteristics of the woman's health. However, the main points of treatment in preparation for the next pregnancy after a frozen previous one are common for all the fair sex:

• Ultrasound of the pelvic organs;
• smears for determining diseases of the urogenital system;
• a blood test for the presence of autoantibodies and homocysteine;
• examination of the thyroid gland and a blood test for its hormones;
• complex analysis for pathogens of TORCH infections.

After a frozen pregnancy in the past, a woman perceives the next successful conception with great joy and fear - will everything be all right this time? No need to carry a load of heavy thoughts and fears in your head. As soon as you realize that you are pregnant again, use this gift of fate responsibly. It is very important to register on time and subsequently regularly undergo all examinations, carefully monitor your well-being and health, then hopes for the best will definitely come true.

Pregnancy does not always end well. Sometimes in the body of a woman there are changes that interfere with the intrauterine development of the fetus. As a rule, this ends with the "fading" of the embryo either at an early stage, or later, when the fetus is formed. There is a frozen pregnancy in the second trimester. What symptoms will tell about it?

A frozen, or non-developing, pregnancy is the termination of the life of an embryo without any signs of a threat to gestation. If nothing is visible in the fetal egg (which happens with early infection and dissolution of the cells of the embryo, as well as due to failures at the genetic level), the pathology is called anembryonia.

A similar anomaly is observed not only in the initial period, but also in the second trimester - and this is the death of the fetus. Unfortunately, frozen pregnancy is a common phenomenon even in the last months of gestation. Of all cases of unfavorable outcomes of conception, the pathology of developmental fading accounts for 45 to 88%.

Where does trouble come from?

The reasons for the termination of the development of the baby in the second trimester can be different.

1. Habitual miscarriage. If a woman has already experienced similar problems, then the risk of an undeveloped conception increases several times, and it can “materialize” at any time.
2. Diseases of an infectious nature. Transferred earlier or already in an “interesting position”, they affect the fixation of the fetal egg and the formation of the embryo in the initial stages, and also provoke the fetal fading in the second trimester of pregnancy. These diseases include:

• venereal and acute respiratory diseases;
• Kosaki viruses;
• rubella;
• chlamydia;
• chronic endometritis;
• all herpes viruses;
• ureaplasmosis;
• mycoplasmosis;
• coccal infections.

In turn, these diseases can become chronic due to their improper treatment.

1. Hormonal disorders. The fetus is involved in the metabolic processes of progesterone, as it is one with the mother's body. Failure in this system leads to a lack of steroid hormone, and its deficiency, in turn, to the development of various pathologies (including disorders of the uteroplacental circulation), which provoke fetal fading.
2. genetic abnormalities. If the fetus develops anomalies that appeared when mutated partner cells join, this leads to the development of malformations in the child and its further death.
3. Congenital pathologies of the reproductive system. Deviations in the development and functioning of the genital organs (in particular, the uterus) adversely affect the course of pregnancy. As a rule, this causes fading - both in the first and in the second trimester.
4. Weakened immunity. When the forces supporting the body weaken, the vaginal microflora is activated, and an inflammatory process develops.
5. Age-related changes in the body. The older the woman, the higher the risk of experiencing this pathology.
6. Disordered lifestyle. Nicotine, alcohol addiction are the very first provocateurs of a missed pregnancy. And for these reasons, it is more often noted already in the second trimester. Frequent abortions also contribute to this pathology.

How to recognize an undeveloped pregnancy?

Signs of a missed pregnancy in the first and second trimester are somewhat different. At a later date, the child begins to move, and therefore the first alarm signal is the lack of activity in the abdomen. As a rule, after this, an ultrasound examination is prescribed to identify the presence of pathology. At the moment, this is the most reliable and reliable method of diagnosis. If a frozen pregnancy is suspected in the second trimester, an ultrasound error is excluded. The study will not only reveal the presence of a non-developing fetus, but also determine the period of its death.

Other signs of a missed pregnancy in the second trimester:

• 3-6 days after the death of the fetus, the chest becomes soft;
• instead of colostrum, milk is secreted;
• if the period is above 25 weeks, then the mammary glands become swollen, and colostrum oozes profusely from them.

Since toxicosis usually stops in pregnant women at this time, the absence of nausea, vomiting and salivation does not mean anything. But the return of old taste habits should alert.

If the frozen fetus is in the uterus for 3-4 weeks, then the woman may have:

• weakness, feeling unwell, painful condition;
• dizziness,
• temperature is above normal.

If at least one symptom of a missed pregnancy in the second trimester has made itself felt, it is urgent to conduct an examination.

Frozen pregnancy: consequences

If a non-developing pregnancy is detected within a short time and disposed of, this reduces the risk of complications. When the frozen fetus is in the womb for several weeks, it undergoes necrosis and maceration, and sometimes autolysis. With untimely detection of non-developing gestation, even mummification and petrification of the fetus can occur.

All this is fraught with:

• inflammation,
• intoxication,
• coagulopathic complications.

A frozen pregnancy will not affect the reproductive function of the female body if the cause of the disease is identified in time and eliminated so as not to step on the same rake again. Planning a new conception is possible only after a certain period of time, and only after a thorough examination. If the potential parents are healthy, then the next pregnancy will be successful. Especially if the previous bad experience was not associated with genetic abnormalities.

Didn't even hear. And not because it didn't exist. Just earlier, any arbitrary termination of pregnancy, regardless of the causes, was called a miscarriage. Today, thanks to technological progress, with the help of ultrasound and other examinations, doctors can make a diagnosis that no one even suspected a few decades ago. Frozen pregnancy - the same case.

According to some reports, in our time, about 40% of pregnant women make such a diagnosis. Their pregnancy ends already, which provokes just a frozen pregnancy. It occurs when the fetus stops developing. The reasons for this phenomenon can be different - ranging from the bad habits of future parents and ending with chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus. Most often, a frozen pregnancy is caused by various infections that a pregnant woman accidentally picked up (rubella, chickenpox) and hormonal disorders in the body.

Well, if a frozen pregnancy ends in itself with a miscarriage. This usually happens very early in pregnancy. Otherwise, the consequences for a woman can be extremely unpleasant. After all, the frozen fetus begins to collapse, causing inflammation in the uterine cavity. Therefore, when a missed pregnancy is diagnosed, a medical termination of pregnancy is clearly indicated by scraping the uterine cavity or taking drugs, after which a miscarriage occurs (if the gestational age does not exceed 8 weeks).

To avoid unpleasant consequences, it is important to identify the symptoms of a missed pregnancy as early as possible. But is it possible? Signs of a missed pregnancy can be both pronounced and hidden. The surest way to avoid an undesirable outcome is regular examination by specialists and respect for your health.

What are the symptoms of a missed pregnancy?

You are well aware of: and vomiting (toxicosis), swelling of the mammary glands, high basal temperature, and so on. All these symptoms occur due to the adaptation of the woman's body to a foreign body (fetus). And if this fruit stops developing, then, logically, everything should fall into place. However, most often this does not happen. Pregnancy freezes, and its symptoms continue. And only later is their abrupt cessation observed. It happens that a woman clearly feels the sudden termination of pregnancy. This should alert her and become a reason for going to the doctor.

• Allocations. If a missed pregnancy occurred already in the first three weeks after conception, then, most likely, meager periods will appear on time, but their duration will be much longer than usual. with established pregnancy should always be the reason for an urgent visit to the doctor. Even if it's a small drop of blood, don't risk it. It is usually not a frozen pregnancy that causes bleeding, but the threat of its interruption. That is, the embryo continues to develop, and the uterus is trying in every possible way to get rid of it. It happens that a frozen pregnancy is combined with a miscarriage. In this case, spotting is sure to appear.
• Pain. Most often, pulling pains in the lower abdomen indicate an incipient miscarriage, but they are not typical for a missed pregnancy. Only in the later stages of fading can pains resembling menstrual pain appear.
• Breast. The most striking symptom of pregnancy is pain and swelling of the mammary glands. With a frozen pregnancy, these symptoms stop abruptly.
• Toxicosis. If you were very tormented by nausea and vomiting in the first trimester and suddenly they stop abruptly, consult a doctor, especially if the gestational age does not exceed 10 weeks.
• basal temperature. With a frozen pregnancy, it returns to the same marks as in the usual "non-pregnant" state. However, this is not the main symptom of pathology.

You should be more attentive to yourself if a similar situation has happened before. The threat of repeated missed pregnancy is quite common.

The most dangerous is a frozen pregnancy in the later stages. It has not only negative physiological consequences, but also psychological ones. Symptoms of a missed pregnancy in the second trimester can be both obvious and hidden.

• Stomach. With a frozen pregnancy, it stops growing. The uterus does not increase in size.
• Movement. The most obvious sign of a missed pregnancy is the cessation of fetal movements. A few days of “silence” in the stomach is an extremely dangerous situation.
• Body temperature. If the fetus died a long time ago, and the woman does not suspect it, then serious changes occur in her body. An infection develops in the uterus, which causes a sharp increase in body temperature.
• Bleeding. At any stage of pregnancy, any discharge should be a reason to see a doctor. With a frozen pregnancy, discharge may not be observed.

However, in no case can you make a self-diagnosis. Even if all the symptoms are the same - it still does not mean anything. Only a doctor can confirm the diagnosis by conducting a lot of different examinations.

• Gynecological examination. By palpation, a discrepancy between the size of the uterus and the expected gestational age is detected. However, this method helps to detect missed pregnancy only in the second and third trimester. In the first weeks of pregnancy, the size of the uterus is not so different from the "non-pregnant" size.
• Chorionic gonadotropin. A blood test for hCG levels is mandatory if a miscarriage is suspected. In this case, its performance first stops at a certain level, and then decreases.
• ultrasound. With the help of this examination, a frozen pregnancy can be diagnosed at different times. The absence of a heartbeat in the fetus, the cessation of the growth of the embryo or its absence in the fetal egg are all clear signs of a missed pregnancy.

However, the doctor can establish the final diagnosis only by comparing all the results obtained. Before the verdict, and even after it, try not to panic. It's easy to say, but of course there's nothing worse for a mother than the loss of her baby. However, remember that after a frozen pregnancy, you have every chance of bearing a healthy baby.

Take care of yourself!

Especially for- Tanya Kivezhdiy