Non-developing pregnancy: causes and symptoms. What is the danger of a non-developing pregnancy for the expectant mother - the causes of the disease, treatment tactics, possible consequences

08.08.2019

What is undeveloped pregnancy, what are its causes and consequences, today the site for mothers will tell the site.

Any woman, having learned that she will soon become a mother, is looking forward to the first trip to an ultrasound scan. But women's plans for a happy future can collapse in one short moment - if the device detects the absence of the baby's heartbeat. And one of the reasons for this phenomenon can be.

Most of these cases occur early in pregnancy, before 14 weeks, and involve the death of the child. A pregnant woman may not know about it, because there are no obvious signs of fetal death, such as in miscarriage.

Causes of fetal freezing

There are no exact answers to the question of why pregnancy is not developing. The factors that affect the formation of a fetus in the first few weeks can be very different. Moreover, if the woman did not suspect that she was pregnant.

Most likely reasons:

global hormonal changes in the whole organism;
predisposition to hereditary diseases that caused abnormalities in the development of the ovum;
infections, incl. including genital and TORCH infections;
the presence of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) in a pregnant woman;
bad habits;
too early or late pregnancy;
nervous strain ..

Early signs of missed pregnancy

With the help of hCG indicators, you can determine the further development of pregnancy. A week after fertilization, this hormone begins to be produced by the cells surrounding the fetus. From this time until the tenth week of pregnancy, the hCG level rises rapidly, doubling daily.

For each week of pregnancy, a different hCG level is set. If its indicators are lower than it should be in this period, and repeated analysis after a day showed a continuation of the fall, then the doctor can diagnose a frozen pregnancy.

A decrease in the level of chorionic gonadotropin is one of the first signs of a missed pregnancy.

Another reliable sign of fetal freezing is early ultrasound procedure. It will help determine the presence of a baby's heartbeat (cardiac activity begins at 5 weeks). But if the features of the embryo are clearly visible, and the heart rhythm is absent, this may mean intrauterine fetal death.

To accurately diagnose "undeveloped pregnancy", it is necessary to re-undergo an ultrasound scan in a week.

Symptoms of a missed pregnancy

A woman may notice some signs of a frozen pregnancy:

in the early stages, such signs of pregnancy as toxicosis, soreness and swelling of the mammary glands, a change in taste preferences, increased salivation, etc., disappear;
normalization of basal temperature;
during an external examination, the gynecologist may note the lag in the size of the uterus from the size corresponding to the probable period of pregnancy;
for periods of more than 16 weeks, the absence of fetal movement;
detachment of the ovum due to its fading causes painful sensations in the lower abdomen with the release of blood contents from the genital tract. The temperature may rise. This happens a couple of weeks after the death of the embryo.

The process of terminating a frozen pregnancy

Unfortunately, the "undeveloped pregnancy" must be terminated. The physician should be guided by each specific case in order to select the appropriate therapy.

Most of these pregnancies end spontaneous miscarriage. Sometimes, for periods up to 8 weeks, the appointment of a medical termination of pregnancy is required. For this, drugs that weaken the effect of progesterone and prostaglandin analogues are used.

After their introduction in the body, the natural mechanism of expulsion of the fetus in the form of a miscarriage is triggered.

Surgical intervention at a later date involves the process of scraping the uterine cavity in order to remove the dead ovum.

Scraping tissue is sent for laboratory research for histology and cytogenesis. To contract the uterus, the woman is injected with oxytocin, and a course of antibiotics is also prescribed to avoid the development of infection. After the procedure in a couple of weeks it is necessary to undergo another ultrasound scan to exclude the presence of residual fragments of the ovum in the uterus.

The consequences of a missed pregnancy

A delay in terminating a frozen pregnancy can cause the development of an intrauterine infection, an inflammatory process in the tissues of the uterus and appendages.

The decomposition of the cells of a dead embryo saturates the woman's blood with dangerous toxins. As a result, a decrease in blood clotting and the risk of severe bleeding.

During the curettage procedure, organ tissue may be damaged. Along with the transferred physical difficulties, the mental state of a woman also requires rehabilitation. After all, there is nothing worse than losing a very tiny, but already so dear and long-awaited creature.

All of these factors can reduce the likelihood of having children in the future. Therefore, if the first warning signs are found, you should immediately contact your gynecologist. Timely removal of a dead embryo can significantly reduce the risk of complications.

So that the next pregnancy after a non-developing one is not terminated in the same way, it is better not to plan conception for another six months after the rehabilitation course. Before this, both partners should undergo a full examination in order to identify the causes of the previous fetal freezing.

Pregnancy is a long-awaited event in the life of almost every woman. It does not always have a happy outcome. Sometimes pregnancy freezes, the fetus stops developing. As a rule, it comes as a shock for a woman. Fear, despair and misunderstanding of the situation can cause serious complications for physical and psychological health. Why the fetus does not develop and how to act correctly in such a situation. The answers to these questions are later in the article.

What is an undeveloped pregnancy

The diagnosis "undeveloped pregnancy" is understood as a pathological process in which embryonic development stops.

It can be triggered by a number of external and internal factors. This is fetal death that has no characteristic clinical signs.

Often a woman finds out that the pregnancy has frozen after some time at the scheduled time.

Modern obstetric practice distinguishes 2 types of this pathology:

anembryonia (development stops due to the absence of the ovum);
biological death of a normal embryo.

The developmental arrest and death of the embryo can occur at any stage of pregnancy. It was found that most often this pathology occurs in the first 12 weeks of the perinatal period.

Obstetricians-gynecologists distinguish special periods when the risk of stopping the child's development is high enough:

3 weeks pregnant;
8-11 weeks of pregnancy;
16-20 weeks of pregnancy.

These data do not exclude the likelihood of a missed pregnancy at other periods.

There are times when a child dies in utero a couple of weeks before birth.

Causes of a frozen pregnancy

There are many reasons for stopping the development of the embryo.

Pathology is provoked by the following factors:

genetic;
endocrine;
infectious;
autoimmune.

Stopping the development of pregnancy occurs due to chromosomal or genetic abnormalities. A malfunction in the structure of DNA can be triggered by many factors.

Inflammatory processes in the mother's body can stop the development of the embryo. Vaginosis, ARVI, and many other diseases are negative factors for the course of pregnancy.

Pregnancy freezes due to the body of the expectant mother or due to the presence of autoimmune diseases of an unknown nature.

Symptoms

Stopping the development of the embryo in the uterine cavity is a pathology that can cause serious problems in a woman's health.

Signs of a missed pregnancy:

decrease in basal temperature;
bloody vaginal discharge;
pulling pain in the lower abdomen, which resembles the sensations during menstruation;
if the chest was painful and swollen, then this symptomatology disappears;
abrupt cessation of manifestations.

When pregnancy stops in the first 12 weeks, a woman will not be able to independently determine that a trouble has occurred. She can only be alerted by alarming symptoms.

Signs of not developing pregnancy in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy:

stopping the growth of the abdomen;
stop abruptly;
in a woman, the total rises from the onset of inflammatory processes;
vaginal bleeding.

After the woman began to feel how the baby was moving in the womb, this should become the main sign of the normal course of the perinatal period.

If the movements become rare or disappear altogether, this is a reason to be in the doctor's office as soon as possible.

Diagnostics

When contacting a doctor with complaints of symptoms characteristic of a non-developing pregnancy, a woman will be assigned a comprehensive examination, which will make it possible to accurately establish the diagnosis.

Diagnostics includes:

ultrasound, which determines the presence of a heartbeat in a child;
gynecological examination;
mother's blood test.

A complete history with high accuracy allows you to make this diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment for a missed pregnancy depends on the perinatal period at which the diagnosis was made.

Often a frozen pregnancy ends in spontaneous miscarriage. This is especially true for the first weeks of the perinatal period.

If the removal of the dead embryo has not occurred within a few days, medical attention will be required.

Until the 8th week of pregnancy, a method of medical termination of a non-developing pregnancy is used. A woman is given a special drug that provokes a miscarriage.

At a later date, the removal of the dead embryo occurs surgically by means of scraping the uterine cavity.

After the frozen pregnancy has been removed from the uterine cavity, the woman is prescribed a complex of restorative therapy.

Complications and consequences

With the timely removal of the dead embryo and membranes for a woman, there are no serious physiological abnormalities. There is a place to talk only about the psychological component of the problem.

If an undeveloped pregnancy was diagnosed late enough, the following complications may occur:

inflammatory processes in the lining of the uterus;
sepsis.

In most cases, a woman can carry and give birth to a healthy baby after a previous frozen pregnancy.

If fetal freezing has occurred repeatedly, it is recommended to undergo a full examination of the body and consultation with a geneticist.

Prophylaxis

In order to give birth to a healthy baby in the future, you must adhere to simple preventive rules:

be sure to find out the reasons why the pregnancy stopped the last time;
be examined for the presence of a urogenital infection and, if necessary, treat it;
get a consultation with a geneticist who can tell you about the possible risks;
undergo hormonal treatment during the recovery period;
restore the psycho-emotional state (if there is a need, then seek the help of a psychologist);
visit a gynecologist regularly for preventive purposes.

Frozen pregnancy is an undesirable perinatal scenario. Few women are prepared for this turn of events.

If you know the causes and consequences of a missed pregnancy, what to do with this pathology, the risks become minimal.

Timely identification of the problem allows you to solve it with the least damage to the woman. Therefore, at the first sign of anxiety, you should not postpone the visit to the doctor.

Useful video: why there is an undeveloped pregnancy

The fetus froze - this is perhaps one of the most terrible words from a doctor for a couple dreaming of children. You can hear them for various reasons at the very beginning of the development of a new life (the most dangerous are considered from 3 to 4, from 8 to 11 and from 16 to 18 weeks from conception). Sometimes the diagnosis is made at a later date, but the likelihood of hearing it is significantly lower. An analogue is the development of an empty ovum: in this case, fertilization has occurred, but the embryo does not develop. Pathology occurs spontaneously, maybe several times in a row throughout a woman's life. Unfortunately, no one is immune from her. Nevertheless, it is better to know the causes and signs of a frozen pregnancy in the early stages in order to take timely measures and consult a doctor, as well as prevent the development of pathology before conception. Anything can influence the development of a small life. And the worst thing is that it is not so easy to notice the changes.

Read in this article

Reasons why pregnancy does not develop

Why is there a frozen pregnancy in the early stages? This question worries and scares young mothers. There are actually quite a few reasons:

Genetic abnormalities are in the lead. They are diagnosed in 70% of cases for up to 8 weeks. They are associated with many factors, including hereditary diseases, as well as the result of taking drugs by one of the partners. That is why it is important not to give up screenings and other examinations suggested by a geneticist and gynecologist.

Excessive use can also provoke a developmental arrest. It is especially dangerous if the mother cannot give up bad habits after conception.
Medicines are also capable of provoking the development of abnormalities. That is why the doctors themselves strongly recommend giving up any medication. An exception can only be serious diseases, the treatment of which with folk remedies is simply impossible. It is worth noting that for up to 10 days and after 8-10 weeks, when the fetus becomes partially protected by the placenta, the effect of the drugs is not so significant. As for herbs, they also need to be taken only under the supervision of a doctor, because some of them can provoke a breakdown or stop in the development of the embryo.
The causes of a frozen pregnancy in the early stages may lie in the mother and child. If a woman has had abortions before, then the chances of a happy development are not so great. Antibodies produced by the mother's body towards the baby build up over time. And after several abortions, it is very difficult for a conceived baby to resist such an attack.
Infections of both genital organs and viral (, influenza) are a serious threat at the very beginning of the birth of life. The mother's body is already weakened by the new position, so it is not at all difficult to get sick. But the consequences of a high temperature, a viral attack can be very serious. Rubella is a formidable enemy, in the event of which pregnancy not only freezes, the fetus may develop severe anomalies. And already in this case, the mother will have to decide whether she can raise a special child or whether it is better to terminate the pregnancy.

The consequences of congenital rubella for a child

Hormonal Disorders. Moreover, a non-developing pregnancy in the early stages, the reasons for which lie precisely in this factor, can freeze both due to a lack of prolactin and an excess of testosterone. If a woman has regular menstrual irregularities, then it is imperative to be examined during planning, and also to regularly check the state of the hormone after conception.
Harmful factors at work, diabetes mellitus, weight lifting, stress - all these factors can also cause the development of pathology.

Women who have a higher risk of developing pathology

But this is not the only answer to the question of why pregnancy freezes at an early stage. Doctors identify a certain risk group, which includes:

old-born or expectant mothers over the age of 35;
if you have multiple abortions in the past;
if during a previous pregnancy were ectopic;
in the presence of a congenital anomaly of the uterus.

If one or all of the factors are present, the woman will be under constant medical supervision.

The risk group also includes expectant mothers who do not want to visit a gynecologist in the early stages. There may be many reasons for such a decision, but the result will be a serious threat to the health of not only the woman, but also the child.

What signs will indicate a frozen pregnancy

The saddest thing is that the symptoms of a frozen pregnancy in the early stages are not pronounced. Therefore, the expectant mother may not even suspect about the change in the state of the fetus. Only a qualified doctor, after examination and appointment of an additional examination, can state the absence of embryo development.

You should not look for symptoms of a missed pregnancy in your early stages, and even more so, ask your friends for advice or on the forums. In each case, everything is purely individual and depends on many factors.

Symptoms of an impending disaster

At a later date, it is easier for a woman to navigate, because she already feels the movement of the child. In the early days, this is very problematic. A frozen pregnancy, the signs in the first trimester of which may be similar to less serious abnormalities, manifests itself as follows:

passes;
no more ;
lowered;
cramping pains began to appear;
smearing appeared (discharge during a frozen pregnancy in the early stages has exactly the same consistency and red-brown color);
the overall body temperature has increased.

If any of the listed symptoms are detected, a woman needs to urgently consult a doctor! If the signs of pregnancy have disappeared, then this should also alert mommy and become a reason to visit a specialist!

What does a pregnant woman feel with the development of pathology

Feelings of a frozen pregnancy in women are very different. They are even influenced by the fact whether this happened for the first time or a similar situation happened before. Fatigue, apathy, fever - all this, in any case, should alert the expectant mother.

It is worth noting that all symptoms that indicate the development of pathology may turn out to be false! There is no need to immediately set yourself up for the approach of disaster. Quite often, they turn out to be similar to less serious ones, or the body is simply undergoing a readjustment.

Diagnostics of the fact of fetal freezing

Only a doctor knows exactly how to recognize a frozen pregnancy at an early stage. To do this, he will do the following:

, will assess the state of the secreted mucus, ask to measure the basal temperature.
If there is a suspicion of a deviation from the norm, the doctor will send the pregnant woman to hand over. However, it is worth noting that hCG with a frozen pregnancy in the early stages can be completely within the normal range for several weeks after the death of the fetus. And yet, more often, urinalysis will show an underestimated level of the hormone, uncharacteristic for the first trimester.
The last stage of the examinations will be an ultrasound scan. With the help of an ultrasound examination, it will become clear whether the heart is beating in the embryo or not.

Tellingly, a test with a frozen pregnancy in the early stages may show all the same two stripes. This is again related to the level of hCG in the urine.

After the specialist makes sure of the diagnosis, he will choose the necessary set of procedures for the mother, and also help her in the future to prepare for a new pregnancy.

What do doctors do if the fetus is frozen

Depending on how a frozen pregnancy manifests itself in the early stages, as well as directly on the number of days from the moment of conception, the doctor will choose the most alternative method of treatment. Indeed, when establishing such a diagnosis, it is already a question of preserving the life and health of the mother. There are two main methods of treatment:

With the help of drugs that provoke. It is used for up to 8 weeks.
(vacuum aspiration). Under anesthesia, a woman is cleansed of the uterine cavity using a vacuum suction.

In any case, professional help will be required, since in order to avoid adverse consequences, it is necessary to clean the uterine cavity (the remnants of the amniotic egg, which will be indicated by an ultrasound scan).

There is a third option, in which even the woman herself does not have time to realize that she was pregnant. This is a spontaneous abortion. If the fetus froze almost from the first days of life, then the body can reject it like a foreign body. In this case, a woman will simply notice a delay in menstruation. Sometimes doctors prefer to observe the patient's condition, waiting for a spontaneous abortion, so as not to interfere with the body once again.

Why is it so scary not to see a doctor in time?

Sometimes a woman does not fully realize how severe the consequences of a frozen pregnancy at an early stage can be for her. But the organism does not always reject the fetus itself. If the embryo, which has stopped developing, is in the womb for a long time, then it is quite likely that intoxication will develop. In this case, not only the temperature rises, the woman begins to suffer from acute pains and weakness, it is quite possible to delay the time until the blood becomes infected with the elements of fetal decay.

If the gestation period is more than 6 weeks, then in this case the woman has every chance of earning desseminated intravascular coagulation (disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome). The danger is that the blood loses its ability to clot. As a result, the woman may die from bleeding.

How to prevent fetal freezing during pregnancy

A couple, regardless of whether they are preparing to become parents for the first time or have children, must be examined. It is he who will be able to reduce the risks and give an answer on how to avoid a frozen pregnancy in the early stages in their case. The doctor will offer to pass several tests: hormones, genetic tests, ultrasound of the pelvic organs, blood for infections and other additional tests that will be prescribed taking into account the parents' anamnesis. It is also recommended to refrain from conceiving for up to six months after diseases such as ARVI, flu, chickenpox.

If a woman works in a children's team, then she will be asked to get preventive vaccinations. Additional hormones will need to be adjusted. A visit to a geneticist should not be ignored. A healthy lifestyle will only increase your chances of becoming a parent. In the first months, it is recommended to refrain from flights, abrupt climate change and prolonged exposure to the sun.

If the previous pregnancy ended in stopping the development of the embryo - do not give up! With the right planning, the chance of having a normal delivery and childbirth is 80% -90%. And how to prevent a frozen pregnancy at an early stage will be advised by a gynecologist who is managing a couple.

Pregnancy after stopping fetal development

Doctors predict good chances of conception only on the condition that the couple does not ignore visits to specialized specialists, undergo a course of treatment, and also give up thinking about the child for the next six months after an unsuccessful experience. On average, such a period is necessary not only for a detailed examination and finding out the cause of the pregnancy fading, but also for the physical recovery of the mother's body.

Sadly, but with 100% certainty, it is quite rare to say exactly about the reasons for stopping pregnancy. However, parents do not need to despair! Try to avoid stress, harmful factors, and also do not forget to get tested - and may you succeed, and the baby will be born healthy and happy!

Gynecologists say that during each month a woman experiences all four seasons. After all, the level of hormones in her body fluctuates all the time, which affects both our well-being and mood. All these processes are aimed at ovulation and further fertilization of the egg. And if this happens, then hormonal activity will be aimed at preserving the ovum and its successful development.

Not all, but the vast majority of women, certainly feel these changes on a physical and emotional level. Often, even intuitively, a woman feels that she has become pregnant. We listen to our body from the first weeks, trying to determine what is happening to us. And the sudden change or disappearance of certain signs and sensations can be terrifying to us. Most often this happens at a stage when the body is already getting used to functioning in a new regime, that is, closer to the second trimester. But still, if intuition suggests that something is wrong, then it is better to play it safe and go to the gynecologist. Unfortunately, it is not so rare that pregnancy stops developing due to the death of the embryo. And this can happen at any time.

Non-developing pregnancy is also called frozen. Its outcome is always the same: interruption by natural, medical or surgical means. Such a pregnancy has no chance of developing, because either there is no embryo, or it has died.

In the first case, obstetricians talk about anembryonia- This is one of the types of non-developing pregnancy, in which the ovum is empty, without an embryo inside. Such a pathology is detected at the earliest possible date, as a rule, during the first ultrasound scan.

But it also often happens that the embryo that has begun its development turns out to be unviable or dies under the influence of certain pathological factors. The first signs of a missed pregnancy may appear after a certain time, because at first there are no signals of tragedy from within.

Most often, pregnancy freezes in the first trimester. It is far from always possible to independently determine this, but sometimes a woman can still suspect that something is wrong due to changes in her condition.

Breast with a frozen pregnancy

The breast is one of the first to react to the new condition of a pregnant woman. It becomes heavier, pours out, increases in size, the sensitivity of the nipples increases, they darken, and a painful sensation may occur. These changes, like all others, occur under the influence of hormones. If the pregnancy stops developing, then the level of these hormones will begin to decline, and its early symptoms will begin to disappear.

So, if in the first weeks, in the early stages, the chest suddenly stopped hurting, toxicosis and the rest of the first signs (irritability, drowsiness, etc.) disappeared, and the woman no longer feels what was before, then it is better to consult a doctor for consultation and examination ... It is likely that the early toxicosis is over - and the most pleasant period in terms of well-being is coming. However, if you are tormented by any doubts, then it is better to dispel them.

Temperature in non-developing pregnancy

If a woman kept a chart of basal temperatures before conception and continues to do so in the first weeks after, then when the embryo freezes, she may notice some changes in the schedule. In particular, BT, which is fixed at higher levels, will begin to decline. However, very often it remains elevated for a long time after the death of the ovum, and in general BT in each individual case can behave differently, and very often errors and errors are made in BT measurements. Therefore, doctors do not advise using this method to assess the well-being of the development of the embryo.

As for general health, then, of course, when a miscarriage begins due to a missed pregnancy, the body temperature can rise - as a reaction to a pathological process. But this is not a prerequisite and does not always indicate an ST.

The developing ovum actively produces the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone, so that pregnancy can be diagnosed as early as possible. A blood test for hCG is perhaps the earliest reliable method for its determination.

The level of hCG in the blood and urine of a pregnant woman doubles every two days in the first days and weeks. If there is a suspicion of the pathological development of pregnancy or its fading, a woman is often prescribed this analysis to track the level of hCG over time. That is, if several studies conducted in a row (usually every other day) show that the hCG level does not increase or even decreases, then they come to a disappointing conclusion.

What will the test show with a frozen pregnancy

For the same reason, a test carried out with a frozen pregnancy can show a pale second strip or even give a negative result if enough time has passed after the death of the embryo, and the level of chorionic gonadotropin has managed to decrease significantly.

However, in no case can you trust this method alone. Remember: tests give false positive and false negative results quite often, which can be a lot of different reasons.

By and large, none of the signs described above should lead a woman to think that the embryo has frozen. And only if these signs are combined with each other, you can start to worry. And if, in addition, spotting from the vagina also appears, then it is imperative to consult a doctor, even if there are no other reasons for worry. Bleeding, brown discharge, or even daubing indicate that the detachment of the ovum has begun, and it is very likely that the pregnancy can still be saved.

If the fetus has already froze for a rather long time, then the woman will certainly notice that no movements are noted for a long period of time. However, even such a very eloquent sign cannot accurately indicate fetal freezing.

A woman's own feelings cannot be any reliable signs of an undeveloped pregnancy. In combination with different circumstances and accompanying symptoms, they can only give rise to the idea that, perhaps, not all is well. But in general, gynecologists say that a non-developing pregnancy is often not accompanied by any specific characteristic clinical manifestations. The diagnosis of ST can only be made on the basis of laboratory tests.

Among the already mentioned signs, only the hCG level has an important diagnostic value. But even in the case of its low concentration, a woman who is suspected of fetal freezing will definitely be sent for an ultrasound scan.

Even during a personal examination in the office, the gynecologist is able to assume a delay in the development of pregnancy if the size of the uterus, which he probes with his hands, does not correspond to the estimated gestation period. Ultrasonography can more accurately determine this discrepancy. In addition, it will assess the signs of life of the embryo: the presence of heart contractions, physical activity. With a non-developing pregnancy, the uzist will see damage to the structures of the placenta, deterioration or complete cessation of uteroplacental blood flow, damage to the endometrium of the uterus due to the decomposition of dead tissues, a hematoma at the site of detachment of the ovum.

If the pregnancy has frozen, and a spontaneous miscarriage begins (the woman's immune system rejects foreign cells), then the ultrasound will also show the detachment of the ovum or placenta.

For a short period of time, the doctor can take a wait-and-see attitude: that is, wait until the ovum leaves the woman's body on its own. And very often this is exactly what happens.

However, it is also not uncommon for a dead embryo to remain inside the womb for a long period of time, soon beginning to decompose. Such an outcome is very undesirable and fraught with serious consequences, and therefore doctors are forced to intervene in this process: they resort to medical abortion (interrupt gestation with hormonal drugs) or curettage during a frozen pregnancy. A non-developing fetus is disposed of only if the absence of a heartbeat was confirmed by at least 2 ultrasound examinations.

I would like to note that, despite the prevalence of this problem, the majority of women who have undergone an undeveloped pregnancy in the future successfully bear and give birth to healthy children. In Western countries, even after three cases of fetal freezing in a row, 75% of women still become pregnant and give birth.

Therefore, you should not be unnecessarily upset and upset: all the best is yet to come! Nevertheless, doctors advise be sure to prepare and plan the next conception for women who are at risk of pregnancy fading:

suffering from sexually transmitted infections;
suffered infectious diseases during gestation;
suffering from endocrine disorders;
those who give birth for the first time over the age of 30 or become pregnant after 40 years;
have had abortions in the past;
alcohol abusers, drug users, heavy smokers;
taking antidepressants or suffering from nervous disorders;
in which the fetus has repeatedly frozen (especially in the later stages);
having a uterus with pathologies in development (small, two-horned, etc.) or uterine fibroids.

Especially for - Larisa Nezabudkina

Waiting for the birth of a baby is one of the happiest periods in the life of future parents. They steadfastly endure all the hardships and hardships of pregnancy, hoping to see a miracle soon - their newborn child. However, some women may unexpectedly experience a great grief, which is called a missed pregnancy. Most often, this trouble happens in the 1st trimester, although it can happen at any time.

A non-developing or frozen pregnancy is a stoppage of fetal development due to its death, in which there are no signs of miscarriage. More often, this pathology occurs in the early stages - in the 1st trimester. Another type of it is a non-developing pregnancy of the type of anembryonia. This is a situation in which fertilization took place, and the membranes began to form, but there is no embryo in the fertilized egg.

A frozen pregnancy is a very terrible blow to the psychological and emotional state. However, information about how a woman's body can recover from it is very important to increase the chances of having a healthy baby in the future.

Causes of a frozen pregnancy

Unfortunately, it is not always possible to establish why a woman has an undeveloped pregnancy. If fetal death occurs within 1 trimester, it is usually caused by a problem in the unborn baby. About 3/4 of miscarriages occur during this period.

If the fetus dies during the 2nd or 3rd trimester, this may be due to the presence of diseases in the mother.

Causes of a frozen pregnancy in the 1st trimester

Most often, a missed pregnancy in the early stages is caused by problems with the fetal chromosomes. They are made of DNA, which contains a detailed set of instructions that control a wide range of different factors - from the development of the cells of the unborn child's body to the color of his eyes.

Sometimes, at the time of conception, an error occurs, due to which the embryo receives too many or too few chromosomes. The cause of this phenomenon remains unknown, but its consequences are abnormal development of the fetus and miscarriage.

According to doctors, about 2/3 of cases of early miscarriage are associated with chromosomal abnormalities. It should be remembered that the re-development of a non-developing pregnancy for this reason is very rare, since most often there are no problems with chromosomes in future parents.

Fetal death in the 1st trimester can also lead to problems with the development of the placenta, the organ that connects the mother's blood circulation to the baby.

The following factors can increase the risk of a missed pregnancy in the early stages:

The mother is over 35 years old.
Obesity.
Smoking during pregnancy.
Drug and alcohol use during pregnancy.
Drinking a lot of caffeine, which is found in coffee, tea, chocolate, energy drinks and some sodas.

Causes of a frozen pregnancy in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters

As a rule, in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, health problems of the expectant mother can lead to a missed pregnancy.

Causes of missed pregnancy in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters:

Reason type	Diseases
Chronic diseases in a woman	Poorly controlled Severe arterial hypertension Systemic lupus erythematosus Kidney disease Hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism
Infectious diseases
Foodborne toxicoinfections	Listeriosis - most often develops with the use of unpasteurized dairy products Toxoplasmosis - can develop from eating raw or undercooked infected meat, especially lamb, pork, or venison Salmonellosis - most commonly caused by eating raw or undercooked eggs
Problems with the uterus	Availability Abnormal structure of the uterus

Myths about the causes of missed pregnancies

Despite common stereotypes, miscarriage is not associated with:

the emotional state of the mother during pregnancy;
fright;
Exercise (however, the type and intensity of exercise should be discussed with your doctor);
work during pregnancy;
having sex;
travel by plane;
eating spicy food.

Symptoms of a missed pregnancy

Unfortunately, in most cases, a woman does not know that her child has already died, since a non-developing pregnancy in the early stages does not have vivid symptoms that are characteristic of a miscarriage. With this pathology, the placenta does not stop producing hormones, which is why the woman continues to feel pregnant.

However, in some cases, a woman may notice that her symptoms such as breast tenderness, nausea and fatigue have disappeared. At a later stage, pregnancy fading is characterized by the absence of fetal movement in the uterus.

Diagnosis of undeveloped pregnancy

If you have any fears and suspicions about the possibility of a frozen pregnancy, you should immediately consult a doctor for a full examination.

The diagnosis of non-developing pregnancy is most often established after an ultrasound examination, which detects the absence of a heartbeat in the fetus. Ultrasound is performed through the anterior abdominal wall or transvaginally. The latter technique is more accurate, but its implementation is accompanied by some discomfort. To exclude an error in the diagnosis, at least two examination procedures are carried out.

The doctor can detect the absence of a heartbeat in the fetus in later stages of pregnancy with the help of auscultation with an obstetric stethoscope. Cardiotocography, a technique for recording fetal heartbeat and uterine tone, will help to confirm concerns.

Chorionic gonadotropin and progesterone levels, hormones associated with pregnancy, can also be measured.

In some cases, the diagnosis cannot be made immediately. For example, it is difficult to confirm a non-developing pregnancy before the gestational age of 6-7 weeks, since only at this time does the fetus have a heartbeat. In this case, doctors, as a rule, recommend to undergo a second examination in 1-2 weeks.

Sometimes fetal death is discovered by accident, during a screening ultrasound examination.

After a case of pregnancy fading, a man and a woman need to undergo a full examination, with the help of which specialists will try to identify the possible causes of fetal death. Unfortunately, in half of the cases, the etiology of non-developing pregnancy cannot be detected.

In case of repeated cases of miscarriage, women and men undergo an even more detailed examination, including:

Karyotyping is a test to detect abnormalities in chromosomes that can cause fetal death during intrauterine development. If problems are found, the partners are sent for a consultation with a geneticist, who explains to the couple their chances of a successful pregnancy in the future and talks about possible solutions - for example, in vitro fertilization.
Ultrasound procedure. To study the structure of the uterus and identify its pathology, a transvaginal ultrasound examination is performed.
Blood tests that measure levels of antiphospholipid antibodies and lupus anticoagulant. Antiphospholipid antibodies increase the risk of blood clots and affect the formation of the placenta, which can impair the blood supply to the fetus, causing it to die.

Treatment of an undeveloped pregnancy

After the diagnosis is established, a woman often faces a difficult choice of which tactics to choose for the treatment of an undeveloped pregnancy. In any case, a prolonged stay in the uterine cavity of a dead fetus is dangerous to the health and life of a woman, since this increases the risk of severe bleeding and infectious complications.

As a rule, a woman is offered one of the options:

Wait-and-see tactics. In the early stages of pregnancy, with intrauterine death of the embryo, it is possible to expect the natural rejection of its tissues by the woman's body. During this time, careful monitoring and observation is carried out. Nevertheless, you cannot wait too long - it is dangerous. As a rule, it is possible to delay active treatment only up to 2 weeks from the establishment of the diagnosis. Doctors are not too fond of expectant tactics with a frozen pregnancy.
Surgical tactics. After establishing and clarifying the diagnosis, a minor obstetric operation is performed - the expansion of the cervix and curettage (scraping of the uterine cavity). During this surgical intervention, the tissues of the fetus, its membranes and the placenta are removed from the uterine cavity. The operation is usually performed under general anesthesia.
Medication tactics. The termination of a non-developing pregnancy in the early stages (up to 8 weeks of gestation) can also be carried out conservatively. For this purpose, drugs are used that make the uterus contract and push the fetal tissue and placenta out of its cavity.

With intrauterine fetal death in the 3rd trimester, delivery is necessary. For this purpose, doctors either stimulate labor through the vaginal birth canal or perform a caesarean section.

It should be remembered that a missed pregnancy is a heavy emotional blow. Therefore, the pregnant woman is in great need of the support of both medical personnel and those close to her.

Complications and consequences of a frozen pregnancy

A serious danger to the health and life of a woman in a missed pregnancy is the risk of severe bleeding and infections.

Most often, an undeveloped pregnancy has severe emotional consequences not only for the woman, but also for her partner, as well as for those close to them. During this time, they may need psychological support.

People who have suffered this grief may develop fatigue, impaired appetite and sleep disturbances, they experience feelings of guilt, shock, sadness and anger. People suffer loss in different ways. Some of them find solace in telling others about their feelings, while others do not want to communicate about their grief. Some women start planning their next pregnancy within a few weeks, while others cannot even think about it.

The father of the child may also suffer from loss. It is more difficult for men to express their emotions, especially when they know they need to act to support their partner. An unmatched pregnancy can sometimes cause relationship problems.

Many women who have suffered this grief are concerned about the question of whether pregnancy will be able to occur again after a non-developing pregnancy. Fortunately, in most cases, a healthy child is born to them after a certain time, since most often chromosomal abnormalities develop in the fetus itself, and are not inherited from their parents. As a rule, doctors advise planning the next pregnancy 3-6 months after the termination of the previous one.

Prevention of antenatal fetal death

In most cases, the cause of the missed pregnancy remains unknown, so this pathology cannot be prevented.

However, compliance with certain conditions will help reduce the risk of a missed pregnancy:

quitting smoking, alcohol, drugs;
following a healthy, balanced diet rich in vegetables and fruits;
attempts to avoid contracting certain infectious diseases during pregnancy (eg rubella);
refusal to use certain foods that can harm a pregnant woman and her baby;
normalization of weight before pregnancy;
Taking prenatal vitamins and folate supplements before pregnancy can also reduce the risk of antenatal fetal death and birth defects.

If the reasons for the missed pregnancy are identified, they are treated to prevent similar cases in the future.

Useful video about non-developing pregnancy

I like!