How does a woman feel when the fetus is frozen? What are the signs and consequences of a frozen pregnancy in the early stages. Various types of discharge from the genital tract

Maria Sokolova

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Frozen pregnancy is one of the types of miscarriage in which intrauterine development of the fetus stops. Most often this happens in the first trimester, much less often in the second and third. In this case, a woman may not notice for a long time that the embryo has stopped developing.

Therefore, today we decided to tell you about the first signs of a frozen pregnancy.

How to detect a frozen pregnancy in time?

In each trimester of pregnancy, the growth and development of the fetus depend on many factors (explicit and implicit). Sometimes it happens that a random combination of circumstances can lead to the arrest of fetal development. This is what modern medicine calls a frozen pregnancy. How to recognize it?

This pathology has fairly accurate symptoms, so doctors can make a similar diagnosis without much difficulty.

The most important symptom is, of course, that any signs of pregnancy completely disappear. But under no circumstances should you beat yourself up and make such a diagnosis yourself.

If you have any doubts, immediately contact your obstetrician-gynecologist . He will examine you and will do an ultrasound . Only after this will the whole picture become clearer: has the child stopped developing, or is it just your nerves being naughty.

The surest symptoms of a frozen pregnancy

Unfortunately, in the early stages there are no obvious signs of pregnancy fading. This diagnosis can be made after undergoing an ultrasound .

A woman may feel that toxicosis, gastronomic cravings, pain in the mammary glands, etc. have suddenly stopped. But this does not mean that there is no more pregnancy.

Such a diagnosis can only be made by a gynecologist after conducting an examination and identifying the following symptoms:

The fetus has no heartbeat;
The size of the uterus is smaller than expected at this stage of pregnancy;
Decreased in pregnant woman's blood

Signs of a frozen pregnancy in the early stages

Toxicosis disappeared. For women suffering from severe toxicosis, this fact will certainly cause concern. You felt bad in the morning, you were sick from strong odors, and suddenly everything returned to normal. But the second trimester is still quite far away.
Mammary gland They stop hurting and become softer. All women can notice these manifestations of a frozen pregnancy. The chest stops hurting 3-6 days after the death of the fetus.
Bloody issues. This clear sign of miscarriage may only appear several weeks after the death of the fetus. Sometimes a small brownish discharge may appear and then disappear. In such cases, women often think “it’s gone,” but the fetus no longer develops.
Headache, weakness, fever(above 37.5), mild nausea - these symptoms are a little similar to toxicosis, but some women observed them already 3-4 weeks after the pregnancy froze. This is explained by the fact that embryonic decay products enter the bloodstream.
Decrease in basal temperature– women who are very worried about their unborn baby can continue to measure their basal temperature even after pregnancy. Most often, in the first trimester of pregnancy, the temperature stays around 37 degrees; when it freezes, it drops sharply, because the body stops producing hormones necessary for the development of the embryo.

But, unfortunately, not only in the first trimester of pregnancy can the embryo stop developing, but also on later lines . If we talk about a missed miscarriage, the risk remains until the 28th week.

Therefore, we will tell you about the signs of a frozen pregnancy in later stages, because every expectant mother should know them.

Symptoms of frozen pregnancy in later stages

Cessation or absence of fetal movements. Typically, women begin to feel weak kicks from the baby at 18-20 weeks of pregnancy. It is from this moment that doctors recommend carefully monitoring the frequency of the baby’s movements. The ideal option is more than 10 times a day. The number of movements will decrease, maybe only before childbirth, since the baby is already big and there is not enough space for him. So, if you don’t feel your baby’s kicks for several hours, go to the hospital immediately. At first, this may be a sign of hypoxia (lack of oxygen), and if urgent measures are not taken, then pregnancy fading.
The mammary glands have decreased in size , the tension in them disappeared, they softened. After intrauterine death of a baby, the mammary glands become soft within 3-6 days. This sign is very informative before the mother begins to feel the baby’s movements.
The fetal heartbeat cannot be heard . Of course, this sign can only be accurately determined by ultrasound. However, after 20 weeks, the doctor can independently check the baby’s heartbeat using a special obstetric stethoscope. A pregnant woman cannot check this sign on her own.

No specialist will give you precise recommendations on how to detect a frozen pregnancy at home. However, if you have any of the above symptoms, visit your obstetrician-gynecologist.
We talked to women who had encountered a similar problem, and they told us that they began to worry during a frozen pregnancy.

Dear friends, we continue to talk about one of the most tragic outcomes of carrying a baby. Today's article is devoted to symptoms that can help identify the most dangerous pathology - frozen pregnancy.

Sometimes, if you manage to track the first signs, there is a chance to save the child. But more often the question is different: how harmful the consequences will be for the mother’s body. And also, whether the woman will subsequently be able to conceive a child and successfully give birth to him. Optimistic answers will be for those who are familiar with the manifestations of freezing, will be able to quickly identify them and, together with a doctor, minimize the consequences.

What are the most likely timing of fading?

When a woman becomes convinced that the formation of a new life has begun inside her, most often, she experiences mixed feelings. Joyful and alarming at the same time, because we have all heard about various deviations in the course of pregnancy.

It is believed that every fifth to eighth one ends in failure. The most common causes of fetal death are miscarriage, ectopic or frozen pregnancy.

Therefore, every woman should know the signs of a frozen pregnancy, because it accounts for about half of the cases of loss of unborn babies. True, there is another special option for a non-developing pregnancy, this is anembryony, that is, the absence of an embryo.

In such cases, only an empty fertilized egg is formed in the uterus, without an embryo. But at the same time, sometimes the symptoms remain the same as with the normal development of the baby. “Misinformation” comes from the chorion, that is, the cells of the outer membrane of the fertilized egg, which are capable of continuing to secrete pregnancy hormones in this situation.

But today we will take a closer look at how the freezing process manifests itself externally and diagnostically. To begin with, let’s briefly talk about during which periods of gestation a baby is most vulnerable.

The first dangerous period is 3-4 weeks, when the egg, after fertilization, is fixed in the endometrium of the uterus.

During the period of 8-11 weeks, the formation of fetal organs occurs, and hormonal and functional disruptions occur. That is why it is considered the most critical; most often, women notice signs of frozen pregnancy at 9 weeks of pregnancy.

And the last warning period is 16-18 weeks, this is the time of active growth of the child and the “borderline” period, when some mothers already begin to feel the baby’s movements.

We will talk about the causes of the pathology in detail separately, but here we will pay attention to only a few details. The risk of losing a baby increases many times with age: if for 20-year-old mothers it is no higher than 10 percent, then for 45-year-old mothers it increases to 50 percent.

A number of studies show that the frequency of the pathology we are considering has increased in recent years. Most likely, this is due to the wider dissemination of IVF technology and a number of external factors, including environmental and social ones.

What is the norm of development in the first trimester?

The first trimester is weeks 1-12 of pregnancy. Expectant mothers are just beginning to immerse themselves in a new state; they often look for information that worries them in available sources, including on forums about the signs of a frozen pregnancy in the early stages.

But in order to assess the reliability of the information posted there, you need to have at least a general idea of what is considered the norm. Then it is much easier to track whether there really are deviations, or whether the symptoms that frighten us fit well into the overall picture of natural physiological and emotional changes.

So, what happens during this crucial period? As mentioned above, by the end of the third week, a tiny embryo attaches to the wall of the uterus. At 4-5 weeks, the neural tube is forming and a heartbeat appears.

Another two weeks later, the fetus already has a cerebral hemisphere; a little later, further folding of organs and body parts occurs. At the turn of 9-10 weeks, the baby’s face can be distinguished on an ultrasound. 11-12 weeks - the baby is already moving, his endocrine system begins to function.

Hormonal changes are observed at the end of the first trimester and in the mother herself, which is why the corresponding signs of a frozen pregnancy at the 10th week of pregnancy become a priority.

Frozen pregnancy: signs in the first trimester

In the early stages, it is not easy to independently suspect this pathology. The female body is already undergoing serious changes. Early toxicosis often occurs, and hormonal changes seriously affect the physiology and psychological state of the expectant mother.

Against this background, the first symptoms of trouble can be overlooked. And they do not develop abruptly, but gradually, as the vital functions of the fetus fade away and the accumulation of intoxication phenomena in the maternal body.

It is especially problematic to track such symptoms of early pregnancy as:

General weakness;
Cessation of fetal growth;
Stopping toxicosis;
Bloody discharge, etc.

General malaise

Dizziness and pain resembling a migraine, weakness, elevated body temperature, mild nausea are indicators of deterioration in the mother’s condition. They appear 3-4 weeks after the death of the fetus.

And if a woman has already experienced toxicosis at this point, then these manifestations of freezing can easily be mistaken for her next attacks. Therefore, it is simply necessary to compare similar signs of frozen pregnancy at 7 weeks of pregnancy and in other periods of the first trimester with other observations.

External signs

Hormonal changes cannot be determined by eye; tracking them will require certain laboratory tests. But changes in hormonal levels inevitably affect the functions of the body.

So, already in the very first weeks, the mammary glands begin to become engorged and become painful. The nipple becomes especially sensitive. And if an accident happens, the fetus loses signs of life, then the breast soon becomes softer and stops hurting.

This group also includes a sharp cessation of toxicosis and the appearance of bloody discharge. But these are not universal signs of a frozen pregnancy in the early stages; not everyone has them.

Tests

Most women are familiar with the strip test. This is when at the pharmacy we buy a special bag with a “magic” wand, which must be lowered into a vessel with urine. If fertilization has occurred, two bright stripes will appear on it.

Logically, after the death of the fetus, our wand should not react to the composition of urine. But, alas, not everything is clear here either; sometimes it takes quite a long time to get a negative result. A more reliable diagnosis can help out - using a special INEXSCREEN test system.

Change in basal temperature

The general body temperature, as we have already noted, increases with the death of the embryo. What is caused by the decomposition processes that have begun in the tissues, resulting in inflammatory complications.

Otherwise, a graph of changes in basal temperature is constructed, that is, one that is measured orally (in the mouth), rectally (in the rectum) or in the vagina. At the beginning of the term it rises to 37 degrees, sometimes a little higher.

And one of the fairly reliable symptoms of a frozen pregnancy in the first trimester is a drop in BBT by about a degree. True, it is not absolute, not ideal, and requires supplementation with the results of other studies.

Examination and medical research data

An experienced and attentive doctor is able to notice the problem even visually, during a gynecological examination. The first thing that should alert a specialist is the disappearance of cyanosis of the cervix and vaginal mucosa. The second alarm bell is the opening of the cervical canal, from one and a half to three centimeters.

Finally, when taking measurements with a centimeter tape, the specialist records that the growth of the uterus has stopped: its size does not correspond to the due date.

In order to make sure that his suspicions are correct, the doctor prescribes laboratory and instrumental tests. We will tell you more about them later. And now let’s just mention one of them: a blood test for human chorionic gonadotropin will show a decrease in the level of this hormone.

Having analyzed the entire complex of signs of a frozen pregnancy in the early stages, the attending physician will make final conclusions on the diagnosis and prescribe effective treatment. This could be drug induction of miscarriage or surgery followed by restorative measures.

Norm of development in the middle and at the end of gestation

Now briefly about the development of the fetus in subsequent periods. The second trimester lasts from 13 to 27 weeks. When the baby develops harmoniously, at this time mothers blossom. Toxicosis is behind us, we have adapted to the difficulties, our mood has leveled out, and my tummy is not too burdensome yet.

However, changing the circumference of the abdomen and the corresponding size of the uterus is one of the options to track the symptoms of a frozen pregnancy. After all, during the second trimester, the baby normally grows from 10 to 35 centimeters (these are, of course, average figures) and gains weight from the initial 30 grams to 1 kilogram 200 grams.

The gender of the unborn baby is already emerging. The skeleton and muscles become stronger.

Finally, at 18-20 weeks the baby begins to actively “kick”, and this becomes a powerful factor in facilitating the diagnosis of dysfunctions. In primiparous women, the first tremors are noted precisely at this time; if the birth is the second and subsequent ones, then the mother notices these joyful sensations a couple of weeks earlier.

A very alarming sign of a frozen pregnancy at 18 weeks of pregnancy is the absence of fetal movements.

Doctors advise mothers during this period to do tests for genetic abnormalities and other serious defects in the development of the fetus. Now they are most easily identified, which means that unnecessary risks can be eliminated or detected deviations can be corrected in time.

Third trimester: 28-40 weeks. The weight of the “duet” has increased significantly, and the volume of the abdomen has increased. It became more difficult to walk and even breathe, even to sleep, and even more so to carry out daily duties. Anxiety and irritability increase, and many people experience anxiety. Late toxicosis is also possible.

Meanwhile, the baby is learning to hear and distinguish taste differences. Hairs grow on its head.

Symptoms of frozen pregnancy in the second trimester and at the end of term

Externally and internally in later stages, the cessation of the baby’s vital activity is expressed in many ways similar to how the signs of a frozen pregnancy appeared in the early stages. But, since the baby himself has already grown up, the mother will have more problems after his death.

Especially if a woman is inattentive to herself, she will miss the first symptoms of trouble, and even the doctor will not track the dysfunction. If the decomposition of the fetus continues for more than five weeks, then irreversible changes may occur in the tissues of the mother’s body.

In isolated cases, the tragic ending is the death of the woman herself. Experts cite cancer and acute infections, as well as the consequences of severe intoxication, as specific causes of the mother’s death.

Such serious consequences are possible when the doctor and the woman herself missed the signs of a frozen pregnancy in the early stages, and the pathology managed to acquire a lot of complications. Let’s still look at what will help avoid such an outcome, what nuances of a woman’s condition make us think and be wary.

Stopping movements

One of the most touching moments of waiting for a baby is the first tremors. The baby makes itself known, actively moves inside the fetal membrane, and finally, the mother begins to feel them subjectively. If this is the first child, the joyful moment usually dates back to the 20th week of the term. You can hear and feel the second and third baby a couple of weeks earlier.

When it suddenly calms down and shows no signs of activity for more than 10 hours, this is a good reason to suspect some kind of abnormality. In particular, such a lull may be one of the alarming signs of a frozen pregnancy in the second trimester.

Responsible mothers do not forget to listen to themselves and monitor the frequency of movements. Normally, about ten series of tremors are observed per day. If they stop, the baby may experience hypoxia (lack of oxygen). By promptly consulting a doctor, you can prevent a tragic outcome.

Uncharacteristic changes in the mammary glands

And what will become a definite signal of trouble in an earlier period, when movements are not yet recorded? For example, are there obvious signs of a frozen pregnancy at 15 weeks? Experts pay attention to one such factor, which the mother herself is quite capable of tracking.

We are talking about how the mammary glands change. Hormonal changes at the beginning of pregnancy make them dense, “heavy,” and slightly painful. But if growth stops and then the baby dies, the breast cannot help but react.

Approximately 3-4 days, sometimes several days later, its noticeable softening occurs. At later stages, at 25 weeks or more, the glands not only become soft, but also begin to secrete colostrum, and a little later, milk.

General weakness

Carrying a child is not easy work and a significant burden on the body of the expectant mother. For different women, this period proceeds in its own way, but most still get tired both physically and emotionally.

We have already said above that a sign of a frozen pregnancy in the first trimester can be a state of chronic fatigue that lasts quite a long time. A similar condition is sometimes observed in later stages.

This is not just weakness, but rather a deep general asthenic disorder. A woman loses her ability to work, even simple household chores become a burden for her. Often apathy is accompanied by chills and dizziness; vision deteriorates, “spots” flash before the eyes.

You shouldn’t reassure yourself that this happens to women in this situation. It is better to consult a doctor and undergo additional examination.

Although the “pendulum can swing” in the opposite direction, suddenly a sharp improvement in the condition will occur, lightheadedness, vomiting, and other manifestations of late toxicosis will disappear.

Bloody discharge and pain

This is another sign that is universal for different periods of gestation. Painful sensations and brownish vaginal discharge can become symptoms of frozen pregnancy in the early stages and at any other time.

It is especially dangerous if the discharge is accompanied by pain that does not go away, no matter how the woman changes her body position. Doctors advise that if such manifestations occur, do not even go to an appointment, but call an ambulance. Otherwise, the condition will worsen, and irreversible consequences may occur: miscarriage or intrauterine fetal death.

Increased body temperature

If an increase in basal temperature in a “special situation” is really the norm, then the usual body temperature, measured externally, should not change. Of course, mommy can catch a cold, catch the flu or another viral disease accompanied by fever.

But even in this case, it is better to resort to hospitalization in order to quickly and effectively cope with the problem and prevent complications, including fetal pathologies.

But strong fever or even a slight rise in temperature in our case may also be the body’s reaction to pathology, a sign of a frozen pregnancy in the first trimester, as well as in the second and third. The tissues of the dead fetus, decomposing, infect the placenta, the epidermis of the uterus and neighboring organs.

The body gives an “alarm bell” with a rise in temperature, so it shows inflammation and at the same time tries to cope with this problem. By dismissing the hint, a woman risks missing the critical moment of no return.

The likely consequences of a delayed visit to the doctor: the inability to give birth in the future, the need to remove the uterus, or even the death of the mother herself.

No heartbeat

At the turn of the midterm, that is, 20 weeks, you can not only track the baby’s kicks, but also listen to his heartbeat without complex instruments. During the examination, the doctor also uses such a simple tool as an obstetric stethoscope.

This is a tube with two cones at opposite ends, which amplifies the beating signals of a small heart and makes them audible to the doctor. A pronounced symptom of a frozen pregnancy is the absence of these sounds at the next appointment with an obstetrician-gynecologist.

True, doubts may arise here too. The placenta adjacent to the anterior wall, as well as a solid layer of fat on the abdomen, can muffle the heart sounds. Therefore, to clarify the diagnosis, the doctor prescribes other studies, primarily ultrasound diagnostics.

Laboratory techniques

Modern equipment and conventional laboratory tests are already undeniable diagnostic methods. Above we talked about the rather subjective symptoms of frozen pregnancy in the early stages and in subsequent periods.

Objective, scientifically accurate data can be easily obtained by examining urine and blood, primarily for the presence and concentration of hormones characteristic of this condition.

Urine. 2000 per milliliter or a little less - this is how much leukocytes should be normal in the urine. The protein content should not exceed the norm of 0.14 grams per liter. If deviations from these indicators are observed, pathology should be suspected.

Progesterone. The average values at the beginning of the period are 20.57 nmol/l; in the later stages they increase to 301 nmol/l. Progesterone is not called the pregnancy hormone for nothing; it is intended by nature to protect the fetus.

If, for various reasons, a serious malfunction occurs, the death of the fetus in utero, then the body automatically reacts by reducing the level of this hormone.

HCG. A test for the concentration level of human chorionic gonadotropin is one of the main ones in monitoring the dynamics of pregnancy. It also serves as a criterion for the presence of various pathologies, in particular, its fluctuations can signal an ectopic pregnancy or Down syndrome in a baby.

If any primary signs of a frozen pregnancy appear in the early stages and in other, later periods of gestation, the doctor is obliged to prescribe such an analysis. These numbers mean little to the woman herself, but the specialist knows both the normal indicators and the list of conditions that lead to deviations.

Soon after fertilization, hCG begins to grow very rapidly, the level of the hormone increases exponentially: it doubles every two days. Against this background, the noticeable external manifestations of pregnancy are understandable, including women’s emotional outbursts.

By the end of the first trimester, the hormone level reaches the upper limit, then gradually decreases slightly, and remains steady until childbirth. This is normal. But if the analysis shows a significant drop in this indicator, then the chance of a serious pathology is extremely high.

Definitive diagnosis using ultrasound

As we have already seen, none of the symptoms of a frozen pregnancy are absolute. They must be taken into account as a whole: external manifestations, laboratory test data, and information obtained during examination using special equipment. First of all, this refers to ultrasound examination.

It can detect pathologies such as ectopic pregnancy, anembryony (absence of an embryo in the fertilized egg), and fading.

Upon careful examination and appropriate measurements, the doctor notes that fetal growth has stopped. Another obvious symptom of trouble is the cessation of heartbeat. If it is difficult to determine it 100% accurately during an external examination, then ultrasound gives a clearer picture of the deviations.

A common fear that haunts expectant mothers in the early stages of pregnancy is that they are afraid of discovering the death of the embryo during one of their ultrasound visits. Sometimes this anxiety becomes so obsessive that the expectant mother is ready to literally live next to the ultrasound machine and constantly be confident in the successful development of the child.

But a frozen pregnancy has certain symptoms that can be noticed if you carefully monitor the general condition of your body.

We can conditionally divide these signs into 2 groups: the first includes those that a pregnant woman can observe on her own, and the second includes those observed with the help of special studies and not visible to the naked eye.

Symptoms of frozen pregnancy in the first trimester

It is possible to determine that the fertilized egg has died by observing the nature of discharge from the genital tract, general health, toxicosis, as well as the behavior of the basal temperature graph. These will be only indirect symptoms of a frozen pregnancy in the early stages, but their presence will serve as a signal to consult a doctor and conduct more thorough research.

Discharge

Despite the fact that the embryo dies, the fertilized egg remains in the uterus for some time. If a miscarriage does not occur in the first hours, then the body will get rid of the fetus gradually.

In the first 1-2 days after the onset of regression in fetal development, the discharge has a normal whitish color and normal consistency.
Over the next few days, the embryo begins to decompose. These processes affect the fertilized egg, which begins to gradually peel off from the wall of the uterus, where it was previously implanted. Reddish streaks may appear in the discharge.
After 2 weeks from the moment of death of the embryo, detachment of the ovum becomes more obvious. The discharge becomes bloody and acquires a red-brown color.

As a rule, when blood appears, a woman turns to a gynecologist, who diagnoses a lost pregnancy. But this symptom does not necessarily mean that the embryo has stopped developing. Perhaps he is alive, and the detachment began for completely different reasons.

Toxicosis

If nausea began in the first weeks of pregnancy, then by changes in its frequency and intensity one can judge that not all is well with the embryo. begins to appear after implantation of a fertilized egg into the uterus, so an increase in the concentration of the hCG hormone in the blood causes nausea and vomiting to intensify.

On the first day after the embryo has died, nausea may occur in the same way as during the pregnancy.
Over the next 24 hours, the hCG level begins to decrease, so if the expectant mother has vomited, it may turn into a slight feeling of nausea.
After 4-5 days, toxicosis disappears.
Another option for changing the manifestations of intoxication may be the sudden cessation of vomiting and nausea.

It must be remembered that a decrease in the number of vomiting may be a sign of a natural cessation of toxicosis due to the mother’s body becoming accustomed to the presence of pregnancy.

General health

A decomposing ovum that does not leave the uterus will contribute to poor overall health over time. However, this symptom appears when the deceased pregnancy remains in the mother’s body for a long time.

Weakness, dizziness and pulling sensations in the lower abdomen appear approximately 3 weeks after the embryo dies.
Sharp pain in the uterus and a slight increase to 37.7 appears 4 weeks after the death of the embryo.
High temperature and cramping pain in the uterus, accompanied by general weakness and loss of consciousness, are observed 5 weeks after the death of the embryo.

A long stay of a decomposing fertilized egg in a woman’s body is fraught with severe inflammation, which can develop into sepsis. Therefore, you need to pay special attention to other signs of a frozen pregnancy in the early stages of pregnancy in order to carry out curettage of the uterine cavity in time.

Changes in the BT schedule

Many women continue to monitor their basal temperature daily even after pregnancy. This will be another opportunity to notice the first signs of fetal death in time, and the temperature will react faster than all other symptoms.

Within two days the BT line on the chart will begin to move downwards. Normally, the thermometer should show a temperature of at least 37 degrees. However, approximately 48 hours after the cessation of embryonic activity, it will drop to values of 36.9 - 36.8.
After 4 days, the temperature will drop to 36.7 degrees and will remain at this value for several more days.
Next, the process of decomposition of the fertilized egg will enter a more active phase, and the BT will react to the occurrence of an inflammatory process in the pelvic organs with a sharp rise.

However, in some cases, the cessation of embryo development does not affect basal temperature indicators. Then the pregnant woman should rely on a number of the above symptoms.

Signs of frozen pregnancy in the early stages (first trimester)

Signs of fetal death are determined by the doctor, based on the results of the studies. As a rule, a woman seeks help if she has pain and spotting, scanty (or heavy) bloody discharge, or a lost pregnancy is discovered by chance during an ultrasound scan. In addition to hardware testing, the pregnant woman will have to take a blood test to determine the concentration of hCG.

Ultrasound indicators

The embryo's heartbeat is not detected. Normally, it is visible on ultrasound examination starting from the 5th week of pregnancy.
The fertilized egg does not have a diameter of the size expected by the gestational age.
The size of the embryo located in the fertilized egg does not correspond to the gestational age.
If the period is up to 4 weeks, then deformation is a sign of the death of the fertilized egg.
The embryo is not visualized at 6–7 weeks.

HCG indicators

The hCG concentration is below the gestational age determined by ultrasound or during a gynecological examination.
Over the course of several days, there is a persistent decrease in the hCG hormone in the blood.
The hCG level increases, but very weakly and is far behind the norm determined by the duration of pregnancy.

To accurately establish the presence of a frozen pregnancy in the first trimester, the signs detected on ultrasound and according to the results of hCG are considered in conjunction with each other.

Symptoms of frozen pregnancy in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters

As the gestational age increases, the child makes its presence felt more and more clearly, so if it dies in the second trimester, the signs of a frozen pregnancy will be equally noticeable both at 16 and 18 weeks. The same can be said about the third trimester.

Since the symptoms of fetal death in both trimesters have much in common, they can be combined into a single list:

Sudden cessation of movements for several days.
The appearance of nagging pain in the lower back.
The appearance of bloody discharge.
Discharge of amniotic fluid from the genital tract that has an unpleasant odor.

Unlike the first trimester, during a long period of pregnancy a woman’s body independently gets rid of an undeveloped pregnancy quite quickly - within a few days.

Factors provoking embryo death

A frozen pregnancy is not without reason. It can occur due to a genetic disorder, hormonal disorders, infectious diseases or due to autoimmune problems. Doctors identify two factors that cause embryo development to stop:

Factors that contribute to the development of a potentially defective embryo (genetic mutation).
Factors that create conditions that are unfavorable for the development of the embryo (hormonal disorders, infections, autoimmune problems)

The vast majority of pregnancies that fail before 8 weeks die due to genetic mutations. They can be spontaneous, or they can be hereditary.

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

The woman’s actions should depend on how the non-developing pregnancy was determined. It happens that doctors make mistakes when diagnosing, so before going for curettage, you need to double-check the doctors’ conclusions.

Diagnosis during gynecological examination

The size of the uterus may not coincide with the gestational age, which the doctor calculated based on the date of the start of the most recent menstruation. If at the same time there is bloody spotting from the genital tract, then the specialist can conclude that the embryo has regressed in development and the fertilized egg has begun to decompose.

It often happens that the period determined by the gynecologist diverges from the actual period of pregnancy by 2, and sometimes by 3 weeks. Bloody discharge can occur for completely different reasons, for example, the fertilized egg began to exfoliate with a living embryo.

Therefore, if a frozen pregnancy is diagnosed only through a gynecological examination, then it is better to double-check the doctor’s findings by visiting an ultrasound room.

Diagnosis using ultrasound

Signs of a frozen pregnancy, for example, at 8 or 10 weeks, are clearly identified during the first ultrasound procedure. But if the period is still short, and does not exceed 5 weeks, then even hardware diagnostics can make a mistake: not visualize the embryo or not notice its heartbeat.

Therefore, in the short term, when determining a lost pregnancy, ultrasound cannot be completely trusted. In this case, you should come back in a week and make a new attempt to identify the presence of vital activity of the embryo.

Diagnosis using hCG

The results of the blood test may not correspond to the expected gestational age. But if blood sampling for hCG was a single one, then it is not informative in determining fetal death.

Only a repeat test, done a few days after the first, can answer the question about the viability of the fertilized egg. There will be even more accuracy if the results of hCG are correlated with the results of ultrasound.

What to do if a frozen pregnancy is detected?

If the child was desired, then its death at any stage of pregnancy will be a tragedy for the mother. But from the moment doctors suspect fetal death, they need to adhere to a certain course of action:

It is necessary to make sure that the pregnancy is truly dead. To do this, you need to monitor the results of the hCG analysis over time.
If the embryo died recently, then you can use wait-and-see tactics - perhaps the body itself will reject the fertilized egg. But this should only be done in consultation with a doctor, who will carefully assess all the risks.
If the embryo died a long time ago, the doctor will prescribe uterine curettage, which is performed in a hospital setting under general anesthesia.

It is necessary to get rid of a frozen pregnancy only under the supervision of medical specialists. Under no circumstances should you self-medicate or try to induce uterine contractions at home using herbal remedies.

Firstly, you can miss time and the fertilized egg decomposing in the uterine cavity will cause serious harm to the woman’s body.

And secondly, inept actions create the risk of partial exit of the embryo from the uterus. Remnants of the membranes may still be present in the woman’s body, contributing to the onset of the inflammatory process.

In addition, self-medication of a frozen pregnancy can provoke severe bleeding, which will require hospitalization to stop.

The onset of pregnancy is characterized by certain signs that suggest its presence. Almost all of them in the early stages are caused by hormones that are secreted by both the fetal chorion and the corpus luteum, as well as the mother’s reproductive organs. It should be noted that all of them are expressed to different degrees in different women, and it is very difficult to focus only on them.

If a woman is in the early stages of pregnancy and the fetus has frozen, its chorion stops producing human chorionic gonadotropin, and it is this hormone that causes early symptoms of pregnancy, such as nausea, drowsiness and much more. A sharp decrease in the level of hCG during a frozen pregnancy is the reason for the weakening and then complete disappearance of these symptoms. Toxicosis during a frozen pregnancy stops. That is, a frozen fetus causes a sudden improvement in the woman’s well-being.

These first signs of a frozen pregnancy are difficult to assess adequately for the reason that it is possible and normal for the symptoms of toxicosis to disappear; it worries women only until the 11-12th week of pregnancy, and not always and not in all cases.

Pain during a frozen pregnancy is not typical and is not necessarily a concern. Usually they are associated with a threatened miscarriage, which does not always happen spontaneously, and the embryo does not always die when there is a threat of miscarriage. The pain can be localized in the lower abdomen and is nagging in nature, reminiscent of menstrual pain.

So how to determine a frozen pregnancy? Are there any special symptoms? How to recognize a frozen pregnancy at different stages?

Frozen pregnancy, signs, first trimester:

Basal temperature (BT) during frozen pregnancy decreases by 0.8-1 degrees, and becomes the same as in non-pregnant women. If you measured it, then in the presence of a progressive pregnancy it increases after ovulation and remains high throughout pregnancy. During a frozen pregnancy, the rectal temperature decreases because there is no longer a living embryo. However, this does not always happen.

If the death of the embryo occurred in the first 2 weeks from conception, you have a frozen pregnancy, your periods will come on time or be delayed, and will proceed unusually, with heavy bleeding and several days longer. Prolonged unusual menstruation is a reason to consult a gynecologist.

During a frozen pregnancy, the breasts stop hurting and the engorgement goes away. After conception in the first trimester, the reaction of the breast to changes in hormonal levels is one of the most striking symptoms. The disappearance of pain and engorgement should alert you in combination with other symptoms. During a frozen pregnancy, the breasts do not hurt.

Nausea during a frozen pregnancy, so typical in the morning hours during a normal pregnancy, suddenly stops and you feel better. Maybe it’s just that toxicosis has ended, but if it’s not even 10 weeks yet, you should see a doctor. Do you feel sick during a frozen pregnancy? No, this is not typical.

With a frozen pregnancy, the sensations may be similar to the fact that the pregnancy has suddenly ended. In this case, nothing will bother you, no pain, no discharge, no symptoms of toxicosis. Sometimes a miscarriage and a frozen pregnancy are combined, only then scanty or heavy discharge may appear; any drop of blood on underwear in the early stages of pregnancy should scare you and force you to immediately see a gynecologist. For many, a frozen pregnancy is the first manifestation of spotting. Be attentive to yourself, do not miss the symptoms of a frozen early pregnancy. The risk of frozen pregnancy is especially high among those women to whom this has already happened.

Signs of frozen pregnancy, second trimester:

What symptoms of a frozen pregnancy in the second trimester may bother a woman depend on the duration of pregnancy and how much time has passed since the death of the child. It is easier to recognize a frozen pregnancy at a later stage, but there may be more troubles and consequences due to it. A large child who has already died begins to literally decompose in the uterus, which leads to intoxication of the female body and disorders of the blood coagulation system. This is very dangerous and can cause uncontrolled, fatal uterine bleeding.

In the later stages, it is vital to terminate a frozen pregnancy as soon as possible in order to avoid serious consequences for the mother.

How to recognize a frozen pregnancy at a period of 13 to 17-18 weeks, when you have not yet felt the baby’s movements?

Unfortunately, there are no specific symptoms. The uterus stops increasing in size, the tummy does not grow. Discharge is possible during a frozen pregnancy; it is often bloody in nature, but if the cause of fetal death is an infection, it can be anything. The temperature during a frozen pregnancy rises already quite a long time after the death of the fetus and is caused by an infection developing in the uterus. It is often impossible to understand that the pregnancy is frozen on your own, which is why it is so important to see a gynecologist regularly, without missing appointments. The doctor will immediately notice that your uterus has stopped enlarging and does not correspond to the duration of your pregnancy.

How to feel a frozen pregnancy after 17 weeks?

You will notice that the baby has stopped moving, and this will be the earliest symptom. If you have already felt the movements of the fetus before, and now you have not heard it for more than a day, worry about whether everything is fine. It's better if the alarm turns out to be false. Other symptoms, such as pain and bleeding during a frozen pregnancy, do occur, but not always; you should not rely on them as the only reliable signs of trouble. The tone of the uterus, any discharge (profuse, watery, spotting, brown) should be a reason for you to contact a gynecologist.

Be attentive to yourself, this will help you avoid serious complications.

What is a frozen pregnancy
Frozen pregnancy, treatment

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Most often, it is difficult to establish the exact cause that led to the development of this disease (each case is studied and considered individually), although doctors name several of the most common points. Among them:

uncontrolled use of various medications, which include dietary supplements and vitamins, consumed by expectant mothers without consulting a specialist;
viral diseases (flu, acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections, etc.);
smoking;
drinking alcoholic beverages during pregnancy;
taking illegal drugs, etc.

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It is important for the expectant mother to carefully study the signs of a frozen pregnancy in the early stages in order to seek medical help in time. Women of all ages face this pathology. The older the pregnant woman, the greater the risk of anembryonia. According to statistics, on average, in 15% of cases the death of the embryo occurs.

Why does the fetus freeze in the early stages of pregnancy?

This pathology does not occur without reason. It is provoked by certain factors. There are suggestions that frozen pregnancy in the early stages, the causes of which should be determined to prevent this in the future, may occur in the following cases:

Genetic mutations are the most common factor. This pathology appears before the 8th week of gestation. More often it is incompatible with later life.
Hormonal disorders. These include a lack of progesterone and increased levels of androgens - male hormones.
Infections. During the period of carrying a baby, the expectant mother's body is highly susceptible to viruses. The amniotic sac and placenta protect the embryo. However, this “armor” does not help with exacerbation of infections. In addition, at high temperatures that accompany infectious diseases, oxygen delivery to the fetus deteriorates.
Problems with blood clotting. The fertilized egg is not able to attach to the inside of the uterus. In addition, this pathology provokes blockage of blood vessels; as a result, the embryo does not receive the required amount of valuable substances, and it stops developing.
Unbalanced diet and unhealthy lifestyle. These include a diet poor in vitamins, excessive stress, constant exposure to the computer or TV, irregular walks, and so on.

How to determine a frozen pregnancy in the early stages?

The death of the embryo at the initial stage may be asymptomatic. However, there are still a number of signs that eloquently indicate to a woman that a problem has arisen. It is important for her to know how a frozen pregnancy manifests itself in the early stages. This will help prevent serious consequences for the mother's health. Neglecting such symptoms is unwise and even dangerous.

The first signs of a frozen pregnancy in the early stages

There are a number of symptoms, the manifestation of which should make a woman wary. The body itself will tell you how to recognize a frozen pregnancy in the early stages. The expectant mother should pay special attention to the following symptoms:

Sudden disappearance of toxicosis. If early gestosis occurs suddenly and without cause, it’s time to sound the alarm.
Softening the breasts. After conception, women notice that the mammary glands have become enlarged and painful. During the entire period of gestation, baby breasts can relax and become fuller. There is nothing unnatural in such alternation, because it is associated with hormonal “jumps” in the body. However, if the mammary glands relax in the 1st trimester of pregnancy, this may be a sign of fetal fading. There are other “provocateurs” of breast softening. For this reason, you should not panic when this symptom appears.

Discharge from frozen pregnancy in the early stages

If the body does not immediately get rid of the dead fertilized egg, its rejection will occur gradually. A frozen pregnancy in the early stages will show symptoms in the form of vaginal discharge. The consistency of the secretion and its shade directly depend on how much time has passed since the death of the fetus. Signs of a frozen pregnancy in the early stages are:

The first 2 days after the death of the embryo, the consistency of the secretion is normal. They have a whitish color.
Starting from the 3rd to the 6th day, the fertilized egg gradually begins to peel off from the walls of the uterus. As a result, bloody streaks appear in the discharge.
12-14 days after the death of the embryo, the secretion acquires a brownish-reddish tint.

More often, pregnant women turn to a gynecologist when they notice red discharge - signs of fetal fading. This process is irreversible, and it is no longer possible to correct anything. However, bloody discharge does not always indicate that the development of the embryo has stopped. They can also signal another pathology occurring in a woman’s body.

Feelings during a frozen pregnancy in the early stages

At the initial stage, the woman feels as before. However, as decomposition progresses, the signs of fetal failure in early pregnancy intensify. Along with the disappearance of toxicosis and softening of the mammary glands, severe headaches appear. In addition, the pregnant woman is overcome by weakness and lack of strength. A month after the death of the embryo, severe cramping pain appears in the lower abdomen.

BT for frozen pregnancy in the early stages

Some women continue to control even after fertilization. During normal gestation, the thermometer should show 37°C. However, the temperature during a frozen pregnancy in the early stages decreases. This symptom is the earliest sign of fetal death. It appears as follows:

after 46-48 hours the temperature drops to 36.8°C and remains at this level for a couple of days;
after 4 days BT is 36.7°C;
when the fertilized egg begins to rapidly decompose, an inflammatory process occurs in the female body with a sharp “jump” in temperature.

Frozen pregnancy - diagnosis

Women go to the doctor with complaints of nagging pain or bleeding. The doctor conducts a thorough examination, allowing him to detect fetal freezing in the early stages. During it, the doctor compares the size of the pregnant woman’s uterus with what it should be at a given stage of gestation. In addition, the doctor prescribes additional tests: and testing for hCG. Based on the results obtained, he will either confirm the death of the fetus or refute it.

HCG for frozen pregnancy in the early stages

This hormone begins to be produced intensively after the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine cavity. To determine its indicator, blood is donated in the morning on an empty stomach or in the afternoon (you can’t eat anything 4-5 hours before). With normal development of the embryo, the level of the hormone in the blood increases daily. However, hCG decreases during frozen pregnancy. If the fetus dies, this is reflected in the hormone levels as follows:

the concentration of hCG in a woman’s blood is much lower than it should be at this stage of gestation;
During the control test, a decrease in the hormone level is noted.

In some cases, hCG may even increase, but its level still remains below normal. Gynecologists believe that the “behavior” of this hormone does not yet confirm anembryonia. Signs of a frozen pregnancy in the early stages should be taken into account as a whole. For this reason, growth disturbance is only one of the symptoms. To obtain a reliable picture, the doctor will prescribe other diagnostic procedures.

Ultrasound of a frozen pregnancy in the early stages

This procedure gives reliable results in determining anembryonia. If a frozen pregnancy is suspected, an ultrasound will show the following results:

The size of the fertilized egg does not correspond to the norm (much smaller).
Not “visible” (after the 5th week of gestation it should be clearly visible).
The size of the embryo is smaller than it should be at this stage of pregnancy.
After the 4th week of gestation, a sign of anembryonia is deformation of the fertilized egg.

Frozen pregnancy - what to do?

If the doctor’s assumptions about the death of the embryo are confirmed, he develops a further plan of action. Removal of the fertilized egg from a woman’s body can be carried out as follows:

prescribing medications that provoke miscarriage;
scraping;
wait-and-see position - after the death of the fetus, the amount of progesterone decreases, which can cause spontaneous miscarriage.

More often, a frozen ectopic pregnancy in the early stages is “interrupted” by curettage. This mini-operation is performed under general anesthesia. Curettage allows you to completely remove the fertilized egg. However, this procedure has contraindications. Scraping is prohibited:

for genital infections;
in case of exacerbation of chronic diseases;
for bacterial infections that attack the woman’s body.

Recovery after early miscarriage

The rehabilitation period after curettage can last several weeks. It is important for a woman to strictly follow the doctor’s recommendations:

It is necessary to take antibacterial drugs.
After curettage, you need to remain in bed. Physical activity can cause bleeding.
Since there may be intense discharge in the first 2 weeks after a mini-surgery, you need to use pads. The use of tampons during this period is prohibited!
You need to abstain from sex for at least 2 weeks.
If a frozen pregnancy is “aborted” at an early stage, severe pain in the lower abdomen persists. You don’t need to endure them heroically; you can take a painkiller.
It is necessary to take care of reliable contraception. Plan your next pregnancy at least 6 months later, or even later. By that time, the woman’s body should recover.

Frozen early pregnancy - consequences

If the death of the embryo is detected in time, complications for the woman’s health can be avoided. Otherwise, sepsis is even possible. The risk that pregnancy after a frozen pregnancy will be associated with the same problems still remains:

If anembryonia occurs for the first time in a woman, the probability of its recurrence is up to 25%.
After the 2nd pathological pregnancy, the risk that the problem will recur is about 35%. For this reason, the expectant mother should carefully monitor the signs of a frozen pregnancy in the early stages.
If anembryonia occurs for the third time, the chance of embryo death increases to 40%.

How to avoid frozen pregnancy in the early stages?

It is possible to prevent anembryonia. First you need to figure out why pregnancy stalls in the early stages. Also, expectant parents need to undergo a full examination before conceiving. A woman needs to undergo a smear test for vaginal flora and be tested for TORCH infections. The threat of fetal death will be minimized if destructive habits are abandoned in advance. Folic acid will help you bear a healthy baby. Signs of a frozen pregnancy in late or early stages are inextricably linked with a woman’s diet (it must be healthy).