What is a frozen pregnancy called? How often the pregnancy freezes. The main symptoms of a missed pregnancy
In addition, absolutely every woman who plans to become a mother, you need to know the signs of fetal fading. But it’s not at all worth it to constantly think about the fading of pregnancy and try to find signs of this problem in yourself.
What is the probability frozen pregnancy? In fact, pregnancy fading is quite rare.
According to statistics of frozen pregnancies, for one hundred and seventy-six cases of perfectly normal pregnancies, there is only one case of fetal fading.
But still, if you become familiar with the symptoms of freezing, you will be able to keep your condition under control.
What is a frozen pregnancy?
Frozen pregnancy- this is a pathology of fetal development, which most mothers do not even have an idea about. A frozen pregnancy is a cessation of the growth and development of the fetus. In other words, his death.
At what time does a frozen pregnancy occur? A similar pathology can occur at all stages of pregnancy., but most often, fetal fading occurs in.
The subsequent development of events may well provoke any inflammatory processes in the body and other unpleasant consequences.
How to determine this state in time?
The correct growth and development of the fetus at each stage of pregnancy depends on a large number of explicit and implicit factors.
It also happens that some coincidence can lead to a halt in the growth and development of the embryo. This phenomenon is called a frozen pregnancy.
Symptoms
The symptoms of this pathology are quite accurate and its diagnosis does not cause difficulties for doctors.
One of the main symptoms, of course, is that completely signs of pregnancy disappear.
But don't self-diagnose. If you have any doubts, please see a doctor urgently. The specialist will conduct an examination and do an ultrasound.
After that, the picture of the course of pregnancy will become completely clear: do you have symptoms of a frozen fetus or are they just nerves.
signs
Often first signs of missed pregnancy in the early stages, it is possible to find out only at the next scheduled visit to the gynecologist. This can happen even a couple of weeks after the onset of this problem, since the fetal fading appears almost imperceptibly, without any obvious signs.
The first signal, which may indicate problems, may be the sudden termination of a miscarriage.
In addition, all obvious symptoms that indicate the presence of pregnancy disappear:
A plan for such an examination after a frozen pregnancy is drawn up on the basis of the individual characteristics of the organism and the medical history.
to standard examinations, which are shown to absolutely everyone during the recovery period after fetal fading and planning for re-conception, include:
- Ultrasound of all organs of the small pelvis;
- a blood test that will show the level and autoantibodies;
- smears to detect possible urogenital diseases;
- study of the thyroid gland;
- ToRHC-complex, which will show whether there are infections in the body that carry a share of danger for pregnant women.
All of the above measures are essential. Prevention of a missed pregnancy reduces the risk of recurrence of the pathology and increases the chances of becoming a happy mother.
In conclusion, I would like to say that spouses who plan to have a child, must have an idea of how a frozen pregnancy manifests itself and how it can be avoided.
This will make it possible to eliminate all causes in time. unfavorable for pregnancy, detect symptoms and take the necessary measures that will significantly reduce the likelihood of adverse effects of fetal fading.
Sometimes pregnancy ends due to fetal fading. The death of a long-awaited child can occur at different stages of pregnancy. What to do in this case?
One of the most difficult tragedies in a woman's life is missed pregnancy. Unfortunately, this sometimes happens, despite the woman's compliance with all the recommendations of the gynecologist. The realization that the life of a long-awaited child was cut short even before the baby was born into this world can cause serious depression in both parents.
Most often, missed pregnancy occurs in the first trimester.
It is the risk of freezing of the fetal egg that makes the first 12 weeks of pregnancy the most critical. This pathology occurs in about 13% of women. As a rule, a woman does not immediately discover that her baby's heart has stopped beating. The first signs of the freezing of the fetal egg can appear only 2-3 weeks after the tragedy. It is through this period of time that a non-developing fetal egg begins to be torn away from the uterine mucosa. The fetal egg can leave the woman's body on its own, but in some cases, part of the fetal membranes remains in the uterus.
Missed pregnancy can happen in women of any age. Such a tragedy is due to the impact on the body of a pregnant woman of multiple circumstances. To reduce the risk of death of the fetal egg in the first trimester of pregnancy, it is necessary to be fully examined by a gynecologist before conception.
Signs of fetal fading at a later date are significantly different from the symptoms of a frozen pregnancy in the first trimester.
One of the varieties of missed pregnancy is anembryony - a condition when conception occurs, but due to the influence of environmental and internal factors on the body, the embryo does not develop, that is, a woman is diagnosed with the presence of an empty fetal egg in the uterus.
Causes of missed pregnancy
Gynecologists still cannot pinpoint the exact cause of fetal fading. In the early stages of development, in the first weeks of pregnancy, the reason for stopping the development and dying of the embryo is severe malformations that are incompatible with life. Genetic disorders occur in 70% of all miscarriages.
Fetal death at a later date (after 14 weeks) is often provoked by viral and infectious diseases suffered by a woman at the beginning of pregnancy. Sometimes the cause of fetal death is an abdominal injury caused by a fall or blow to the mother.
In gynecology, there are cases when a normally developing pregnancy freezes for no apparent reason. Some women may have several of these cases in a row. In any case, you should not lose heart and put up with the problems of miscarriage. To understand the cause of the tragedy, a woman should be examined by a gynecologist.
Pregnancy fading in the early stages can happen due to the impact on the body of such factors:
- Father's smoking during pregnancy planning;
- The use of alcohol and drugs by a woman in the first weeks of pregnancy;
- The presence in the body of a woman of such infections as cytomegalovirus, rubella, ureaplasmosis, herpes, papillomavirus, mycoplasmosis and others;
- Infection of a woman with sexual infections (gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis);
- Serious hormonal disruptions;
- Diseases of the endocrine system (maternal diabetes);
- The presence of a Rh conflict (with a negative Rh factor in the mother and a positive Rh factor in the fetus) - the woman's body perceives pregnancy as something alien and tries by all means to get rid of the fetus;
- Lifting weights in early pregnancy;
- Constant stress of a pregnant woman.
At risk are women after 35 years of age, patients who have had many abortions in the past, women with congenital anomalies in the development of the uterus.
How to recognize a frozen pregnancy at an early stage?
The most accurate and reliable way to diagnose fetal fading in the early stages is to conduct an ultrasound examination of the uterus. With the help of ultrasound, it is possible to accurately determine the presence or absence of heart contractions in a growing embryo. A normally developing pregnancy can also be diagnosed by the results of a blood test for the level of the hCG hormone; every day, the levels of chorionic gonadotropin in the blood increase.
You can determine the fading of the fetus using ultrasound
The expectant mother herself may suspect a threat of miscarriage and a possible fading of the fetus due to the appearance of spotting bloody discharge from the external genitalia. This symptom is characteristic of the cessation of the fetal heartbeat in early pregnancy. In the later stages, in the second and third trimester, a woman may suspect that something is wrong with her baby due to the lack of movement for several hours.
When the fetus fades in the early stages of pregnancy, a woman, in addition to spotting, may experience severe cramping pains in the lower abdomen. If before that a woman suffered from toxicosis, then when pregnancy fades, all symptoms of ailments disappear sharply.
If a woman ignores the above signs and does not turn to a gynecologist, then symptoms of severe intoxication of the body soon develop - nausea, vomiting, fever up to 39 degrees, increasing weakness and pallor of the skin. Blood pressure drops and the pulse becomes thready. In the absence of emergency medical care, a woman develops sepsis and death.
As a rule, when the fetal egg freezes in the first weeks of pregnancy, the body gets rid of the embryo on its own. The uterus begins to contract intensively, removing the fetal egg and its membranes from the body. Uterine contractions provoke pain in the lower abdomen and lower back in a woman, as well as intense spotting and clots from the genital tract.
In any case, a woman should appear to a gynecologist. It happens that the fetal egg is not completely removed from the uterus, then the woman is prescribed a surgical “cleansing”, during which the remains of the embryo and its membranes are scraped.
Signs of a late pregnancy
Alas, sometimes it happens that a woman goes through the tragedy of losing a child in late pregnancy. The cause of fetal death is infectious diseases transferred by the mother, abdominal trauma or strangulation of the child by her own umbilical cord.
In the later stages, the fetus may freeze from infection or injury.
You can recognize the symptoms of the termination of a baby's life in late pregnancy by the absence of movements for more than 5 hours.
A woman can feel the first movements of the fetus, starting from the 17th week of pregnancy. As the child grows, the intensity of the baby's movements only increases. The expectant mother can accurately determine when her baby is sleeping and when she is awake. Of course, it all depends on the activity of the kids, some kids push often and intensely, and some develop more calmly. However, if the baby does not move for more than 4 hours, and during various conversations with the child and stroking the abdomen, there are no movements on his part, the woman should urgently contact the department of the maternity hospital. No need to wait for time, believing that the baby is just sleeping. The absence of movements may indicate a strong oxygen starvation of the baby, for example, as a result of a tight entanglement of the umbilical cord around the neck or torso. If the expectant mother immediately consult a doctor, then the life of the baby can possibly be saved.
One of the clinical symptoms of a missed late pregnancy is a change in the mammary glands. If the death of the fetus occurred before the 25th week of pregnancy, then the breast in most cases abruptly returns to its previous size, however, if the pregnancy froze after the 25th week, then colostrum may begin to be released from the mammary glands.
Of course, there are also women who absolutely do not listen to the movements of their baby and cannot say for sure when the fetus moved for the last time. Fortunately, there are very few such people. However, it should be said that another symptom of a missed late pregnancy is the appearance of pain in the lower abdomen and lower back, nausea and vomiting. As well as a significant reduction in the volume of the abdomen. The last symptom is due to the fact that during the death of the fetus, the amount of amniotic fluid decreases. These symptoms can be observed in a woman a few days after the death of the fetus in the womb.
Of course, the death of a fetus is a terrible tragedy, especially for those women who already felt the movements of their baby well, talked to him, stroked their tummy. All this can lead to severe prolonged depression and apathy in a woman. If such a tragedy nevertheless occurred and the doctors confirmed the death of the baby in the womb, then the question of delivery arises. One way or another, a dead fetus cannot remain in a woman's uterus, as this can lead to the development of sepsis and death. Depending on the gestational age when the tragedy occurred, a woman may undergo surgical cleaning or induce labor. Sometimes doctors can remove a dead baby from the uterus by a small caesarean section.
Life after tragedy
A woman should understand that, despite the depression that happened to her after the loss of the desired baby, before planning a new pregnancy, you need to find out the cause of the fetal fading. If the parents do not know what could have caused the death of the baby, then both of them are shown a comprehensive gynecological and urological examination. This examination includes a consultation with a geneticist, an endocrinologist and tests for latent sexual infections. After establishing the cause that provoked the fetal fading, and undergoing treatment, spouses should plan a new pregnancy only 6-12 months after therapy.
It is desirable to find out exactly the cause of fetal fading
Planning for a new pregnancy
What period a married couple needs to wait before planning a conception after a missed pregnancy is determined by a gynecologist, depending on the cause of fetal death. This period is at least six months. Until the doctor has given permission to plan a new pregnancy, the spouses must use the method that is suitable for them. Do not worry about the fact that a woman will be haunted by the same fate when a new pregnancy occurs. Such fears are sometimes completely unfounded. In most cases, a missed pregnancy is an isolated case for every patient who has experienced this grief, and does not at all indicate that the next time it will be the same.
However, you need to understand that in order not to encounter this disaster again, a married couple must carefully prepare for a new conception. To do this, the spouses must be examined and, if necessary, undergo a course of treatment.
A healthy lifestyle of spouses before the planned conception significantly increases the chance of a successful pregnancy. It is very important that not only the woman, but also her husband prepares for a new pregnancy. To do this, the couple must give up bad habits, revise their diet, engage in light physical exercise and spend more time in the fresh air. It is advisable if a woman starts taking prenatal vitamins before pregnancy. Thus, when the desired conception occurs in the fetus, the risk of congenital malformations of the neural tube is significantly reduced.
Separately, it must be said about the moral support of her husband. A woman who has experienced a frozen pregnancy becomes overly suspicious and anxious. She carefully listens to any changes in the work of her body during pregnancy, and looks for signs of a fading of the fetal egg. The task of the spouse is to surround his pregnant wife with care and attention, this will help the pregnant woman to distract from negative thoughts. It is necessary to surround a woman with positive emotions and support in every possible way. The successful outcome of pregnancy largely depends on the morale of the woman.
Of course, it is very difficult to survive such a tragedy as late pregnancy fading, and the depth of grief of parents is simply beyond words. In this case, a woman must find strength in herself and turn all her attention to her health. If necessary, you need to undergo a course of treatment, drink vitamin preparations, go to rest and gain strength before a new pregnancy.
Do not neglect these studies. Thus, the woman will save herself and the unborn baby from a possible repetition of the tragedy. By following all the above tips, a woman will be able to experience the joy of motherhood very soon!
Remember, a frozen pregnancy is not a sentence, a healthy, cured woman cannot have any consequences for the next pregnancy, and she has every chance of giving birth to a healthy baby.
Sometimes a frozen pregnancy is called a non-developing or regressing pregnancy (pregnancy regression). Most often (in 70-80?% of cases) pregnancy fading occurs in the first trimester (up to 12 weeks). Most likely, fading can occur at 7-8 weeks - during the laying of most of the vital organs in the body of the unborn child.
Symptoms of a missed pregnancy
A frozen pregnancy may not manifest itself for some time and can be determined only by ultrasound, which is carried out in a planned manner.
A sign of a missed pregnancy may be the disappearance of such subjective signs of pregnancy as nausea, drowsiness, etc., if the expectant mother noted them earlier. And some don't have them at all. Often the moment of fetal death is elusive. There may be symptoms of a threatened miscarriage (bleeding, nagging pain in the lower abdomen or in the lumbar region), however, the appearance of these symptoms does not always indicate the death of the embryo, therefore, if you seek medical help in a timely manner, it is likely that the pregnancy will be saved.
In the second trimester, a sign of pregnancy fading may be the cessation of fetal movement (during the first pregnancy, fetal movements are felt from 18–20 weeks, with a second pregnancy, from 16 weeks).
Frozen pregnancy: Diagnosis
During a vaginal examination, which is carried out by a gynecologist, there is a discrepancy between the size of the uterus and the gestational age, that is, it is smaller than it should be at the time at which the examination is performed. However, in some cases, if the fading occurred a few days ago, the uterus may be of normal size for this gestational age.
Objective indicators are more valuable for diagnosing a missed pregnancy:
The content of the hormone hCG in the blood(human chorionic gonadotropin is a pregnancy hormone that is produced by the chorion, the future placenta) - with a frozen pregnancy, its level drops sharply relative to normal values at a given gestational age. Pregnancy tests after "fading" may remain positive for several days, and then begin to show a negative result (this is due to a gradual decrease in the level of hCG in the blood and urine).
Ultrasound does not determine the heartbeat and movement of the fetus. The embryo is smaller than it should be. An empty fetal egg (anembryony) may be detected. A woman can be referred for an ultrasound if a missed pregnancy is suspected, or this can be detected during a planned ultrasound (the term of the first planned ultrasound is 10-14 weeks).
Frozen pregnancy: Causes
genetic pathologies. This is the most common cause of pregnancy fading in the early stages. In 70?% of cases, when pregnancy fades in the fetus, chromosomal abnormalities are recorded (changes in the number or structure of chromosomes). Most chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus are incompatible with live birth, as they lead to multiple malformations of various organs and systems of the fetus, so a fetus with an altered set of chromosomes most often dies in utero, that is, pregnancy fades. Thus, we can say, "natural selection" is carried out.
A genetic pathology of the fetus can be “accidental”, that is, it has arisen only in this pregnancy due to some kind of harmful effect, without which everything would be fine. Usually, any harmful factor that affects the early period causes damage to the fetus according to the “all or nothing” type, that is, either the factor does not affect the development of the fetus at all, or it causes a pathology that is incompatible with life, and the pregnancy fades. Unfortunately, the number of harmful factors surrounding us is quite large, and the likelihood of a collision with them is quite high. These include environmental factors, radiation, malnutrition, bad habits (smoking, drinking alcohol, drugs), contact with household chemicals, the influence of drugs, deficiency of essential vitamins and minerals.
In the vast majority of cases, nature protects the unborn baby, but sometimes this protection does not work. Most often, doctors are unable to determine what specifically harmed this pregnancy. But the risk of repeating failure in this case is minimal, since newly occurring genetic damage (not received from parents) is quite rare, and the likelihood that this “accident” will happen again is small. However, sometimes a child can get a genetic "breakdown" from the parents. For example, in one of the parents, a section of one chromosome can “cling” to another, the total amount of genetic material (chromosomes) is not changed, and the person is healthy. But only one of these chromosomes can be transferred to the fetus, as a result of which it will have either an excess or a lack of genetic material, which can lead to its death.
In addition, a "breakdown" may occur in the "susceptibility genes" to miscarriage. This group includes, for example, genes for thrombophilia (increased blood clotting): their carriage can lead to the formation of microthrombi at the site of attachment of the fetal egg to the uterine wall, malnutrition of the embryo and its death. Mutations in “environmental genes” (this is a group of genes responsible for the production of enzymes that remove toxic substances that have entered the body from the environment) from the body also increase the risk of miscarriage, as the body’s resistance to harmful factors decreases. Mutations in these and other "susceptibility genes" are not a sentence and are not considered a pathology, but increase the risk of pregnancy fading. A large role in whether a genetic predisposition to miscarriage is realized is played by environmental factors and a woman's lifestyle. For example, the risk that an unfavorable mutation (“breakage”) in thrombophilia genes is realized increases significantly with smoking.
Infections. The greatest danger to the fetus is infection, mostly viral, especially if the mother met with this disease during pregnancy for the first time. We list the infections that are most dangerous for the fetus and often lead to its death or malformations:
- toxoplasmosis;
- rubella;
- cytomegalovirus;
- herpes.
Some viruses (for example, herpes, cytomegalovirus) after infection are in the body for life. A chronic infection is much less dangerous for the fetus than the primary infection during pregnancy, but its exacerbation while waiting for the baby can in some cases lead to an unfavorable outcome.
Increase the risk of pregnancy fading sexually transmitted infections (urealpasma, mycoplasma, chlamydia), other infections that cause inflammation in the genital tract, as well as the presence of foci of chronic infection in the body (chronic diseases of the digestive, respiratory, urinary system, carious teeth, etc.). d.). Colds and flu in the early stages, in some cases, can also be the cause of pregnancy fading.
Infection leads to fetal death through several mechanisms. First, the microorganism can have a direct effect on the fetus, penetrating into his body through the placenta. Secondly, if there is an infection in the body of a pregnant woman, biologically active substances are produced that can have a toxic effect on the fetus or disrupt blood flow in the area of the fetal egg and lead to disruption of the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the fetus. Thirdly, due to a chronic inflammatory process in the uterus, the normal attachment of the fetal egg and its nutrition may be disrupted.
Hormonal disorders. Most often, when pregnancy fades, female and male sex hormones, as well as thyroid hormones, play an important role.
The most important during pregnancy is the normal level of the hormone progesterone. It is called the "hormone of pregnancy", as it is necessary for its normal course. Low progesterone levels are one of the most common causes of miscarriage.
Thyroid hormones play an important role. The cause of fetal death can be either an excess or a deficiency of these hormones.
An increase in male sex hormones is also a common cause of pregnancy fading.
autoimmune disorders. Autoimmune processes are called when antibodies are formed by the immune system not to foreign agents (bacteria and viruses), but to the body's own cells. During pregnancy, these antibodies can also affect the fetus, which is half similar to the mother's body, which leads to its death.
Quite often, the cause of repeated fading pregnancies is antiphospholipid syndrome(AFS). In this state, antibodies are formed to their own phospholipids - substances that are involved in the formation of cell walls. Before pregnancy, this syndrome may not manifest itself in any way. APS can be suspected in repeated dying pregnancies. The examination includes both an analysis specifically for APS markers and an analysis for blood clotting (with APS, blood clotting increases, which leads to the formation of microthrombi, including in the vessels of the placenta, which leads to a disruption in the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus, and if left untreated, to death).
Another fairly common autoimmune disease is autoimmune thyroiditis.
This is a disease in which antibodies are formed against the cells of one's own thyroid gland, as a result of which its function and the level of hormones that it produces are disrupted. And with a lack of thyroid hormones, fetal death is possible.
Wrong way of life. Bad habits during pregnancy are by no means harmless. Toxic substances contained in tobacco smoke and alcohol can lead to fetal death.
In some cases, the cause of pregnancy fading may be harmful working conditions (for example, radiation, vibration, etc.).
What will the doctor do
If the death of the fetus is detected, the woman is hospitalized in the gynecology department of the hospital.
The fetal egg is removed from the uterine cavity by curettage or vacuum aspiration (removal of the contents of the uterine cavity using vacuum suction). This procedure is performed under general anesthesia (intravenous anesthesia). Spontaneous miscarriage is not expected, since the toxic decay products of a dead fetal egg "poison" the mother's body, cause a violation of blood coagulation processes, and can lead to infectious complications (collapsing fetal tissues are a good breeding ground for pathogenic microbes).
Fetal tissues obtained by scraping or aspiration are always sent for histological examination (examination of the material under a microscope), and this is not additionally paid by the patient. In some cases, this study helps to identify the cause of pregnancy fading. For example, a histological examination may reveal changes characteristic of an infectious process in the uterine cavity. The result of a histological examination is usually ready in 1-2 weeks.
In some cases, the material is sent for genetic research - a karyotype (number and structure of chromosomes). In this case, the chromosomal set of the fetus is determined.
Sending material for genetic testing is most often done in case of repeated cases of pregnancy fading; most often this research is paid. The possibility of sending the material for genetic testing is discussed by the doctor and the patient in advance before the operation. The result of a genetic study is ready on average after 2 weeks.
However, a miscarriage can occur on its own, even before it has been established that the pregnancy has stopped. In this case, it is imperative to do an ultrasound scan to exclude the retention of parts of the fetal egg in the uterus, and if they are found, undergo an operation to curettage the uterine cavity.
When pregnancy fades in the second trimester, an artificial late miscarriage is performed. With the help of medicines, the contractile activity of the uterus is caused and fruition occurs.
How is this dangerous condition recognized and can it be avoided?
Frozen pregnancy: Prevention and prognosis
In 80–90?% of cases, after one missed pregnancy, women normally carry a subsequent pregnancy and give birth to a healthy child. However, if there were two fading in a row, then in the next pregnancy the risk of her fading will be 40?%, and if three, then 60?%.
It is recommended to plan the next pregnancy no earlier than six months after the dead one. This time is necessary for the uterine mucosa (endometrium) and the hormonal background in the body to fully recover after a failed pregnancy. During this period, it is recommended to take hormonal contraceptives, as they not only have a contraceptive effect, but also help the body recover from hormonal stress, regulate ovarian function and restore the menstrual cycle.
When planning the next pregnancy, you should definitely contact an obstetrician-gynecologist so that he can prescribe an examination to determine the cause of the pregnancy fading and the woman’s health status and, if necessary, therapeutic and prophylactic drugs. Before pregnancy, infectious diseases should be identified and treated. With a chronic infection, it is worth taking care of the state of immunity so that an exacerbation does not occur during pregnancy.
During the planning period for the next pregnancy, it is important to eat right, get the necessary amount of vitamins (with food or in the form of multivitamin complexes), and lead a healthy lifestyle. This will help the body protect the baby from negative environmental influences during pregnancy. It is also highly recommended to give up bad habits.
Without a doubt, a frozen pregnancy is a psychological trauma, so if a woman is tormented by obsessive thoughts that she will not be able to have children at all, if she sets herself up for failure, she should contact a psychotherapist or a perinatal psychologist.
Not always a successful pregnancy ends with a positive outcome. In medical practice, the first trimester is considered the most dangerous period of time when carrying a child, during which various complications can occur, leading to the death of the fetus.
A frozen pregnancy is a pathology in which the fetus stops growing and developing, it dies in the womb. Sometimes this complication ends in spontaneous miscarriage. However, quite often the dead embryo remains in the uterine cavity, which can cause inflammation, and if the process worsens, sepsis is a serious infectious disease in which microorganisms circulate in the blood.
10 Signs of Missed Pregnancy
No toxicosis
The cessation of morning sickness and vomiting is a sign of a missed pregnancy in the first trimester. However, women do not always pay attention to this phenomenon, because they believe that the unpleasant symptoms have simply passed, and the body has adapted to the appearance of a child. As a rule, toxicosis during a frozen pregnancy ends very abruptly. Usually, this symptom does not appear immediately after the death of the fetus, but after a few days or even weeks.Return of the breast to the state before the conception of the child
The absence of swelling of the mammary glands and hyperpigmentation of the nipples is another sign of a missed pregnancy. These changes in the chest are also dramatic. In addition, the signs of a missed pregnancy include a one-time cessation of colostrum secretion, if it was secreted earlier.Decrease in basal body temperature
If a pregnant woman follows her own, then when it decreases, a missed pregnancy can be suspected. When the fetus dies, the thermometer displays a temperature of less than 37 degrees Celsius (usually 36.4-36.9). However, on this basis of a missed pregnancy in the first trimester, it is impossible to accurately diagnose, since an incorrect measurement or thermometer error is possible.The appearance of pain
The appearance of pain similar to menstrual pain in the lower abdomen may indicate a missed pregnancy. However, this symptom appears after a long period of time, sometimes up to several weeks after the death of the embryo. On the contrary, pulling pains in the lower abdomen, accompanied by spotting, often speak of.Pathological discharge from the vagina
The appearance of spotting vaginal discharge streaked with blood or red may be a symptom of a missed pregnancy. But much more often this symptom indicates the beginning of a spontaneous miscarriage.Increase in body temperature
In the presence of an infectious process in the uterus due to the decay of a dead fetus, a woman has an increase in body temperature to subfebrile values (up to 38 degrees). However, if this process begins to be systemic, hyperthermia is possible up to very high values (40-41 degrees) and the general serious condition of the woman's body.A missed pregnancy is not a rare complication and can occur in a completely healthy woman, so when making this diagnosis, you should not despair too much, since the probability of the next successful childbearing and subsequent birth is 80-90%.
Lack of drowsiness, fatigue
With a decrease in progesterone due to the death of the fetus, its effect on the woman's body decreases. She no longer feels tired and sleepy. This sign of a missed pregnancy is extremely unreliable, however, if there are other symptoms, a woman should be examined.No rise in hCG
With a frozen pregnancy, chorionic gonadotropin ceases to increase after the death of the fetus, and then it begins to decrease altogether. Therefore, if this pathology is suspected, the dynamics of hCG should be monitored by passing a second analysis after 2-3 days.Gynecological examination
During the examination, the obstetrician-gynecologist measures the volume of the uterus. During a frozen pregnancy, there is a lag in size, which can serve as a diagnostic criterion for pathology. However, this sign cannot be used in the first weeks of the gestational age, since at this time the volume of the uterus practically does not differ from its dimensions before conception.ultrasound
During an ultrasound examination, the doctor can detect a missed pregnancy. This method is considered the "gold" standard in the diagnosis of this pathology. The absence of heartbeats and the lag of the fetus in size are the main symptoms of a missed pregnancy with ultrasound.
Behavior during a frozen pregnancy
If subjective symptoms of a missed pregnancy appear, you should immediately consult a doctor for a thorough diagnosis. If this diagnosis is confirmed with the help of a blood test for hCG and ultrasound, measures are taken to remove the embryo from the uterine cavity.Sometimes doctors take expectant tactics, the purpose of which is the spontaneous onset of a miscarriage. When this does not happen, or the fetus died a long time ago and there is a possibility of infection of the uterus, an abortion is performed. With a period of less than 8 weeks of pregnancy, it is possible to use artificial miscarriage with the help of.
At short gestational ages, it is possible to use vacuum aspiration, the safest method of surgical abortion. In the later weeks of pregnancy, cleaning of the uterine cavity is used. This procedure is performed under general anesthesia, the resulting materials are sent for histological examination.
