– one of the forms of miscarriage, characterized by a complete cessation of embryo development and its death. This pathological condition occurs in the 1st-2nd trimester and is manifested by the cessation of toxicosis, the appearance of bleeding, and hyperthermia. During the period 18-28 weeks, the main symptom of a frozen pregnancy is the complete cessation of fetal motor activity. The diagnosis is made based on an objective examination and ultrasound data. Treatment consists of inducing an induced abortion with the help of medications or cleaning the uterine cavity from the fertilized egg and its membranes.
In the 2nd trimester, the manifestations of obstetric anomalies will be exactly the same. An additional symptom that appears in patients after 18-20 weeks is the lack of fetal motor activity. During an objective examination of a woman and auscultation, a frozen pregnancy may be indicated by the inability to listen to the baby’s heartbeat. To confirm the diagnosis and determine medical tactics when at least one alarming symptom the patient should immediately contact an obstetrician-gynecologist.
Diagnosis and treatment of frozen pregnancy
To confirm a frozen pregnancy, an objective examination of the patient is performed. It is possible to establish that there is no enlargement of the uterus. The patient is also prescribed a blood test to measure the level of the hormone hCG. When pregnancy fades, its level decreases and does not correspond to the indicators that are typical for given period embryogenesis. Instrumental diagnostics consists of conducting an ultrasound scan of the uterine cavity. During a frozen pregnancy, there are no signs of fetal activity ( physical activity, heartbeat).
A frozen pregnancy requires immediate medical care, since the dead fetus, while in the womb, begins to decompose, and toxic substances are absorbed into the mother’s blood, leading to a deterioration in her condition until death. First of all, the embryo is removed from the uterine cavity. In case of frozen pregnancy in the first 2 months of embryogenesis, an artificial abortion is most often carried out using medications. For this purpose, a combination of a prostaglandin E1 analogue and a progesterone antagonist is used. As a result of taking these drugs, the fetus is expelled from the uterine cavity due to its contraction (that is, a miscarriage occurs).
Also, during a frozen pregnancy, surgical removal of the fertilized egg can be performed. For this purpose, vacuum aspiration or curettage is used. The first method is called mini-abortion and involves “sucking out” the embryo using a special vacuum aspirator. For such an intervention, local or general anesthesia is indicated, depending on the psychological state female patients. Vacuum aspiration – fast and painless way treatment of frozen pregnancy, which can only be used in the first trimester of pregnancy.
A frozen pregnancy in the first trimester can also be terminated by curettage of the uterine cavity. This surgical intervention involves curettage (cleaning) of the uterus to remove the dead embryo and membranes. This procedure also performed under anesthesia, is painless, but can cause thinning of the myometrium, which will subsequently lead to the impossibility of implantation of the fertilized egg with the development of infertility. During a frozen pregnancy, curettage is performed in cases where other methods are contraindicated. If the pathology is diagnosed in the second trimester, the dead fetus is removed by artificial labor.
After surgical treatment If a woman is pregnant, she is prescribed drug therapy. In order to prevent the development of the inflammatory process and the introduction of infection into the uterine cavity, the patient is prescribed antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition, after eliminating a frozen pregnancy important role attention is paid to restoring the functionality of the endometrium so that the patient can subsequently bear a child again. For this purpose, hormonal and immunocorrective therapy is used.
As a symptomatic treatment for frozen pregnancy, antispasmodics and drugs that promote rapid contraction of the uterus are prescribed. In parallel with drug therapy It is important to provide the woman with psychological help. Many patients who have suffered a frozen pregnancy need to work with a psychologist who helps them quickly come to terms with what happened and restore a normal psycho-emotional state.
Forecast and prevention of frozen pregnancy
It is impossible to save the fetus during a frozen pregnancy, but for a woman this pathology is usually prognostically favorable. After removing the dead embryo and drug treatment the patient can return to to the usual way life. Planning the next conception after a frozen pregnancy is allowed no earlier than six months later. In this case, it is advisable to install possible reasons fetal death in order to subsequently eliminate the influence of these factors on the woman’s body.
Prevention of frozen pregnancy consists, first of all, in planning conception. Both partners must complete medical examination and treat all identified diseases that can provoke intrauterine fetal death. You may need to consult a geneticist to diagnose hidden chromosomal abnormalities one or both spouses. To prevent the development of a frozen pregnancy after conception, the patient should strictly follow the doctor’s instructions, give up bad habits, avoid stress, and normalize the diet, work and rest schedule. It is important to spend less time in crowded places to reduce the risk of infectious diseases.
The phenomenon of frozen pregnancy can occur in women of any age. The emergence of this pathology is facilitated by a combination of many factors and circumstances. To prevent fetal freezing, you must strictly follow the recommendations and advice of your gynecologist, and also carefully take care of your own health even at the stage of planning the birth of a child.
Fortunately, this pathology It is quite rare in women: out of 176 normally developing pregnancies, one is a frozen pregnancy. A frozen pregnancy is understood as a pathology of pregnancy development, in which the development and growth of the fetus ceases, as a result of which it dies. This phenomenon occurs at all stages of pregnancy, but most often in the first three months of pregnancy (up to 13 weeks). A frozen pregnancy can trigger the occurrence of inflammatory processes in the female body, as well as lead to other undesirable consequences. In particular, it poses some threat to future offspring. Symptoms of frozen pregnancy can be observed in the early and later gestation, while the signs in the second trimester will differ from those in early stages.
How to detect a frozen pregnancy in time?
As a rule, the symptoms of fetal freezing are very accurate, and medical diagnosis is not difficult at all. The most important sign of cessation of embryo growth and development is the disappearance of signs of a developing pregnancy. When the first suspicions arise, you should consult a doctor, who, based on the results ultrasound examination will reveal the presence or absence of symptoms of a frozen embryo.
To date, doctors have calculated the periods of fetal development at which the risk of fetal death is very high: the first 3-4 weeks, from 8 to 11 weeks and from 16 to 18 weeks of pregnancy. The likelihood of developing a frozen pregnancy is especially high in the eighth week, when changes are observed in the mother’s body and the formation of the most important organs of the unborn child occurs.
Causes of frozen pregnancy.
This phenomenon can be provoked by anything, from a hormonal imbalance in the mother and genetic disorders in the fetus, to acute infectious diseases and bad habits. Most common reasons Frozen pregnancy is caused by the woman's consumption of alcohol in large quantities, drugs and cigarettes, as well as diseases such as herpes, chlamydia, toxoplasmosis, etc. Of course, if a woman really wants to have healthy baby then she eliminate all these hazardous factors even in the early stages of pregnancy.
Genetic abnormalities of embryonic development are the most common factor causing fetal death (70% of cases) for up to eight weeks. In this case, nature itself does not give life to the initially “sick” fetus. In the future, if both parents are absolutely healthy, there is a very high probability that this situation will not happen again. If the second, third and subsequent pregnancies in a row end in the death of the embryo, this indicates the fault of genetic factors.
Hormonal imbalances in a woman’s body also often provoke the development of frozen pregnancy. This is mainly due to a lack of progesterone or pregnancy hormone in the female body, without which successful attachment of the embryo to the uterus cannot occur.
Hyperandrogenism is also one of the causes of fetal death. In approximately twenty percent of women, while carrying a child, the level of male sex hormones (androgens) increases, as a result of which the woman begins to develop masculine characteristics (excessive hair, changes in the properties of the skin, voice, physique, etc.). Therefore, if you have previously had a frozen pregnancy, miscarriage, frequent delays in menstruation and male-type hair growth, it is important before planning a pregnancy to take tests to determine your hormonal status and, if necessary, undergo a course of treatment, thereby you will prevent or significantly reduce the likelihood of fetal fading in the future .
Various infections can cause fetal death not only in the early, but also in later stages of gestation (about 30% of cases). While carrying a child, a woman’s immunity is completely suppressed, because then the body would simply begin to fight the foreign body that appears, which is the embryo. As a result, the mother's body becomes very vulnerable to various infections. In pregnant women, all infectious diseases begin to worsen. Non-dangerous flora begins to multiply rapidly, the vaginal microflora is activated, creating a threat intrauterine infection fetus But infection of the expectant mother during pregnancy, and not the exacerbation of existing infectious diseases, poses a particular danger. In particular, infection chicken pox or rubella, in addition to frozen pregnancy, can be caused by an anomaly in the development of the fetus. In this situation, the question of artificial termination of pregnancy already arises. Irreversible changes can result from infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV), which causes multiple malformations of the embryo.
A serious danger to the fetus is the common flu, which a pregnant woman can “catch.” Due to weakened immunity, even ordinary ARVI is very difficult to tolerate. It is worth noting that the danger is not the virus itself, but rather its manifestations: intoxication, fever, which, in turn, disrupts the blood flow from mother to fetus. As a result of lack of oxygen and necessary nutrients the fetus may die.
Poor lifestyle, including unbalanced diet and bad habits, frequent stress and overexertion can also provoke fetal freezing. In addition, insufficient walks in the fresh air, drinking coffee and other harmful drinks may cause complications such as early detachment placenta and increasing uterine tone. All this leads to disruption of blood flow, as a result of which the fetus does not receive oxygen and necessary substances.
It should be noted that very often pregnancy as a result of in vitro fertilization ends in embryonic death or spontaneous miscarriage.
The cause of frozen pregnancy can also be the use of a woman (who is not aware of her pregnancy) medicines, the use of which is contraindicated during pregnancy. You should know that several months before a planned pregnancy, as well as during it, it is not recommended to use any medications without a doctor’s prescription. However, taking medications in the early stages (7-10 days) cannot cause a frozen pregnancy, since at this time there is no close connection between the embryo and its mother. After 8-10 weeks of pregnancy, the placenta protects from the effects of drugs, so the likelihood of frozen pregnancies in later stages is slightly reduced. If future mom works for hazardous production, then the risk of developing a frozen pregnancy is very high.
After fetal death, the body needs six months to restore the endometrium and hormonal status to prepare for next pregnancy. During this period, you can carry out all the necessary medical procedures, which will allow you to conceive and normally bear a full-fledged and healthy baby.
Symptoms of frozen pregnancy and its diagnosis.
Unfortunately, in the early stages, a frozen pregnancy may not manifest itself in any way. The first signal indicating the presence of a problem is the sudden cessation of attacks of toxicosis, if any existed previously. At the same time, other obvious symptoms indicating the presence of pregnancy disappear: decreased basal temperature, pain in the mammary glands. In the early stages, a woman may not pay attention to such signs. At a later stage of gestation, a frozen pregnancy may manifest itself in the form of pain in the lower abdomen or bloody discharge from the vagina. These symptoms may indicate detachment of the fertilized egg during an incipient miscarriage. Another main symptom in the later stages is the cessation of fetal movement. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to determine a frozen pregnancy at home. The belly may still grow, and blood tests may indicate pregnancy. However, in this case, it is not the fetus that may develop, but the empty membrane inside.
A frozen pregnancy is diagnosed by a gynecological examination, an ultrasound examination of the pelvis and a blood test for hCG. When examined by a gynecologist, pathology is determined by the size of the uterus, which should correspond to the norm when current term pregnancy. An ultrasound shows the absence of a fetal heartbeat, as well as anembryony (a disorder in which the fertilized egg is completely empty). On a hormonal blood test (hCG), a similar problem is characterized by a deviation in the level of the pregnancy hormone from the indicators characteristic of a normal pregnancy.
As a rule, a frozen pregnancy ends with curettage (cleaning) of the uterine cavity in a hospital setting using vacuum aspiration (in the early stages) or under the supervision of a doctor, a miscarriage is induced using special medications. Sometimes it happens that a woman’s frozen pregnancy without medical intervention ends in spontaneous miscarriage. If this does not happen within a certain time, and according to ultrasound, there are remains of the fertilized egg in the uterus, then they resort to the measures described above, after which antibacterial therapy is carried out. Two weeks later, an ultrasound is performed to assess the recovery of the body.
Consequences of a frozen pregnancy.
If there was a frozen pregnancy, this does not mean that the woman will not be able to have children in the future. Very often, doctors cannot fully identify the cause of the occurrence. similar phenomenon, while in the vast majority of cases women become pregnant and carry the child normally. If cases of frozen pregnancy occur repeatedly, it is necessary to undergo a full medical examination of both partners, since repeated cases may indicate the woman’s inability to bear a child.
The fact that a frozen pregnancy has a serious impact on physical health women are a fact. But the psychological problems associated with it are more serious. A woman experiences fear in planning her next pregnancy due to unsuccessful past experiences. Over time, all fears go away, especially if a woman hears the stories of women who have been in the same situation, who then conceived, carried and gave birth to a baby normally.
Recovery and treatment after a frozen pregnancy.
Before treatment is prescribed, both partners undergo full course examinations: tests for sex hormones and hormones thyroid gland, smears for various sexually transmitted infections using the PCR method (to identify hidden sexually transmitted infections), undergo an ultrasound examination, determine group compatibility, etc., which will make it possible to identify and eliminate the causes that caused the development of the pathology.
After doctors have identified the causes of a missed abortion and carried out appropriate treatment, if necessary, the woman must regain her strength before planning her next pregnancy. This will take her about six months. During this period, it is important to take every possible preventive measures to prevent the situation from reoccurring (lead a healthy lifestyle, take vitamins, use contraception). The woman herself needs to see a psychologist who will help overcome her fears and worries about planning her next pregnancy.
A woman who experienced a similar situation, with normal tests treatment may not be required, because, as I already said, most often a frozen pregnancy develops due to a genetic malfunction, the repetition of which is unlikely to be observed in the future. However, in case of repeated cases of fetal freezing, treatment is mandatory.
Prevention of frozen pregnancy.
To prevent a recurrence of such a situation, it is necessary to follow preventive measures even before planning a pregnancy. Prevention will help reduce the risk of a recurrence of the tragedy.
So, if you have a sexually transmitted infection, you need to get rid of them at least three months before the planned conception. If you did not have diseases such as rubella or chickenpox as a child, you should get vaccinated, especially if you have frequent contact with children (for example, you work in a kindergarten).
To prevent frozen pregnancy and other complications, all women need to eat a rational and balanced diet, including more fresh vegetables and fruits. In addition, it is necessary to give up all bad habits, as they sharply increase the risk of frozen pregnancy. Spend more time outdoors.
Who is at risk for a repeat pregnancy that does not develop?
- Women who have had abortions, and the more abortions, the higher the likelihood of encountering such a complication.
- Women who have had ectopic pregnancy, as well as those whose fetal heart has stopped beating last weeks pregnancy.
- Women with infectious and viral diseases of the genital organs.
- Women over thirty years of age. It is desirable for every woman to give birth to her first child before the age of thirty.
- Women who have some anatomical features of the reproductive system (bicornuate and saddle uterus).
- Women with uterine fibroids. It leads to deformation of the uterine cavity and prevents the fertilized egg from attaching.
- Suffering from endocrine disorders ( diabetes, decreased thyroid function, cycle disorders, impaired progesterone production).
A frozen pregnancy can develop as a result of many reasons. Most often, the fetus freezes in the later stages, and this happens due to the fact that the pregnant woman’s body has been exposed to various infections (flu, rubella, hepatitis) or expectant mother suffers from chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diseases of the endocrine glands, or the fetus has anomalies that are incompatible with its life. Also, this pathology can develop in the body due to mercury vapor, lead, and aniline compounds.
Also in gynecological practice, there are cases of fetal freezing when multiple pregnancy, when either triplets develop first, and then one embryo dies and exists in a frozen state in the mother’s stomach, it is removed at the time of birth. However, such a situation is fraught with complications, threatening the life of the mother and the surviving fetus. Therefore, doctors closely monitor the health of the pregnant woman and the development of the fetus.
In case of distress call artificial birth. In the early stages, in ninety percent of cases, such pregnancies end in spontaneous abortion. If this does not happen, then doctors perform curettage, vacuum extraction, or induce an abortion. In any case, it is impossible to self-medicate or cause a miscarriage on your own during a frozen pregnancy; this is fraught with further infertility or the development of inflammatory diseases in the uterine cavity.
Sometimes pregnancy ends due to fetal death. Death long-awaited child may happen on different dates pregnancy. What to do in this case?
One of the most difficult tragedies in a woman’s life is a frozen pregnancy. Unfortunately, this sometimes happens, despite the woman’s compliance with all the gynecologist’s recommendations. Awareness of the fact that the life of a long-awaited child was cut short even before the baby was born in this world can cause serious depression in both parents.
Most often, frozen pregnancy occurs in the first trimester
It is the risk of freezing of the fertilized egg that makes the first 12 weeks of pregnancy the most critical. This pathology occurs in approximately 13% of women. As a rule, a woman does not immediately discover that her baby’s heart has stopped beating. The first signs of fading of the fertilized egg may appear only 2-3 weeks after the tragedy. It is after this period of time that the non-developing fertilized egg begins to be rejected from the uterine mucosa. The fertilized egg can leave the woman’s body on its own, but in some cases, part of the membranes remains in the uterus.
Frozen pregnancy can occur in women of any age. This tragedy is caused by the impact of multiple circumstances on the body of a pregnant woman. To reduce the risk of death of the fertilized egg in the first trimester of pregnancy, it is necessary to be fully examined by a gynecologist even before conception.
Signs of fetal fading in later stages are significantly different from the symptoms of frozen pregnancy in the first trimester.
One of the types of frozen pregnancy is anembryony - a condition when conception occurs, but due to the influence of environmental and internal environmental factors on the body, the embryo does not develop, that is, the woman is diagnosed with the presence of an empty fertilized egg in the uterus.
Causes of frozen pregnancy
Gynecologists still cannot pinpoint the exact cause of fetal death. In the early stages of development, in the first weeks of pregnancy, the reason for the arrest of development and death of the embryo is severe malformations that are incompatible with life. Genetic disorders occur in 70% of all frozen pregnancies.
The death of the fetus in later stages (after 14 weeks) is often provoked by viral and infectious diseases suffered by the 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 experience several such 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.
Fading of pregnancy in the early stages can occur due to the influence of the following factors on the body:
- Paternal smoking during pregnancy planning;
- Use of alcohol and drugs by a woman in the first weeks of pregnancy;
- The presence in a woman’s body of infections such as cytomegalovirus, rubella, ureaplasmosis, herpes, papilloma virus, mycoplasmosis and others;
- Infection of a woman with sexually transmitted infections (gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis);
- Serious hormonal imbalances;
- Diseases endocrine system(maternal diabetes mellitus);
- The presence of Rh conflict (with negative Rh factor in the mother and positive in the fetus) – the woman’s body perceives pregnancy as something foreign and tries with all its might to get rid of the fetus;
- Lifting weights in early pregnancy;
- Constant stress of a pregnant woman.
At risk are women over 35 years of age, patients who have had many abortions in the past, and women with congenital anomalies of the uterus.
How to recognize a frozen pregnancy in the early stages?
The most accurate and reliable way to diagnose fetal freezing in the early stages is to conduct an ultrasound examination of the uterus. Using ultrasound, you can accurately determine the presence or absence of heartbeats in a growing embryo. Fine developing pregnancy can also be diagnosed based on the results of a blood test for the level of the hormone hCG; every day the levels of human chorionic gonadotropin in the blood increase.
Fetal freezing can be determined using ultrasound
The expectant mother herself may suspect a threat of miscarriage and possible fetal death due to the appearance of spotting and bloody discharge from the external genitalia. This sign is characteristic of the cessation of the fetal heartbeat in the early stages of 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 absence of movements for several hours.
When the fetus freezes in early pregnancy, in addition to bloody discharge, a woman may experience severe cramping pain in the lower abdomen. If before this the woman suffered from toxicosis, then when the pregnancy fades, all the symptoms of ailments suddenly disappear.
If a woman ignores the above signs and does not consult a gynecologist, then symptoms of severe intoxication of the body will soon develop - nausea, vomiting, an increase in body temperature to 39 degrees, increasing weakness and pallor skin. Arterial pressure falls and the pulse becomes threadlike. In the absence of emergency medical care, the woman develops sepsis and death.
As a rule, when the fertilized egg freezes in the first weeks of pregnancy, the body independently gets rid of the embryo. The uterus begins to contract intensively, removing the fertilized egg and its membranes from the body. Contractions of the uterus provoke pain in the woman in the lower abdomen and lower back, as well as intense bloody issues and clots from the genital tract.
In any case, a woman should see a gynecologist. It happens that the fertilized egg is not completely removed from the uterus, then the woman is prescribed a surgical “cleaning”, during which the remains of the embryo and its membranes are scraped out.
Signs of a late-term frozen pregnancy
Unfortunately, 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 suffered by the mother, abdominal injuries, or strangulation of the child by his own umbilical cord.
In the later stages, the fetus may die from infection or injury.
You can recognize the symptoms of the end of life of a baby 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. An 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 children push often and intensely, while others 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 stomach there are no movements on his part, the woman should urgently contact the department maternity hospital. There is no need to wait for time, believing that the baby is just sleeping. The absence of movements may indicate a strong oxygen starvation baby, for example, as a result of the umbilical cord being tightly wrapped around the neck or torso. If the expectant mother immediately consults a doctor, the baby’s life can possibly be saved.
One of the clinical symptoms of late-term frozen pregnancy is changes in the mammary glands. If fetal death occurs before the 25th week of pregnancy, then in most cases the breasts sharply return to same size, however, if the pregnancy has frozen after 25 weeks, 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 exactly when the fetus moved for the last time. Fortunately, there are very few such people. However, it should be said that another symptom of late pregnancy is the appearance of pain in the lower abdomen and lower back, nausea and vomiting. And also significantly reduces the volume of the abdomen. The last symptom is due to the fact that during fetal death the amount amniotic fluid decreases. These symptoms can be observed in a woman several 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 clearly felt the movements of their baby, talked to him, and stroked his tummy. All this can lead to severe, prolonged depression and apathy in a woman. If such a tragedy does occur and doctors confirm 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 stage of pregnancy when the tragedy occurred, the woman may undergo surgical cleaning or call labor. Sometimes doctors can remove a dead baby from the uterus through a minor Caesarean section.
Life after tragedy
A woman must understand that, despite the depression that happened to her after the loss of her desired baby, before planning a new pregnancy, she needs to find out the reason for fetal fading. If the parents do not know what could have caused the baby’s death, then both of them are advised to undergo a comprehensive gynecological and urological examination. This examination includes consultation with a geneticist, endocrinologist and testing for hidden sexually transmitted infections. After identifying the cause that provoked fetal death and undergoing treatment, spouses should plan a new pregnancy only 6-12 months after therapy.
It is advisable to find out exactly the cause of fetal freezing
Planning a new pregnancy
Exactly 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 a doctor gives permission to plan a new pregnancy, spouses must use a contraceptive method that is suitable for them. There is no need to worry that a woman will suffer the same fate when new pregnancy. Such fears are sometimes completely unfounded. In most cases, a frozen pregnancy is an isolated case for each patient who has experienced this grief, and does not at all indicate that the next time will be the same.
However, you need to understand that in order not to encounter this problem again, married couple must carefully prepare for a new conception. To do this, spouses must be examined and, if necessary, undergo a course of treatment.
A healthy lifestyle for spouses before a 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, review their diet, and exercise lungs. physical exercise and spend more time in the fresh air. It is advisable for a woman to start taking prenatal vitamins before pregnancy. Thus, when the desired conception occurs in the fetus, the risk of congenital neural tube malformations is significantly reduced.
Separately, it is necessary to say about the moral support of my husband. A woman who has experienced a frozen pregnancy becomes overly suspicious and anxious. She listens carefully to any changes in the functioning of her body during pregnancy and looks for signs of freezing of the fertilized egg. The husband’s task is to surround his pregnant wife with care and attention, this will help the pregnant woman to take her mind off negative thoughts. You need to surround the woman with positive emotions and support her in every possible way. A successful pregnancy outcome largely depends on the woman’s morale.
Of course, it is very difficult to survive such a tragedy as the miscarriage of a late pregnancy, and the depth of the parents’ grief simply cannot be expressed in words. In this case, a woman must find strength within herself and turn all her attention to her health. If necessary, you need to undergo a course of treatment, take vitamin supplements, go to rest and gain strength before a new pregnancy.
These studies should not be neglected. In this way, the woman will protect 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 death sentence; a healthy, cured woman cannot have any consequences for her next pregnancy, and she has every chance of giving birth to a healthy baby.
Fetal freezing can occur in a woman at any age. This pathology means the death of the fetus and develops due to the confluence of several factors.
Before planning a pregnancy, every woman should know possible risks, as well as be able to recognize the signs of any pathology and consult a doctor in a timely manner.
Frozen pregnancy is quite rare; among doctors, this condition is called failed miscarriage, since the death of the embryo occurs without obvious signs termination of pregnancy. The fetus can die at any stage, regardless of the woman’s age, although most often the pathology develops among women giving birth over 40 years of age. Fading of pregnancy in most cases occurs up to 13 weeks, the causes of the pathology are a variety of factors: chronic diseases, infections, genetic disorders, etc. However, the fetus can die without obvious reasons, but in any case, fading of the fetus poses a threat to the woman’s health, in particular, can lead to infertility.
Causes of fetal freezing
Fetal freezing is provoked by many factors, and a confluence of several circumstances is often observed. It is not always possible to establish the exact cause of such a pathology, since after the death of the fetus, tissue necrosis occurs, which makes research quite difficult.
Among the causes of fetal death are hormonal imbalances, chromosomal disorders, infections, etc. The most common cause of pregnancy loss is alcohol and cigarettes. Herpes, chlamydia, toxoplasmosis, etc. can also lead to fetal death, so doctors recommend that before planning a pregnancy you undergo an examination and cure all existing diseases.
The reasons why the fetus stops developing and dies have not been studied enough, but experts identify several main factors:
- Hormonal imbalances can lead to progesterone deficiency, due to which the fetus does not receive the necessary nutrients, which ultimately causes developmental arrest and fetal death. Usually this reason provokes freezing in the first trimester. In addition, the cause of freezing can be thyroid disease, polycystic disease and other ovarian dysfunctions.
- an immunological factor that has recently been increasingly considered. Female body the fertilized egg is perceived as a foreign body, since it contains about half of the genetic information of the future father, and therefore the body begins to produce antibodies that interfere with the development of the fetus. In other words, the immune system women kill the embryo.
- autoimmune disorders associated with a large number of antibodies to phospholipids in the blood plasma - antiphospholipid syndrome. This pathology leads to fetal freezing in almost 5% of cases. Risks of fading when repeat pregnancy increase to 42%. The cause of antiphospholipid syndrome is mainly heredity, this pathology leads to the formation of blood clots and as pregnancy progresses, the risk of complications may increase, in addition, antiphospholipid syndrome can affect childbirth and the postpartum period.
- infectious diseases, both chronic and acute. The most common diseases that can lead to fading are herpes, mycoplasmosis, chlamydia, etc., which may be present before pregnancy, but with a decrease in immunity, the disease begins to manifest itself more aggressively.
Cytomegalovirus can cause pregnancy to fail in the first trimester; if infection occurs at a later stage, this can lead to serious developmental defects. Syphilis and gonorrhea also pose a danger to the health and life of the child.
- chromosomal disorders. During the development of the embryo, various developmental disorders may occur, for example, pathology of the zygote, abnormal development of the placenta.
- stress, abuse medicines, especially antidepressants.
- bad habits (drugs, alcohol, cigarettes)
- external influence(air travel, gravity, radiation, excessive sun exposure)
- unknown reasons. The fading of pregnancy has not yet been sufficiently studied and in some cases it is impossible to determine why the cessation of fetal development occurred.
Why does fetal freezing occur?
It is quite difficult to identify the main reasons why fetal freezing occurs, since several factors can simultaneously lead to this pathology. For example, hormonal imbalances and chromosomal changes in the embryo or infections.
Also, drug use, alcohol, smoking during pregnancy, venereal diseases may cause intrauterine fetal death.
How to provoke fetal freezing?
In some cases, fetal freezing can be caused by the woman herself. Smoking, drinking alcohol, drugs, and drug abuse can cause the development of the embryo to stop. In addition, frequent nervous strain or stress, coffee, and a sedentary lifestyle disrupt the normal development of the fetus and lead to insufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients to it.
Signs of fetal freezing
Fetal freezing has several symptoms that a woman can determine on her own. Most often, freezing occurs in the first trimester; often this pathology is detected on scheduled inspection or ultrasound. In this case, freezing can be detected several weeks later than the death of the embryo.
In the early stages, a sharp cessation of toxicosis, a decrease in basal temperature, and breast tenderness may indicate the death of the embryo.
In some cases, these signs are ignored or perceived as a natural manifestation of pregnancy.
At a later date, it is possible to determine that fetal death has occurred if the child has stopped moving, also severe pain in the abdomen or bleeding may indicate pathology.
The first signs of fetal freezing
It is quite difficult to determine fetal freezing in the early stages on your own, since in each case pregnancy proceeds individually. For example, some women do not have toxicosis or other symptoms of pregnancy (dizziness, weakness, cravings for salty foods, etc.). In the first trimester, an abrupt cessation of signs of pregnancy (provided that there were any) may indicate the death of the embryo. If a woman initially felt well, then freezing can be detected when visiting a doctor or having an ultrasound.
At later stages, pathology may be indicated by the fact that the child stops moving. In most cases, when fetal death occurs, the woman begins spontaneous miscarriage. But in some cases, a woman can walk around with a dead fetus inside her for several days or even weeks. The fact that the fetus is dead and the decomposition process has begun may be indicated by nagging or severe abdominal pain and bleeding.
Fetal freezing at 8 weeks
The eighth week of pregnancy is a fairly early period, at which the umbilical cord and placenta have not yet formed, the main purpose of which is to protect the fetus from the effects of external negative factors. At this stage, the embryo is extremely vulnerable, and an infection or hormonal disorder can provoke developmental defects that are incompatible with life. Fetal freezing at such an early stage is quite common and in most cases ends in spontaneous miscarriage.
Fetal freezing at 16 weeks
Fetal death most often occurs up to 13 weeks, however, it happens that the fetus dies in the second trimester. At 16 weeks of pregnancy, the risk of miscarriage is extremely high and several factors may contribute to this.
Intrauterine fetal death can occur due to infection, chromosomal developmental disorders, conflict between the Rh factors of the child and mother, and past abortions.
Monitoring the growth of the uterus and ultrasound examinations can detect fading of pregnancy at 16 weeks. Signs of a frozen pregnancy (moving of the baby, pain in the lower abdomen, spotting, etc.) do not always indicate fetal death, confirm this diagnosis Only a specialist and an ultrasound can.
After confirming the death of the fetus in the womb, the doctor prescribes an emergency operation (cleaning) to remove the fetus from the uterus, otherwise this can lead to inflammation, infection, and severe bleeding.
After cleaning, the woman is observed for several days and a full examination is carried out to determine the causes of fetal death.
After pregnancy fading, it is advisable to plan the next one at least six months later.
Freezing of one fetus with twins
During a twin pregnancy, the death of one of the embryos occurs once in a thousand pregnancies. Fetal freezing can occur due to various reasons, often one fetus dies due to developmental anomalies, improper blood circulation, disturbances in the development of the placenta and umbilical cord. Also, the death of one of the embryos in twins can be facilitated by a mechanical factor, for example, an acute lack of oxygen in a single placenta and one fetal sac.
The death of one of the embryos leads to serious health problems of the second, as well as death. According to statistics, in the event of the death of one of the embryos in the first trimester, the probability normal development and second births reaches 90%. If one fetus stops developing up to three weeks later, the embryo completely dissolves or softens and dries (“paper fetus”).
If the death of one fetus in twins occurs at a later stage, then the second may develop severe damage to the central nervous system, internal organs or death.
If one of the embryos dies, the woman may not feel any symptoms. Usually the pathology is detected by ultrasound (absence of heartbeat, movement). One dead fetus during twins in the second and third trimester can lead to large blood loss in the living child. Through connecting vessels, blood flows from a living fetus to a dead one, and since the heart does not work, the dead body is able to absorb quite a lot of blood. Due to large blood losses, a living fetus may develop severe anemia, which will lead to damage to the central nervous system and oxygen starvation.
The doctor’s actions directly depend on the period at which the death of one of the children occurred. On recent months pregnancy, the doctor may decide to perform an emergency delivery, despite the unpreparedness of the living fetus for birth. In this case, for a living child premature birth pose less danger than continued stay with a dead body, and the less time passes from the moment of fetal death to artificial delivery, the better for the second child. With timely detection of a frozen pregnancy, the probability of a successful outcome for a living child is approximately 55%.
To treat pathology in the second trimester, cessation of any relationship between two organisms and blood transfusion to a living fetus is used if delivery is not possible.
In the third trimester, only artificial birth is used, since a dead body poses a strong threat not only to the living child, but also to the mother, since coagulation disorders (blood clotting) are possible.
How to determine fetal freezing?
Fetal freezing can occur without pronounced symptoms. Pathology is identified after visiting a doctor. If there is a suspicion that the pregnancy is fading (the uterus is not of sufficient size, the baby is not moving), then an ultrasound examination is always prescribed for a more accurate diagnosis.
You can also determine fetal freezing by urine and blood tests, which show deviations from the norm.
Fetal freezing in the early stages
Often, fetal freezing in the first weeks of pregnancy is difficult for a woman to identify herself, since the symptoms are often hidden.
In most cases, the fading of pregnancy in the first trimester is accompanied by the disappearance of toxicosis, rapid fatigue, a decrease in basal temperature, and the cessation of swelling and soreness of the mammary glands.
In most cases, these signs are ignored or attributed by the woman to her new condition. It is possible to detect fading pregnancy after some examinations.
The doctor prescribes an hCG test; if the level of this hormone drops sharply or stops increasing, then pregnancy is expected to falter.
In some cases, ultrasound examination may show that fertilized egg no embryo.
Fetal freezing in the second trimester
Fetal freezing occurs most often in the first weeks of pregnancy. The death of an embryo before 18 weeks usually occurs due to various genetic disorders, and it is impossible to maintain such a pregnancy. Less commonly, pregnancy fading occurs in the second trimester; as a rule, the reason for this is the flu, an exacerbation of infectious disease, hormonal disorders and so on. Only a specialist can determine the cause of pregnancy loss after additional examination. In some cases, the cause of the fading remains unclear.
In the second trimester, the main sign of a pregnancy disorder is the lack of fetal movement. At about 18-20 weeks (for those who give birth earlier), the fetus begins to move; if a woman notes that the baby does not move for more than a day, then this is good reason to urgently consult a doctor.
During the examination, the doctor will determine the size of the abdomen, an ultrasound will listen to the fetal heartbeat, and placental abruption can also be diagnosed. In addition, pain or bleeding may indicate abnormal development of pregnancy.
Fading pregnancy in the second trimester is quite rare; the main cause of the pathology is serious illnesses mothers or genetic disorders. Also, intrauterine fetal death can occur as a result of trauma.
Fetal freezing in late stages
Fetal freezing in later stages can be determined by more pronounced signs. The main symptom of the pathology is lack of movement.
In addition, there are a number of signs that may indicate fading pregnancy:
- the breasts become softer, not swollen
- severe weakness
- appetite changes (if it was absent before, it appears and vice versa)
The main examination of a woman consists of undergoing an ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs, smears to detect diseases, urine and blood tests, an infection test, a thyroid examination, and tests for hormone levels.
Also possible additional methods studies that a doctor can prescribe based on the woman’s medical history and individual characteristics body.
Fetal death is not a death sentence for a couple dreaming of having a child. In the early stages, embryonic death most often occurs due to a developmental abnormality incompatible with life. In the event of a repeat pregnancy, the likelihood of fading is virtually eliminated. Following a healthy lifestyle by future parents, following doctor’s recommendations, a full examination before planning a pregnancy and treatment of all existing diseases will prevent the development of this pathology.