In addition, absolutely every woman who plans to become a mother, you need to know the signs of fetal freezing. But you shouldn’t constantly think about the fading pregnancy and try to find signs of this problem in yourself.
What is the probability frozen pregnancy? In fact, miscarriage is quite rare.
According to statistics frozen pregnancies, for one hundred and seventy-six cases of completely normal pregnancies there is only one case of fetal death.
But still, if you become familiar with the symptoms of freezing, you will be able to keep your condition under control.
What is a frozen pregnancy?
Frozen pregnancy is a pathology of fetal development that most mothers have no idea about. Frozen pregnancy is the cessation of growth and development of the fetus. In other words, his death.
At what stage does a frozen pregnancy occur? This pathology can occur at all stages of pregnancy., but most often, fetal freezing occurs in.
The subsequent development of events may well provoke any inflammatory processes and other unpleasant consequences in the body.
How to determine this condition in time?
Proper growth and development of the fetus at each stage of pregnancy depends on a large number of explicit and implicit factors.
It also happens that some coincidence can lead to stopping the growth and development of the embryo. This phenomenon is called frozen pregnancy.
Symptoms
The symptoms of this pathology are quite accurate and its diagnosis does not cause difficulties for doctors.
One of the main symptoms, of course, is that completely signs of pregnancy disappear.
But you shouldn’t diagnose yourself. If you have any suspicions, you should consult a doctor immediately. The specialist will conduct an examination and perform an ultrasound.
After this, the picture of the course of pregnancy will become completely clear: whether you have symptoms of a frozen fetus or whether it is just nerves.
Signs
Often first signs of frozen pregnancy In the early stages, it is possible to find out only at the next scheduled visit to the gynecologist. This can happen a couple of weeks after the onset of this problem, since fetal freezing appears almost imperceptibly, without any obvious signs.
The first signal, which may mean the occurrence of problems, may be a sudden termination during a frozen pregnancy.
In addition, all obvious symptoms indicating the presence of pregnancy disappear: .
The plan for such an examination after a frozen pregnancy is drawn up based on the individual characteristics of the body and medical history.
To standard examinations, which are indicated for absolutely everyone during the recovery period after fetal failure and planning for reconception, include:
- Ultrasound of all pelvic organs;
- a blood test that will show levels and autoantibodies;
- smears to identify possible urogenital diseases;
- thyroid examination;
- ToRHC complex, which will show whether there are infections in the body that pose a danger to pregnant women.
All of the above measures are extremely necessary. Prevention of frozen pregnancy reduces the risk of recurrence of the pathology and increases the chances of becoming a happy mother.
In conclusion, I would like to say that spouses who are planning to have a child, they must have an idea of how a frozen pregnancy manifests itself and how it can be avoided.
This will make it possible to eliminate all causes in a timely manner., unfavorable for pregnancy, detect symptoms and take the necessary measures that will significantly reduce the likelihood of adverse consequences of fetal death.
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 sometimes the symptoms remain the same as during 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, an ultrasound scan can distinguish the baby’s face. 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;
- Stopping 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.
Thus, 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 we buy a special bag at the pharmacy 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, the 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 establish one hundred percent accurately during an external examination, then ultrasound gives a clearer picture of the deviations.
A frozen pregnancy is the death of the fetus in the mother's body. The embryo stops developing, after which a miscarriage often occurs. The formation of an empty fertilized egg, in which there is no embryo, is also included in the concept of “frozen pregnancy”.
Signs of a frozen pregnancy in the early stages are a reason for an urgent visit to a gynecologist. Most often the fetus dies in the first two months. According to statistics, up to 15% of pregnancies end this way.
Frozen pregnancy: reasons
A variety of reasons can lead to the sudden death of an embryo, many of which are related to the mother's lifestyle.
Hormonal imbalances
If the body after conception lacks female hormones (estrogen and progesterone) or increases the level of male hormones, pregnancy will be disrupted.
When planning a child, this reason can be prevented by clarifying the hormonal status.
Genetic disorders
With serious chromosomal abnormalities, the fetus is not viable in the early stages, which is why it dies. This is the most common cause of miscarriage - it occurs in 70% of cases.
If the problem recurs after the next conception, this is a reason for a genetic examination of the couple.
Infections
Doctors denote the most dangerous infectious diseases during pregnancy with the abbreviation . It includes: 
- Toxoplasmosis (T)- a disease transmitted through animals.
- Common sexually transmitted and other diseases with a partner (O) - paravirus B19, ureaplasmosis, .
- (R)- a viral disease that is not dangerous for the main categories of the population, but poses a threat to pregnant women.
- Cytomegalovirus (C)— infection of the fetus with this virus is one of the most common causes of death.
- (H).
The risk of developing infections increases due to the fact that during pregnancy a woman’s immunity is naturally weakened.
Antiphospholipid syndrome
Antiphospholipid syndrome refers to immunological disorders. In the capillaries of the mother’s body and placental vessels, blood clotting occurs.
As a result, oxygen and nutrients do not reach the embryo.
Most often, the violation occurs in the sixth week.
Antibiotics
A number of drugs used to treat bacterial infections are prohibited during pregnancy due to toxic and mutagenic effects: 
- Tetracycline and analogues;
- Biseptol;
- Levomycetin and drugs based on it;
- Furagin and analogues;
- Tsiprolet and analogues;
- Dioxidine.
Other factors
The risk of miscarriage increases after 35 years. The problem may also arise for women who have previously had abortions. This procedure involves scraping the walls of the uterus.
If the embryo attaches to the damaged site, the placenta may not develop properly.
Other gynecological risk factors: the presence of adhesions in the uterus, features of its anatomical structure.
If a woman drinks alcohol, lives in an environmentally unfavorable region, wears tight clothes, rarely goes outdoors, eats poorly and sits for a long time - all this also contributes to the death of the fetus.
Another common cause of missed abortion is.
Frozen early pregnancy: symptoms
Oddly enough, the first alarming signs include an improvement in the condition of the pregnant woman, if she had previously had symptoms. Subjective sensations, such as cessation of nausea and drowsiness, softening of the mammary glands, normalization of taste and olfactory impressions, cannot be completely reliable.
They also occur during the normal development of pregnancy.
There are more reasons to believe that there is a frozen pregnancy if the signs in the first trimester are as follows:
- Pain in the lower abdomen of a pulling or cramping nature.
- Spotting bloody discharge from the vagina is a sign of pregnancy rejection.
- Deterioration of condition, weakness.
- Fever, chills.
Fetal movements in the early stages, as a rule, are not felt. At a later date, their abrupt cessation is also a cause for concern.
Early diagnosis
It is possible to accurately determine the death of the fetus only after examination.
During the examination, the gynecologist may notice a discrepancy between the size of the uterus and the period of gestation and identify changes in basal temperature.
If the baby was big enough, their heartbeat is listened to. Prescribed, which makes it possible to establish the lack of dynamics of embryo development.
Other possible tests: 
- blood biochemistry;
- Ultrasound of the thyroid gland;
Treatment and rehabilitation
After a frozen pregnancy has been diagnosed, doctors often prefer to wait until the body itself expels the amniotic sac with the dead embryo.
In other cases, medications are used to induce miscarriage (up to 8 weeks). Vacuum aspiration or curettage of the uterine cavity is performed to prevent toxic substances from the decomposition of the fertilized egg from entering the mother's body.
In the future, multivitamins and drugs to calm the nerves may be prescribed.
The psychological rehabilitation of a woman and support from her husband and close relatives are of great importance. The loss of a child is a severe shock that can cause long-term depression.
Frozen pregnancy: consequences
If the dead fetus was not removed from the uterus in time, it can naturally become preserved in it.
Such processes are called maceration or mummification and can subsequently provoke serious illnesses.
This happens mainly to those women who do not visit a gynecologist.
Also, as a result of a frozen pregnancy, the uterine mucosa can become inflamed. This disease () can cause infertility.
In 90% of cases, the next pregnancy after a frozen one is successful and ends in the birth of a child. However, attempts to conceive cannot be resumed earlier than six months later.
Video: signs of frozen pregnancy in the early stages
We didn't even hear. And not at all because it did not exist. It’s just that previously, any arbitrary termination of pregnancy, regardless of the reasons for its occurrence, was called a miscarriage. Today, thanks to technological progress, with the help of ultrasound and other examinations, doctors can make a diagnosis that no one even suspected a few decades ago. A frozen pregnancy is the same case.
According to some data, in our time this diagnosis is given to about 40% of pregnant women. Their pregnancy ends already, which is provoked by a frozen pregnancy. It occurs when the fetus stops developing. The reasons for this phenomenon can be different - from bad habits of future parents to chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus. Most often, frozen pregnancy is caused by various infections that a pregnant woman accidentally picked up (rubella, chickenpox) and hormonal disorders in the body.
It’s good if a frozen pregnancy ends on its own with a miscarriage. This usually occurs very early in pregnancy. Otherwise, the consequences for the woman can be extremely unpleasant. After all, the frozen fetus begins to deteriorate, causing inflammation in the uterine cavity. Therefore, if a frozen pregnancy is diagnosed, medical termination of the pregnancy is clearly indicated by curettage of the uterine cavity or taking medications that lead to a miscarriage (if the gestational age does not exceed 8 weeks).
To avoid unpleasant consequences, it is important to identify the symptoms of a frozen pregnancy as early as possible. But is this possible? Signs of a frozen pregnancy can be both pronounced and hidden. The surest way to avoid an undesirable outcome is regular examination by specialists and careful attitude towards your health.
What are the symptoms of a frozen pregnancy?
You know very well about: vomiting (toxicosis), swelling of the mammary glands, high basal temperature, etc. All these symptoms arise due to the woman’s body adapting to a foreign body (fetus). And if this fetus stops developing, then, logically, everything should fall into place. However, most often this does not happen. The pregnancy peters out, but its symptoms continue. And only later is their abrupt cessation observed. It happens that a woman clearly feels the sudden termination of pregnancy. This should alert her and become a reason to see a doctor.
- Discharge. If a frozen pregnancy occurs already in the first three weeks after conception, then, most likely, scanty periods will appear on time, but their duration will be much longer than usual. If pregnancy is established, they should always cause an urgent visit to the doctor. Even if it's a small drop of blood, don't risk it. Usually it is not a frozen pregnancy that causes bleeding, but the threat of its termination. That is, the embryo continues to develop, and the uterus tries in every possible way to get rid of it. It happens that a frozen pregnancy is combined with a miscarriage. In this case, spotting is sure to appear.
- Pain. Most often, nagging pain in the lower abdomen indicates an incipient miscarriage, but they are not typical for a frozen pregnancy. Only in the later stages of fading may pain resembling menstrual pain appear.
- Breast. The most striking symptom of pregnancy is pain and swelling of the mammary glands. With a frozen pregnancy, these symptoms stop abruptly.
- Toxicosis. If you were very severely tormented by nausea and vomiting in the first trimester and suddenly they suddenly stop, consult a doctor, especially if your pregnancy does not exceed 10 weeks.
- Basal temperature. With a frozen pregnancy, it returns to the same levels as in the normal “non-pregnant” state. However, this is not the main symptom of the pathology.
You should be more attentive to yourself if a similar situation has happened before. The threat of another frozen pregnancy is quite common.
The most dangerous is a frozen pregnancy in the later stages. It carries not only negative physiological consequences, but also psychological ones. Symptoms of a frozen pregnancy in the second trimester can be both obvious and hidden.
- Stomach. During a frozen pregnancy, it stops growing. The uterus does not increase in size.
- Movements. The most obvious sign of a frozen pregnancy is the cessation of fetal movements. Several days of “silence” in the stomach is an extremely dangerous situation.
- Body temperature. If the fetus died quite a long time ago, and the woman does not suspect it, then serious changes occur in her body. An infection develops in the uterus, which causes a sharp increase in body temperature.
- Bleeding. At any stage of pregnancy, any discharge should be a reason to consult a doctor. During a frozen pregnancy, discharge may not be observed.
However, under no circumstances should you make a diagnosis yourself. Even if all the symptoms coincide, it still doesn’t mean anything. Only a doctor can confirm the diagnosis after conducting a lot of different examinations.
- Gynecological examination. By palpation, a discrepancy between the size of the uterus and the expected gestational age is detected. However, this method helps to detect a frozen pregnancy only in the second and third trimester. In the first weeks of pregnancy, the size of the uterus is not yet so different from the “non-pregnant” size.
- Chorionic gonadotropin. A blood test for hCG levels is mandatory if a missed abortion is suspected. In this case, its indicators first stop at a certain level and then decrease.
- Ultrasound. Using this examination, frozen pregnancy can be diagnosed at different stages. The absence of a heartbeat in the fetus, stopping the growth of the embryo or its absence in the fertilized egg are all clear signs of a frozen pregnancy.
However, the doctor can make a final diagnosis only by comparing all the results obtained. Before the verdict and even after it, try not to panic. It's easy to say, but of course there is nothing worse for a mother than the loss of her baby. However, remember that after a frozen pregnancy you have every chance of carrying a healthy baby.
Take care of yourself!
Especially for- Tanya Kivezhdiy